Reply by: Steelhead      Posted: 7/15/2012 5:24:07 PM     Points: 875    

describe what the end of your line looks like at the break?

 Reply by: bobandbonnie      Posted: 7/15/2012 5:30:38 PM     Points: 27    

Hmmm like it's cut with a knife most of the time, not curled up like when you snap the line at times...hope that's what you mean

 Reply by: fom      Posted: 7/15/2012 6:35:49 PM     Points: 873    

what brand of line are you using?

 Reply by: ZZZ      Posted: 7/15/2012 6:37:31 PM     Points: 1124    

I think Steelhead might be hinting towards knot failure rather than your line being cut. If this is happening regularly, I would lean that way too. I have landed walleye on six lb mono with my lure well inside their mouth and my line wasn't cut. If you're losing a lot of fish, you might want to change the knot you're using.

Tight Lines...zzz

 Reply by: cookster      Posted: 7/15/2012 7:00:00 PM     Points: 2323    

Try wetting your line before cinching down your knot, it makes everything slide easier and a tighter knot is a stronger knot. Might also check your rod eyes for cracks, it may nic your line and makes it weak.

 Reply by: Orion/CO      Posted: 7/15/2012 9:01:08 PM     Points: 39    

My first thought would be your knots too. I always use a Palomar knot when I tie off to a hook or swivel [log in for link] , or as mentioned you might have a sharp edge somewhere on your reel or rod that is knicking the line. I use bottom bouncers and like to use 30 lb steel leader from the bouncer to the rig (mostly because it comes in 24" lengths and has the eye and snap built in), and I also tie my own hook rigs with 20 lb test. Unfortunately when you do get snagged you end up losing the entire bouncer and rig, but I have never had the problem with fish biting off my line either.

 Reply by: Ajax5240      Posted: 7/15/2012 10:12:55 PM     Points: 105    

Try braided line, I like 30lb Power Pro and look at the knots that you are tieing.

 Reply by: JKaboom      Posted: 7/16/2012 12:10:20 AM     Points: 924    

Line wetting is definately crucial. If your doing thiss and the other thoughts are not working, at what point usually does the loss happen?

 Reply by: bobandbonnie      Posted: 7/16/2012 6:10:47 PM     Points: 27    

Brand of line I'd have to look...my knots are always wet when I tie them, but good point because many times the line is bit or broke by the hook...which are store boughten when I use bait with leader...but there has been times when the line is bitten or broke in an area that isn't tied...Guess the factory knots in those packages of hooks aren't any good?...Hmm My Dad told me that they could be old so I bought some others from a couple different places and still the same result...when a larger fish decides they want to leave they are gone...

 Reply by: bobandbonnie      Posted: 7/16/2012 6:19:15 PM     Points: 27    

Another point to address the question of "When does this happen"...Many times is when I reach out with the net or someone else does and the fish darts under the boat and the hook is gone...Even had fish come to me in the boat going under pulling the hook off or biting the line...I SEEN a bigger Walleye shake his head up next to the boat going under the side of the boat and broke or bit the line and was gone...I'm using 6 to 10 lb test line bran new from Sportmans ...not sure of the brand...Sounds like you all have a pretty good clue what is going on...and obviously some of the issue is with Knots...not MINE but those that are tied at a factory to a hook with a small amount of leader...I have hooks alone which I'll try tying on my line for bait fishing...Thank you all for your input...this is pointing me in the right direction I think:)

 Reply by: Walleyeone      Posted: 7/16/2012 6:22:54 PM     Points: 1758    

I would think it's got to be either your knots or your line. Ive not had an eye bite through my line.
After you catch a few fish or you get snagged, make sure to check your line. I'm guilty of not retieing as often as I should and have lost baits because of it.
You could also try some different knots and see if one may work better for you. [log in for link]

 Reply by: bobandbonnie      Posted: 7/16/2012 6:26:46 PM     Points: 27    

Also addressing the rod and reel...this has happened with a number of different rigs...and the area of the line that is breaking/bitin is around the hook or bait/lure...though this hasn't happened with a Lure since I changed the line in all 5 of my rods...the 6th being a very heavy trolling rig that would take an ocean fish to break....The steel leader and heavy test leaders sound great...and I do use a bottom bouncer for Walleye often but not always...even lost some on a Perch rig I had set up...again pulling the hook of the line or bitting it off...Now that I'm aware of the Knot issues I will tie my own...and keep you all informed if the water stays up enough to do more fishing this year:(

 Reply by: cookster      Posted: 7/16/2012 8:59:02 PM     Points: 2323    

From what your saying it Sounds like your drag is way to tight, more than weak line or knots.

 Reply by: Capt Rob      Posted: 7/16/2012 10:06:19 PM     Points: 71    

Since we're talking line I thought I would add something else to
look at with line. Ceramics guides chip due to one reason or the
other. Take a Q-tip and run it around your guide and back and forth.
If the cotton snags you will feel it and sometimes the cotton
will tear off at the damaged area. Replace the guide before your
trophy rips your heart.
I'm hitting Boyd tommorrow, are the walleye still in the same
patterns like July 1-4 ? Any advice

Thanks
><CR*>

 Reply by: pbs      Posted: 7/16/2012 10:26:23 PM     Points: 3334    

I'd have to agree with the others as far as I've never had an eye bite or cut through my line.....and I always use 6-10 lb mono on homeade worm harnesses. I would also suspect that possibly the knot, and/or wetting the line when cinching down your knot could be the culprit. You would be
surprised how monofilament line can heat/thin, and become weakened
by just pulling knots tight when cinching them down without wetting them
first.

Also....is the line actually breaking, or is the knot pulling through itself?

If the line is pulling through itself...you might consider tying that particular knot with a couple extra wraps before cinching it tight or...perhaps tying a different type of knot.

Is your line "curly" at the end with no hook? If so, then you probably need
to tie with more wraps around the main line, or use a different type of knot.

Is your line "broke" with more of a clean break of your line at the end? If this is the case, it could be your knot tie, or possibly even old, weakened
line. Keep in mind....if using monofilament line, that mono absorbs water,
and eventually becomes weakened with UV rays and repeated exposure
to sunlight and moisture.

Hope these tips give you some insight and ideas as to what may be happening.