help with jig and pig fishing

[basssj]

I need some help with my jig fishing. This is one lure that I am having the hardest time mastering. The main problem is that I am continously breaking my line on hookset. My set up includes a 7ft. heavy action falcon cara rod (action 7), shimano curado reel, 17 lb test suffix line, 3/8 - 1/2 oz jig - usually a rattleback or strike king, tied with a palomar knot. I have tried several different brands of mono and floro without much difference in success, the bottom line is that I end up snapping my line on hookset. I cannot determine where the line is breaking, but it does not seem to be breaking at the knot. I really have a difficult time getting bites if I go much heavier than 17 lb test, due to water clarity, plus with 20 lb test, the line coils get aggrivating. I will add that I am using the same hookset with a tx rig and not having these same problems. My first idea is to change to a slightly lighter rod action to absorb some shock from the hook set. What do you guys think? Anyone else ever had this problem?

thanks for the comments.

[Jig Man]

One thing you might want to do is loosen the drag just a bit so it will give a few inches on the initial hook set. I use a lot of 10# line on jigs and have been doing this drag thingy for years. You don't want it to be so loose that you don't get a good hook set but loose enough that it will slip just a bit.

[lilcraw]

Jig man makes a good point about your drag, I only use P-Line CXX I have used just about every type line thru my 30 years of bass fishing the P-Line is the strongest I have found, I do use the 15 lb test on one rod and I can say I have never broke off on a hook set, normally I use 10 and 12 lb test and that is plenty heavy enough my partner always say to me when I get the 15 lb lined rod out "there's that GOAT ROPE" I too agree with you I have never liked a straight Heavy action rod, way to stiff for hook sets I like a med/heavy with a fast tip. But with your application now, take Jig Man's advise and back off your drag a bit, let it take the shock for you. Or maybe try some braids you shouldn't brake them if your water color allows you to use that type of line.

[willie525]

are you plulling it through any brush beacause the line maybe getting cut and snaps when you set the hook

also set hard youve got a big hook to get into a big mouth

[braveviper]

try braid?

[gtlegs]

Try using a lighter action rod.

-Trey

[Norcalbassin]

Try setting your drag and using P-Line CX Premium, its almost half the diameter of most mono and it does't have the memory that most brands do so you can use 30lb test instead of 17lb without spooking fish or having problems with line memory.

[smalljaw]

I had a similar problem when I started using jigs about 15 years ago. What was happening was that I'd reel down but still had too much slack and it woud shock the line about a foot above the jig. You may want to try getting your line a little tighter before the hook set and see if it works. I'm not sure if this is your problem or not but it may help, also check where you buy your line, I've gotten line from stores that was old that broke fairly easy.

[basssj]

Thanks for all the responses guys.

I think smalljaw may have hit on something. As I said in the original post, I am almost certain that I am not breaking at the knot. The reason I believe this is because when I examine my line after breakage, there is not the little tell tale curl on the very tip of the broken line. It is just a straight clean break.

I can say that most of the time when I break off, the fish are swimming with my jig, and I mean really motoring along. It is very difficult to catch up with them and set the hook without having some slack fall in the line right before the hookset. I need to pay a little more attention to getting the slack out.

I will take another look at P-Line also. I used the floro clear for awhile but I couldn't get it to relax like I wanted it to.

I lighter action rod and a little less drag are also on the list of adjustments to make.

Thanks for all the responses guys. You guys are awesome.

[Gloomisman]

its the tightness of the drag in conjuntion with the action of the rod. What is happening is the drag is so tight and the rod is stiff enough that when you set the hook you are shock breaking the line. This type of break is common in lines with little streach and too tight of drags. You can do the same thing with 25lb line and a heavy action rod if done correctly. If the line doesnt have weak spots in it just loosen the drag some and you'll be fine.

[Steve.D]

Do you think it could be the reel? Is the curado you using for jig fishing the same ratio as the one you use for texas rig fishing? Just thinking if when you reel down on the texas rig (Possible Highier Ratio) you are picking up more line than when you are jig fishing. Good job though I am still at the point where I am waiting to set the hook using a jig.

[One Sock]

Loosen the drag like the others said. I also would go with a med/heavy set up. I use a 6 '6 med heavy with a shimano scorpion reel. i spool with 10 lb yozuri and never have a problem snapping lines on hooksets

[basssj]

Just an update, I was out jig fishing again this past weekend. The drag loosening trick was the ticket. I set my drag to about 80% and landed 3 good jig fish out of some really heavy cover with no problems. I wish I would have known about this 2 years ago. I was chasing what I thought were weak line issues all that time. You guys can't imagine how many busted off fish I have gone through during that time. Thanks again.