Line snapping

Re pre tied commercial rigs.  Maybe you get what you paid for.

“I have the best catch rate when I fish with my reel in free spool, my rod in my hand, and my thumb on the spool. I try to hover the bait over the bottom at about a foot or two as I fish. When a halibut hits, I immediately give free spool and let the fish take line. I'm often asked, "How long do you let the flattie take line?" My answer is "as long as you can stand it!" When I've made my decision, I will point the rod at the water, engage the reel, and wind as fast as I can while slowly swinging the rod back to load it up. Then the fight is on.”


From the article in the bottom left, this is what I did I just didn’t let the halibut run and set the hook at strike.

Another thing is do you guys put the treble hook in the back of the fish or let it dangle free? It’s more likely for the anchovie to live longer with it dangling but seems like you will have better success with it inside the chovie. In the instance I lost the fish it was dangling, I alternate between the 2.

For me no stinger with live bait unless it’s a huge smelt say 10 “ but rarely use that size, even 8” on live smelt no stinger in my opinion.  A big hali will slam it and get to the hook.

Ive caught them both ways. With the back hook dangling and with the hook in the fish. No noticeable difference, they both have worked for me. I don't use trebles but I am thinking about giving it a try..

For me no stinger with live bait unless it’s a huge smelt say 10 “ but rarely use that size, even 8” on live smelt no stinger in my opinion.  A big hali will slam it and get to the hook.

Same here. No stinger for live bait. And I use what most would consider small hooks (#4’s, #2’s, sometimes 1/0’s) and light line (#12, #17, sometimes #20)

Small hooks and light line equal a lively bait.

I used to snap my line a lot at the beginning.  Most of the issues are the knots.  Use palomar not, then tie up the rest to make sure your palomar knot holds.  Practice will make perfect.  Pre-tied rigs are great, but you may need to know what to do on the water.

I tied the braid on to the three way swivel with a clinch knot...

Braid shouldn't break like that. Are you sure the knot didn't just slip?

In any case, I'd recommend ditching the treble hooks, as trebles are nothing but trouble...

I used to snap my line a lot at the beginning.  Most of the issues are the knots.  Use palomar not, then tie up the rest to make sure your palomar knot holds.  Practice will make perfect.  Pre-tied rigs are great, but you may need to know what to do on the water.

+1

“I have the best catch rate when I fish with my reel in free spool, my rod in my hand, and my thumb on the spool. I try to hover the bait over the bottom at about a foot or two as I fish. When a halibut hits, I immediately give free spool and let the fish take line. I'm often asked, "How long do you let the flattie take line?" My answer is "as long as you can stand it!" When I've made my decision, I will point the rod at the water, engage the reel, and wind as fast as I can while slowly swinging the rod back to load it up. Then the fight is on.”


From the article in the bottom left, this is what I did I just didn’t let the halibut run and set the hook at strike.

Another thing is do you guys put the treble hook in the back of the fish or let it dangle free? It’s more likely for the anchovie to live longer with it dangling but seems like you will have better success with it inside the chovie. In the instance I lost the fish it was dangling, I alternate between the 2.

haha I started reading this and though "this guy fishes like me!  Ooops it WAS me!

HA!  I pin the trerble on if I can.  If the bait is too small, I use a single treble only, and hook one down thrugh the head leaving two sticking up..

Bushy.