Breaking Off

[mobowhunter]

Hey guy's, I'm still new to the fly fishing,started in February, but I am having a heck of a time with 6X and 7X tipet. This is my set up. I use either a 9' 6 wt. White River rod from Bass Pro or a 9' 4 wt. Sage Launch. Both have Orvis braided leaders that I attach the tipet to with a surgeons loop. I have had trouble when a fish takes the fly I raise the rod and break the tipet at the knot on hte leader. All I get back is the loop. the line breaks right at the knot. I an useing either Rio or Orvis flurocarbon and wet the knot before I chench it down. It seems like it has just started now the hot weather is hear. Any suggestions?

[Phil Lilley]

Double or triple surgeons?

A Frog Hair rep told me you have to use a triple- I was tying a double. It did make a difference.

Bad tippet? It can happen.

The 6 wt is heavy for that kind of tippet. 4 wt should be ok.

And lastly, heavy hand. I have a friend who can't set the hook softly... he gets too excited. You might tie in some expandable tippet- what's it called? It's on the tippet of my tongue.... SHOCK GUM!

[timsfly]

Yep using a 6wt and using 7X and 6X is tough, I use shock gum and it works great it will stretch almost twice its length,makes a nice shock absorber, it goes at the end of your fly line(between the leader and the fly line, it is good stuff, but when you buy your next rod, get a 3 or 4 wt that will help a lot.

[mobowhunter]

The hook set may be part of my problem. Bass fished for 20 years. Old habits die hard. I will try the triple knot tomorrow with my 4 wt. rod. I guess you can find the shock cord at about any fly shop? I will look for some the next time I'm in. Thanks a bunch. I will put it to the test tomorrow.

[jOrOb]

I read an article one time that talked about loading the rod during hookset. The author felt that a lot of "bass guys" had a tendency to actually create load when they took up the slack just before hookset. This load caused a quick snap which caused breakoff.

With this in mind, I have always tried to take up my slack smoothly, then apply pressure after I feel the fish. I was having a lot of breakoff issues at the time, and this seems to have helped.

[Greg]

I wouldn't be completey sure that it is your 6wt rod causing the problem. Unless it is a very fast action (stiff) rod? I always use a 5 wt and always use 6 or 7x on Taney and only very rarely break off. I would agree that if you have bass fished it may be a case of overpowering the hook set.

Greg

[OnTheFly]

Not sure who makes the product or if the product is still available but the Dam Store outside of Eureka Spring Arkansas use to carry a product that as a braider shock leader for light weight tippet (6X-8X). Almost universally a 6wt rod is too much for a 7X and you have to be careful with 6X. So now you are what we would call an “even” fly fisher…not go buy yourself a good G series 4wt Scott fly rod.

[Snow Fly]

There is a fly shop in St. Louis that has what you are looking for Item # 668 "Shock - Gum sections Call toll free number 800-659-1707. They do work!

[Rolan Duffield]

All of us are guilty at times in breaking off flies, regardless on how well they were tied or the tippet used.

Perhaps you have a fast rod tip. A fast rod tip makes it hard to set a hook easily without breaking off light tippets. The top "tip section" of the rod will only bend about 2' whereas a medium action rod will bend approximately 1/3 the length of the rod making it a lot easier to take the shock setting the hook.

You might try using a heavier line size (7 weight instead of 6 weight)which will help soften the fast tip action for trout fishing.

Also try to develop a technique where you only use a slight wrist motion to set the hook. I normally use this technique just prior to picking up the line at the end of the cast.

[mobowhunter]

Well the triple surgeons knot and my 4wt rod was much better. I didnn't try any 7X but the 6X was fine. I am going to try the shock cord on my 6wt rod. I don't think my 6wt is too fast action. It's a CV2 9' 3 piece, it realy is a good feeling rod. I do like using it for wooleys and such. But all good advice from you guy's. This is such a good web site. I realy appreciate the help from everyone.