Author: Bullbuster Team
Tips That Will Help You Catch More Fish
Monofilament is an amazing invention, it's probably one of the toughest materials on the planet. Nowadays many people take it for granted, but years ago fishermen from around the world could only dream about a line that would could be so transparent, take such a beating, and have such extreme tensile to diameter ratios. Braid has taken this place of the awe that fishermen once had for mono, but mono still does a pretty damn good job. Below we have included a few tips to help you catch more fish with your monofilament fishing lines.
Tip #1 Check Your Guides
When rinsing off your rods at the end of a long day of fishing always check your guides. If you are using regular guides any little chip can wreak havoc on your line, if you are are using rolling guides, make sure that they are smooth and regularly lubricate them to reduce the chance of rust. Doing this simple check everytime you back from fishing can prevent a simple chip or corrosion from getting between you and a fish of a lifetime.
Tip # 2 Check Your Line
Always check your lines at the end a day of fishing. There a number of things that can damage your line during a day of fishing, check it on your way in or when you get back and are rinsing your fishing rods.
From Your Boat:
If you are on a boat, let the line from each reel out 50-100 yards to check for any frays, nicks, or any area of abrasion. For monofilament this will also reduce any memory or twist that the line was holding. Cut off any length of line that seems to have any damage, there is no reason to risk damage in your line (always bring this length home to recycle) because you can always buy your lines brand direct online and save a bunch of money (shameless plug). Even if you have a ton of rods this is a quick way to reduce tackle failure, and should only take a few minutes if you have a good crew.
At Home Or At The Dock:
On the dock or in your garage you can also check your lines for nicks, and frays. Unfortunately, unlike on the boat you won’t be as effective in handling memory if you are using mono, but you can still guarantee yourself more fish and less missed opportunities. Pull a length of about 50 yards of line off of each reel into a loose pile. Reel the line back onto your reel slowly and make sure that it runs through your fingers so that you can feel for any change in consistency. While doing this if you see a knot forming as it runs through your fingers or as the line leaves the pile and heads up to your guides try reeling slowly, the knot may right itself as it goes through your fingers. If you find any nicks or frays simply cut off that length of line. <p>
* If the knot tightens, then simply work the knot out by pulling the many twists outwards to loosen them. (We will be putting together a video on this later).
Tip #3: Make Sure Your Reel Has A Smooth Drag:
If your reel’s drag is sputtering in fits and starts and giving uneven pressure on your drag system this can greatly reduce your chances of catching big fish consistently. This is especially true for fish that accelerate quickly and can put immense pressure on your line as they begin a blistering run only to be met by a hesitating drag. To prevent this from happening, regularly rinse your reels at the end of the day and dry them off, also spray them lightly with a light marine lubricant such as CRC-666* We also recommend servicing your reels regularly (at least once a year) this is a major key to success.
*Make sure you do not spray the line with any petroleum based lubricant as it can damage your line (especially your monofilament).
Tip #4: Set Your Drags Correctly
Setting The Drag:
Use a scale to set your drag and check it periodically. Your drag should be set strike no more than 25% of your lines rating during a battle with a fish big fish your drag can and sometimes must be increased but never increase it to more than 50% of your lines rating. When a fish accelerates it can put more drag on your reel than would be accomplished by a steady pull, especially when you are not following Tip #3.
Knowing Your Reel:
Lever Drag Reels- Measure your drag and make three markings with a label machine, or even electric tape. The first marking should be the Lb test line you are using, the second marking should be the 25% drag, and the 3rd marking should be the 50% drag point. Lots of lever drag have this notion pre-engineered into their reels. You can take advantage of it by making sure “strike†is at 25% percent and “full†is at 50% of your lines strength.
Spinning Reels - Most spinning reel drags are set by a knob on the the top of the reel. Play with your spinning reel and a scale to see how one turn of the knob affects your drag. That way when you are playing a big fish on a spinning reel you can give them the heat safely.
Tip # 5 Spooling Your Reels Correctly:
Bulbuster carries several spooling tools to help you spool your reels at home. You can also get your reels spooled at a local tackle shop. When spooling them, make sure to give your line a good amount of tension so that when you are fishing with heavy drags the line does not eat into itself. This is especially important for braided line.
We hope that you enjoyed this article on the Bullbuster Community. It is our mission to help millions of anglers spend more time fishing and that starts with YOU!
Buy your fishing line online here on bullbuster.net to join a movement!
