Many times success is not reflected by the big decisions we make. It’s what we do day to day that can make the biggest difference. You might have picked the right spot, the right time and the right lure and be hooked up with the biggest fish of your life. But all the sudden the line snaps and everything goes away. You did everything right, but you didn’t look at the minor details.
They say the devil is in the details. So today I want to talk about how to manage those details and make sure that when the big moment happens you’re ready. These are just a couple easy tips that take seconds to do, but are over-looked by many anglers.
1. Frayed line. This is probably the most overlooked aspect of your presentation that can cause the biggest problems. Rocks, rip rap, timber even a flooded fence could be what does you in. Whether I’m pitching crankbaits or jigs I always favor a fluorocarbon leader. It’s not because the fluorocarbon is invisible. I honestly don’t care about that. The main thing is it’s abrasion resistant. Braid is great, but it doesn’t do well when bounced across rocks and debris. That’s why I favor the fluorocarbon.
Even though I use a fluorocarbon leader it is still critical to check both the leader and the braided mainline. If there is any sign of a fray I re-tie. Even a ride in the back of a pick up or boat could do it. Always check before you make your first cast and sporadically after every few fish. The area you’re fishing also can dictate how much abuse your line will take and tell you how much you should check it.
2. “Good enough” knots. This will get you too. If you feel you didn’t make a perfect knot, re-tie it. I also don’t waste my time learning a bunch of fancy knots. I truly can tie four knots: uni, palomar, double surgeon loop and back to back unis. I’d rather be really good at a couple knots then be “decent” at a bunch of them.
There is no such thing as knot that is “good enough”. Sure it might catch fish. It might not be a problem. But when you’re hooked up with a 10-11lb walleye you will be panicked enough- don’t add stress by having a less than perfect knot.
3. Too tight/too lose drag. I learned this problem the hard way. I have my first 10lb walleye mounted on the wall-and right next to it is the rod I caught it on. Well-half of it. If you ever wondered how strong Fireline was I can tell you it’s stronger than a Cabelas Pro Guide rod. I had the drag tightened down so I could horse “eaters” in quickly, but paid the price when my rod snapped while I went to net the big girl. Luckily for me the line didn’t break and she was close enough I could net her. Let me tell you though my heart flew out of my ears when it happened and I thought I lost it. Then the relieve I had when I realized the fish was in the net almost knocked me over.
I got away with that one, but not by much. It is very important that you don’t have your drag tightened down for bear, because as I learned you might be buying a new rod the next day. On the same token, don’t have your drag so loose that you don’t get a good hookset or you let the fish drag you all over the countryside. The longer the fish is on the line the higher the chance that slack, a stump or some other catastrophic event could ruin your big moment. Experiment with your drag until you find what you feel is best. Trust your judgement. Then before fishing each time and once again sporadically throughout the trip just give it a quick test. I usually do it after every fish now after my near disaster.
4. Sharp hooks. This is another culprit of “wow it just slipped off”. Sharp hooks are the most important thing you can have on whatever presentation it is. Whether you are using a slipbobber or a crank with three trebles you want to make sure they are always ready to go. If one is broke or simply dulled from fish or debris it is time to change it or sharpen it. I usually order a box of replacement trebles for my most common crankbaits from VMC. Rapala has the hook sizes on every lure on their website so I know I am ordering the right hook size for that crank to run right. That gives me the confidence to replace them as needed. It’s a few bucks, but it can make a HUGE difference.
These are just a few of the top day to day disaster causers that I have found in my experience. Luckily, it only takes about 2 minutes to make sure that these won’t ruin your chance at a monster. It might be hard at the start, but once you get a routine of hitting this checklist you’ll do it without even noticing it. If you’re really lucky, you’ll make your buddy think you have a fish every time you check your drag too!! Good fishing!
