Casting snap offs

I'm having a casting crisis and hoping someone might be able to help.

I've been beach fishing well over 20 years and i've never really needed to think about casting, it just came natural. The last year though feels like i've completely forgtten how to do it. to make things worse i'm losing at least two/three rigs per session from snap offs during casting. Its expensive, damaging to the environment and to the fish as bait is still on the hook.

I thought it was the leader knot, changed it to something much better but its still happening. I was practice casting out on sandymount yesterday and when i had the snap off i was able to retrieve my stuff as it was on dry land. the leader knot was fine, it was the 15lbs mono. when the line snapped, the main line still went up half way through my rings so it doesn't look like it snapped at the spool.

Its not the rod as i just bought a Penn Rampage to replace my old rod as i thought it was that. I replaced my old reel too and still the same.

I have completely no confidence now in my casting and its driving me nuts.

However i am hoping i might have figured it out and i'm hoping someone here exprienced something similar and can confirm before i get out on my next session.

Basically i've only started using the front drag in the last year, never used it in the past, but a monster i lost in ennerreilly thought me a lesson. Its not very loose now, a big fish can pull line but i leave it at this setting always. Is this my mistake? is the line slipping and getting caught. If so why isn't the line snapping at the spool instead of half way up the rod rings? very frustrated and any help would be very much appreciated.

John

Hi John, 1 thing it could be is that the line is of poor quality i.e a bad batch or it may have been left in the direct sunlight
before you bought it, its possible and nothing to do with your casting.

K.C

check the eyes on the rods rub some fine cotton wool around the eyes if there is any damage the wool will stick to it

looks like the line is the problem, bad batch as K.C. said already or too soft, change it to a stiffer quality line and you are sorted.

I actually bought a brand new rod so the eyes haven't even had more than 20 mins use and its still happening. I bought a new Avo Runner 8500 again only a week or so old.

The line is an interesting element i didn't consider. Its about a year old and probably could do with replacing. would new line still not get caught? What line would you suggest?

I still think the drag has something to do with it as the problem though, from the best of my knowledge it started around or close enough to when i started using the front drag system.

I'd be more confident if someone else was having the same problem and what they did to fix.

This issue has made me lose confidence when casting to the point where i am shakey and worried i'm going to smash myself or someone else in the head with a 4oz weight. This lack of confidence is taking some of the joy out of it, and its so depressing, spending 20 mins setting up, getting your bait presentation ready only to luanch everything out to sea.

A year old can be too old if you store your reels where sunlight (UV-light) can reach it. Change it to any good quality line you have trust in, I find Ultima Power Steel 15lb very good http://www.basstastic.co.uk/ultima-powe ... 4790-p.asp and not too dear but some might have other opinions.
Also check the line roller on the bail arm of your reel, if this has damage (cut, groove or is stuck) it will be lethal to any line when you reel it in.

Whether it’s a fixed spool or multi you’re using, your drag should be completely locked down 100% to avoid spool slip.

It sounds like a bad batch of line to me or equipment damamge (line roller / friction) if your technique was ok before it’s unlikely to be that.

Out of interest, how do you cast – overhead thump, pendulum, off the ground etc???

my technique has gone to the dogs, but its out of fear and confidence, over thinking. its like my golf swing now, thinking far too much about it

I don't think its equipment damage, its sounds like the line which is pretty much what every post has suggested so far. thanks very much for that lads. I just didn't consider it. even when i bought the new reel i still loaded my old line on to the new spool.

I would be an overhead thump caster, but its all over the place with the confidence problem at the moment.

Thanks Alby, for confirming that. the avo runner has a rear and front drag system. the rear one is a baitrunner with a switch to lock it. so i might be lock the front drag all together and wind back when playing monsters instead. leaving the use of the baitrunner just for when i'm about to set the hook.

I'm only going to catch monsters for now on i so need to get it right ya know haha

100% a line issue, new rod, new reel and old line!!!

Bet you can break the line by hand with minimal strain sure sign it's time to change it. Daiwa Sensor in .31 (12LB ) hard to beat for clean ground.


Locally available too so no need running off to give the UK your cash!!!

you are 100% on the spot Keith (as most of the other posters have mentioned this already ) but you never cease to amaze me, today I've learned that Daiwa is an Irish company!
"That's brilliant Ted, nothing to worry then" - Fr. Dougal McGuire

Saucer of Milk perhaps?


MEEEEEEEOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

Maybe your just too strong

full moon is approaching - time to take your gear out for a walk - with proper bait in seawater, like real men do

sounds like the line is gone frail, sun exposure and salt water (if you dont wash it after a session)

Even if its a new rod check the rings the rings can get damaged by reeling swivels or links onto the reel if not i would take the lads advice and change the line

picked up some Suffix Elite .30mm 15lbs. all they had in Rorys temple bar (not very well set up for sea anglers, didn't even have reflective tape??

will give it a go this evening and report back. thanks again lads.

full moon is approaching - time to take your gear out for a walk - with proper bait in seawater, like real men do

Super full moon at that