The One That Got Away (x2)

[scombroid]

Last week I set out to try my newly bought Megabass Xlayers (thanks Padge) at a spot which had proved successful at the previous new moon. I was using a 10' spinning rod and reel loaded with 15lb line.

On my first trial after only about half an hour I came into a 3-4 lb bass on the Xlayer. Unfortunately when I had retrieved him I tried lifting him from the water and snap! - the line went just above the lure. I'm sure many of ye can associate with that sickening feeling when that happens, for one thing because of losing the fish but also because the poor fella swam away with a lure in his mouth. I was using the 'loop knot' (used with poppers I think), to tie the Xlayer to the line.

Two days later I returned to the same spot earlier in the day to try the Xlayers again. After only 15 odd minutes I came into what was the biggest bass I have yet hooked (I guess she was 5-6 lb). The fish was putting up quite a fight on the retrieve, and surfaced twice as she took line from reel and managed to swim a bit away from me. At that point I tightened the 'play' on the reel and at the same time saw the bass swim to a lower depth taking the line over a submerged rock corner. Once again, snap! - bye bye bass and the poor fella/lass swam away with lure in their mouth.

I was wondering what I could have done to aboid these losses, for the 1st scenario I could have used a net I guess, does anyone here use net fir retrieving a bass when almost landed?

I was also wondering am I using the right knot to tie the Xlayer to line or should there be some swivel involved? Any advice greatly appreciated.

[Danny M.]

Hard luck mate on the break offs.

Use a small swivel attached to your mainline (preferably Braid) to clip on your Xlayer jig head, that way you can switch to different lures if the fish are being picky.

Also a good habit to get into when you find a 'fishy' looking spot is to pick an area in that vacinity that you can land your fish once hooked. That way you can avoid lifting the fish etc, you wont need a net if you choose your landing area and play your fish carefully. A bit of practice and youl be flying

[scombroid]

Thanks for the tips Danny, I was kicking myself after the first breakoff for not bring the fish alongside where I had been standing, to land it at an easier spot. Will def be doing that in future.

My mainline has been mono thus far, but I may make the change to braid sooner rather than later..

[Danny M.]

Thanks for the tips Danny, I was kicking myself after the first breakoff for not bring the fish alongside where I had been standing, to land it at an easier spot. Will def be doing that in future.

My mainline has been mono thus far, but I may make the change to braid sooner rather than later..

Good stuff.

Try going for Braid straight through, its much better for getting feed back from those xlayers, and working them in tight areas.
Im currently using 20lb power shot straight through, you just need to check it regulary for abrasion from rubbing off rocks etc.

You wont look back.

[scombroid]

Regarding the braid, if you go for braid straight through and get snagged on rocks would you lose much if you had to snap the line? Or is it safer to use a mono leader? Maybe its personal preference..?

[hugo]

i also use braid straight thru after losing several lures off mono leader. I have size 2 lure clip on the end of old-fashioned 15lb Fireline which is about the same diameter as the newer ultra-thin 30lb Whiplash but obviously easier to break out of in a hangup. The two times I had to break, I found it went just above the knot on the clip. Only real problem is being so thin it can get caught under the edge of limpet shells.