The Weak Link,

[dunn6253]

Sounds like you need a dedicated planer rod and a dedicated bait rod Frank, that way you can control the drag of each.....

[Bert Rodgers]

Mark I am using a bent butt 130 class rod, 80 narrow, 250lb PowerPro, 120ft of 100 lb Ande leader. When the BigEye's hit, the leader will break "somewhere" (usually not at a terminal joint)before you have a chance to back the drag off. It doesn't matter if you're using a 50 or an 80 (I use both on 2 different set-up's), the drag needed to hold a #12 or #16 has NO give, when that big fast fish (that usually run's straight away from the boat) hit's. Before you can drop the lever back to the pre-maked spot, the fish win's. It happen's just too fast!
Capt Fred Archer, when I am speaking of using my downrigger, I am using a rail mounted downrigger, with a planer (of whatever size I need to match the depth) with a quick release attached for the hook bait. I have run planer's commercial king fishing and feel very comfortable with them, they catch fish. But the immediate hard run's from the big fish from what I've seen, are just too much for the "sniper" type rig's from what I've experienced. We've caught wahoo up to 68lb and countless yellowfin on them, but the battleship's is what I'm having problem's with. The regular "run of the mill" meat fish haven't been a problem.
I hope I am making my question plain enough. Alot of time's I understand what I'm sayin', but no one else does.
Clt-Capt, you just need to come a few mile's North and get away from those "snake's", to see what I'm talkin' about!!!!
By the way, I don't have this problem with smaller planer's or trolling weight's. The drag doesn't have to nearly as tight. Frank

One pop off would cure me. Of course I have never used a sniper rod so my perpsecive is limited. I have used the DRr with a #16 planer . I run the planer on 225 braid and use a long line clip with a rubber band for the release.

It seems to me that the fewer connections on a line the fewer chance of falure. Especially with large tuna.

Bert

[TunaTeaser1]

I fish with Ande leader a lot as well and like it but I'm not sure what the breaking strength is for 100lb. Since this sounds like your weak link maybe try switching line or upping leader size? I'm hesitant to go much over 100lb considering the areas we fish and main species targeted, but i don't think switching to 130 for a planer rod will hurt you. I checked and the breaking strength for 130 Momoi diamond is 244 lbs. Just a thought, but may not be the direction you want to go.

[seapower]

I may well go back to the "old fashioned" way. That way (like Dunn said) I can control the drag of each. I like to use shower curtain ring's to slide down the planer line, with rubber band's to the leader. Tuna, the Ande has served me well for all other application's. I am like you with upping the leader size, you know how much the fish get "run over" where we fish. Frank

[edistorunner]

Mark I am using a bent butt 130 class rod, 80 narrow, 250lb PowerPro, 120ft of 100 lb Ande leader. When the BigEye's hit, the leader will break "somewhere" (usually not at a terminal joint)before you have a chance to back the drag off. It doesn't matter if you're using a 50 or an 80 (I use both on 2 different set-up's), the drag needed to hold a #12 or #16 has NO give, when that big fast fish (that usually run's straight away from the boat) hit's. Before you can drop the lever back to the pre-maked spot, the fish win's. It happen's just too fast!
Capt Fred Archer, when I am speaking of using my downrigger, I am using a rail mounted downrigger, with a planer (of whatever size I need to match the depth) with a quick release attached for the hook bait. I have run planer's commercial king fishing and feel very comfortable with them, they catch fish. But the immediate hard run's from the big fish from what I've seen, are just too much for the "sniper" type rig's from what I've experienced. We've caught wahoo up to 68lb and countless yellowfin on them, but the battleship's is what I'm having problem's with. The regular "run of the mill" meat fish haven't been a problem.
I hope I am making my question plain enough. Alot of time's I understand what I'm sayin', but no one else does.
Clt-Capt, you just need to come a few mile's North and get away from those "snake's", to see what I'm talkin' about!!!!
By the way, I don't have this problem with smaller planer's or trolling weight's. The drag doesn't have to nearly as tight. Frank

If i am correct here, 100lb ande leader breaks at 100lbs, go to 100ft 130lb momoi diamond mono for your leader. It has a strength of 230 something lbs. that should eliminate the pop off. It sounds like what you are doing is working, just having tackle failure so you need to beef it up a little.

[offshore]

Frank,
I have been using 100lb Momoi Diamond for the past 6 years and have not had any break offs except when a Mako eats the planer!! Might want to try a different leader material.....Mark

[HOLWACHAGOT]

Something is wrong with your setup.
The reel should be able to lose line without popping.....BEFORE.....you back the drag off a bit. I'd suspect the connections are flawed, leaders too light, rods too stiff, or possibly all of the above. Perhaps even back off the drag a bit while trolling.....Is your planer creeping down when the boat rises on a swell? If not....your too tight.
Does your bridle pass through the guides fairly cleanly? Perhaps your 130 has a gremlin in the tip or on one of the guides.
Set up properly....even a slowpoke should have time to get the drag backed off before terminal failure.
Same applies to highspeed trolling way I see it. If line can't leave the reel for a bit when the right Hoo hits.....your pissin in the wind trying that technique.
Holwachagot