09-06-2022, 08:20 PM
(09-06-2022, 02:01 PM)SkunkedAgain Wrote: Sounds like a fun fish... I've been having a similar issue the last couple trips myself, except it's probably because I let my leader line get too old... I've had 3 break offs lately and all have been good fighters, but at the times the line has broken they really weren't pulling too hard, but they have all been on my orange 10 lb catfish leaders... Think I'll have to retire the rest of that spool, it must have out lived it's strength... and before I get the knot questions all breaks were half way between the ends... so the knots weren't the problem, just five year old line... It seems to be strong enough to land 23" fish, but anything bigger seems to break off, so time to change my leader on all the catfish rods... Two of those fish were really strong, I'd sure liked to have landed them, guess I should have been smart enough to change leader before I lost that many fish, but first fish I thought it was because of a tangle up with my nephew, the next trip when I lost two I didn't have any other leader with me at the time... But before I go again I need to buy some new leader.... or go all the way with braid to the hook... Later J
Catfish are not line shy. And using old leader is false economy. The leader is your last connection between you and the fish. So it should be capable of handling the biggest fish you MIGHT catch. And if you are leaving the same leader on your rod for multiple trips it is no wonder you are getting break offs. The combination of UV, heat, water soaking and drying, stress of pulling against snags or fish...all degrade the line. Your "10# line" could be no more than 3# line.
I always use a 15# leader at Willard and 25# at Utah Lake. I use a good abrasion resistant line (Excalibur) with good knot strength. And I have NEVER had a fish break my line. I know a few cat chasers that do not even use leaders...tieing their hooks directly to 30# - 50# braid. And they get plenty of fish with no breakoffs.