Line for Stripers

[Stump bumper]

I have a question about using braid for live bait. Does anyone tie the hook straight to the braid? I have lost two big fish due to the leader and my errors. One I didn't check the drag and lost the fish on the hook set, the other I tightened the drag during the fight and snapped the leader. I need to learn to be more patent but have also thought about getting the fluorocarbon out of the equation and just going straight braid and fight 30lb fish with 40lb test.

All comments welcome as long as that match my opinion.LOL

 

[Blll]

With live bait, I had been using braid with a fluro leader too and it broke (not at the knot) on a couple stripers recently when I tightened down on them. I Went the other way to straight fluro and have had  good luck so far. Still use braid & leader for lure trolling just to get the better line/depth ratio. JMO... Off topic: there are currently no fish in PC!

[Stump bumper]

Good point about the knot, I had one break at the knot, yet the entire knot was there and the other was a good 6 inches below the knot. 

[Dan the fisherman]

 I use is fluro John.  No braid at all ( except for top water rig). Heck a couple of rods have mono.   I have 2 rods with 15 pound test and the rest is 10-12lb test.  "Knock on wood" but ive never broken off, even when catching 20lb+ fish.  I don't use special striper rods either. Just the bass rods I have for the little green fish.   The only thing that changes for me is putting circle hooks instead of the bass baits.  

[Old plug]

I rarely use anything but Pro Bass Shops mono. amd not  above 12 lb test. I use 10 lb braid to crappie fish and fishing  sinkos sometimes. i like the tiny dia of the braid but still have the strength. I tie everything directly to the line. Leaders to me are asking for trouble. I do not think  it makes that much differance to the fish. I am convinced fish hear or feel the vibrations from a line when you are reeling it are even moving it. They have taught me thru experience that they can find things in muddy water and at night. Expanded vision aside they must be able to detect movement close to that of a bat. 

 

[J-Doc]

10lb floro. All I have on two big trolling rods and 10lb on my flicker rods. 

 

I lost a 30-35lb striper while fishing with Yakfm and it was on a spinning rod with 6lb line.  I got greedy after 15mins and tightened the drag to wear it down faster.  My mistake. Pulled the hooks out. Both of them.  Line did its job, I made a patience mistake and pulled the hooks.  I fought that fish for 15mins and had it to the boat 3 times and was about to land it.  Pop.....off she went. 

 

You don't need gorilla strength line.  That's a misperception.  Loose drag, light line.  

[JohnF52]

isn't it true if you catch a large striper on light line, the longer struggle will many times kill it?  Not good for C&R, but if it's going to be eaten, no problem.

[J-Doc]

25 minutes ago, JohnF52 said:

Psiisn't it true if you catch a large striper on light line, the longer struggle will many times kill it?  Not good for C&R, but if it's going to be eaten, no problem.

Probably.  

I eat them. 

[Stump bumper]

I know what you mean by getting greatly, I like to take control and get the fish in, I have snagged logs and with 40lb braid and 17lb test and had to wrap the line around a boat cleat to break it off. But that last striper I lost was zinging the drag so fast and had that 8 foot heavy rod bent like a twig I thought I would just slow it down. Same rod and set up on a 10lb striper did not even take drag. 

I guess I will just have to learn patience with the bigger fish, that fish hit my heaviest rod and reel with 200 yards of 40lb braid I could have let it run. Going straight braid might make me tighten the drag to the point I tare out the hook.

I do like braid because it last years without getting twisted and having memory problems, I will never go back.