How much line can a Trophy Bass pull

[TBD]

This kinda got started on another thread (but worthy of its own).

 

The subject got started as I have found I dont buy into the whole reel weight to rod lenght theory and my liking of lighter set-ups.

 

In the strongest current, under the roughest conditions how much line can the big Mommas (50lb +) pull?

 

Also, how much line did the reel that pulled in the world record hold?

 

Why do most guys fish a VS or fish a VS250 if a VS200 is all you need?

 

As allways, thanks

 

TBD

[big country]

Ive been spooled with a VS 250 and a Lami 120 1M in an inlet, where I hooked a fish at the top of my cast, and couldnt get him out of the new moon current.. I locked the reel down at the end, it was either that or lose an S-Load of fireline, fought the fish for another minute two and then pop.. got most of my line back too..

 

BC

[jbt114]

Ive been spooled with a VS 250 and a Lami 120 1M in an inlet, where I hooked a fish at the top of my cast, and couldnt get him out of the new moon current.. I locked the reel down at the end, it was either that or lose an S-Load of fireline, fought the fish for another minute two and then pop.. got most of my line back too..

 

BC

 

 

Did the leader break or the braid?

 

Chris

[jfbasser]

300 to 350 yds. of braid is typical for a Cape Cod Canal setup. Many get bit by Momma with 120 to 140 yards of line out. If the fish spools off to a total of 300 yds in our conditions there are usually other factors such as ledges and angles that prevent landing even if you had more line to feed to the fish.

 

We fish larger reels for their retrieve speed and not capacity per se.

 

Ditch Jigger prolly uses 500 yds

[Striped Bass]

Nobody can really answer that question, because not one fish is the same.

As a general rule the bigger fish normally strip out more line but not always some may swim directly at you and you will need to reel in the slack as fast as you can

It also depends on the location you are fishing, weather conditions, current, etc.

Fishing with stout tackle, and fishing light tackle also makes a difference on how the fish is "played" but fishing with stout tackle does not mean that it allows you to "horse" the fish in as that will only cause one of 2 things to happen, you will either rip the hooks right out of the fishes mouth, or you will break the line.

 

You could very well catch 50lb + bass on a VS 150 but if you are fishing a place like the Cape Cod Canal and hook into a 50lb bass you will either get spooled or you might be lucky and be able to "walk " the fish, and land it.

 

I like to have at least 300 yeards of line on my reels most of reels are loaded with 350 to 400 yeards of line.

 

Setting the drag properly is the most important thing you need to do while fishing, I dont care if you have a VS 300 with an improperly set drag you will get spooled.

[rocket500]

I have 300 yards of line on my VS150. I bet if I went to 30lb Powerpro I could get 375 yards on there. Still, I probably wouldn't use it in the Canal.

 

Nobody can really answer that question, because not one fish is the same.

As a general rule the bigger fish normally strip out more line but not always some may swim directly at you and you will need to reel in the slack as fast as you can

It also depends on the location you are fishing, weather conditions, current, etc.

Fishing with stout tackle, and fishing light tackle also makes a difference on how the fish is "played" but fishing with stout tackle does not mean that it allows you to "horse" the fish in as that will only cause one of 2 things to happen, you will either rip the hooks right out of the fishes mouth, or you will break the line.

 

You could very well catch 50lb + bass on a VS 150 but if you are fishing a place like the Cape Cod Canal and hook into a 50lb bass you will either get spooled or you might be lucky and be able to "walk " the fish, and land it.

 

I like to have at least 300 yeards of line on my reels most of reels are loaded with 350 to 400 yeards of line.

 

Setting the drag properly is the most important thing you need to do while fishing, I dont care if you have a VS 300 with an improperly set drag you will get spooled.

 

 

[ToddMan]

All I know is that big fish in a running current are hard to turn if they set their mind to heading down current.

 

I had a bass take a spool of 30 lb. power pro and I had no chance at all of slowing him/her down.

[EBHarvey]

The subject got started as I have found I dont buy into the whole reel weight to rod lenght theory

 

Good, its nonsense.

 

In the strongest current, under the roughest conditions how much line can the big Mommas (50lb +) pull?

 

Strongest current imaginable, anywhere, ever, or the strongest current you're likely to encounter when fishing where you fish? For places I fish there's a reasonable assumption that I'm not going to see water moving more than 4 kts. On LI's open beaches I'd assume there's a similar top-end. In the ditch its way more than that and I'm sure there are some places with absolutely insanely fast current - but I'm not going to take that into consideration when deciding how much line capacity I need.

 

Here's the thing though (not the case in the Ditch) - we see strong currents in the trough between sandbars, in breaks in the bars where rip currents form, around points or ends of jetties, or in breachways, and all these places give us the opportunity to get the fish out of the strongest currents by steering them or moving our position. So, while a good fish might be able to take some serious drag when its in the flow, you can get it out of there and lessen its advantage.

 

With the sized reels you're talking about, I honestly don't think you could be spooled by a 50# fish with 50 or 65# braid and a properly set drag if you fight the fish correctly.

 

Also, how much line did the reel that pulled in the world record hold?

 

200 yds of 15# mono, but he was using 20#, soooooo........somewhere around 165-175 yds?

[James3shin]

If a striped bass is spooling a VS300, then it is due to user[angler] error.

[surfcollector]

I like this thread a lot. Very eye opening.

 

You guys get into some big a$$ fish.

[nfnDrum]

have never been spooled .... but then again I have never hooked into a cow ..

 

I can't see 300yarsds not being enough though.

[TBD]

Ive been spooled with a VS 250 and a Lami 120 1M in an inlet, BC

 

 

Thats the info I'M looking to hear.

 

 

Strongest current imaginable, anywhere, ever, or the strongest current you're likely to encounter when fishing where you fish?

 

 

Strongest currents on South Shore, Long Island, Inlets.

[Slayer25]

A Big Bass If Faught Correctly Should Never Ever Spool A Vs 200, Ive Caught Tuna To 70 Lbs On Them And Stoped Them.

[Tfisher]

My Dad fishes with a 12ft custom & Penn 850ss and has 300 yards (25# mono) or so on the spool -

 

From Sandy Hook (ocean side) a couple years ago, a 35lb cow decides to take off with his clam and almost completely drained the spool -

 

Thinks he had about 35 yards left when he was able to "slow it down"

[EBHarvey]

Strongest currents on South Shore, Long Island, Inlets.

 

But the current in that inlet doesn't stretch out to sea in every direction and go on forever, right? - it spreads out and diminishes - and from what I've seen, the current in an outflow tends to dissipate rather rapidly and significantly as the water fans out. My point is that the fish isn't likely to be in the strongest current for long, and your ability to steer her out of it makes landing it on any given gear far more a matter of skill, not quantifiable relationships between current, fish size, drag, etc. There simply aren't any meaningful objective answers to the questions you're asking.