What do I do about fish escaping due to low line tension?

[That Fetcher Fargoth]

It's seriously the most depressing thing in this game. I've already looked up suggestions, and asked other people in the chat, and I don't know what to do. It happens to me 3/5s of the time, and it's breaking me. Things I've heard people suggest are:

"Just keep pumping the right mouse button."

-I already do that, it makes the fish more likely to swim toward you, and for them to escape due to low line tension.

"Press shift to reel in faster.

-The reel speed jumps to 4 when you hook a fish, and pressing shift just sets the speed to 4 if it isn't already, so this is useless.

"Move the rod up and/or hit the right-mouse button."

-This doesn't seem to help reel in the slack, or tighten the line if it is slack, in my experience. I don't know, maybe I'm doing it incorrectly?

Not only that, but the time in which you have to tighten the line back up is often, but not always, so small you're almost guaranteed to lose the fish. I know this feature is to increase the realism, but it adds nothing to the game but agony, and irratation. It's already challenging to find the fish, and catch them. Being as realistic as possible doesn't make a game good. Sorry I just needed to rant.

[Yeti]

1. get a reel with a faster retrieve(this will solve the problem most of the time)
2 move the rod oposite direction to the fish (so if the fish is on your right turn to your left when the fish starts running at you while holding lmb and tap the rmb as often as you need to to keep enough tension on the fish so it doesnt get off)once fish starts pulling line again reset your char to the centre again so if fish runns at you again you have enough room each side to turn and take up the slack again.

[That Fetcher Fargoth]

Originally posted by Power2theplaya:

1. get a reel with a faster retrieve(this will solve the problem most of the time)
2 move the rod oposite direction to the fish (so if the fish is on your right turn to your left when the fish starts running at you while holding lmb and tap the rmb as often as you need to to keep enough tension on the fish so it doesnt get off)once fish starts pulling line again reset your char to the centre again so if fish runns at you again you have enough room each side to turn and take up the slack again.

That's helpful, thank you!

[BoomBoom]

What I do is swing the rod left and right to 180 degree quickly while continuing reeling in. Do this by repeating moving mouse left and right to swing your rod...you will start seeing it get a little tension ON and OFF...just enough to not lose the fish. Do it until you build enough tension to bring it in. I have many saves by using this technique that someone else on the forum recommended. Hope it helps you.

[dukeof3arl]

I think there's more to this than just your mechanics. This sounds like a classic case of unbalanced gear. Long and drawn out fights that result in losing a fish to low line tension are primarily caused because you ran into a fish that's bigger than your gear can handle.

The biggest fish in this game take less than 5-10 minutes to fight (probably a gross overestimate) with the right gear. Sometimes you just can't escape getting into bigger fish at lower levels and these sort of things will happen. The best possible solution is to use some of the resources online here (Uberspreadsheet, and recommended settings on the tooltips).

For example: A brutus rod synergizes best with double punch reel and 20lb braid.
For example: A Galaxy Cast rod, cyclone 6500 reel and 32 lb mono.

Always check your reels max drag. Shoot for lb-age just under the max settings. That's how you know its balanced and then pick a rod that fits both your line and reel.

When you can only crank your drag up to half is bad. The best synergized setups makes the most use of drag.

EDIT: Deconstructed took me to skoooolio.

[Deconstructed]

Originally posted by dukeof3arl:

For example: A brutus rod synergizes best with double punch reel and 30lb braid.

NOOO!!!

:)

[Capt_Mac_141]

Happened to me once, a long time ago in Florida while I was grinding Peacock bass.
I learned to do the "crazy dance" and i haven't lost a fish since. LOL

[dukeof3arl]

Originally posted by Deconstructed:

Originally posted by dukeof3arl:

For example: A brutus rod synergizes best with double punch reel and 30lb braid.

NOOO!!!

:)

****Goes and checks Decon's sheet......******

Am I wrong on this one? Wouldn't be the first time.

[Deconstructed]

Originally posted by dukeof3arl:

Originally posted by Deconstructed:

NOOO!!!

:)

****Goes and checks Decon's sheet......******

Am I wrong on this one? Wouldn't be the first time.

Doublepunch is only rated to 26.5 lb drag max.

[dukeof3arl]

Originally posted by Deconstructed:

Originally posted by dukeof3arl:

****Goes and checks Decon's sheet......******

Am I wrong on this one? Wouldn't be the first time.

Doublepunch is only rated to 26.5 lb drag max.

Close enough ;)

[Deconstructed]

Originally posted by dukeof3arl:

Originally posted by Deconstructed:

Doublepunch is only rated to 26.5 lb drag max.

Close enough ;)

To break the reel? Yes. ;)

[dukeof3arl]

Originally posted by Deconstructed:

Originally posted by dukeof3arl:

Close enough ;)

To break the reel? Yes. ;)

THIS JUST IN! DON'T USE 30LB BRAID ON DP! 30LB ON RIVERTEX IS FINE!

[Deconstructed]

Originally posted by SIN Striker:

I use 30lb fluoro on my Brutus with DoublePunch 6500 without a problem. Only rod/reel setup where I use heavier line vs the max drag.

Originally posted by Deconstructed:

Doublepunch is only rated to 26.5 lb drag max.

While Decon is correct with the max drag statement, this reel does handle up to 32lb mono/fluoro and 30lb braid just fine. So for those not yet 23 and unable to buy the newer Rivertex models instead, you are in fact safe to use the DoublePunch 6500.

Unless you get spooled then pop goes your reel. Further, there is no reason to put on heavier line, at drag setting 11 you will get max drag of 24.29lbs. Heavier line will not increase this number. 25lb test, 30lb test, 32lb test, 33lb test, 39 lb test...all of them will achieve a maxiumum drag of 24.29lbs and no more. All but the first wil break your reel if spooled.

[That Fetcher Fargoth]

Thank you all very much for all the helpful tips and explainations. This game really does have a great community. You all are awesome!

Originally posted by dukeof3arl:

I think there's more to this than just your mechanics. This sounds like a classic case of unbalanced gear. Long and drawn out fights that result in losing a fish to low line tension are primarily caused because you ran into a fish that's bigger than your gear can handle.

The biggest fish in this game take less than 5-10 minutes to fight (probably a gross overestimate) with the right gear. Sometimes you just can't escape getting into bigger fish at lower levels and these sort of things will happen. The best possible solution is to use some of the resources online here (Uberspreadsheet, and recommended settings on the tooltips).

For example: A brutus rod synergizes best with double punch reel and 20lb braid.
For example: A Galaxy Cast rod, cyclone 6500 reel and 32 lb mono.

Always check your reels max drag. Shoot for lb-age just under the max settings. That's how you know its balanced and then pick a rod that fits both your line and reel.

When you can only crank your drag up to half is bad. The best synergized setups makes the most use of drag.

EDIT: Deconstructed took me to skoooolio.

That explains a lot, thank you very much!

Originally posted by Capt_Mac_141:

Happened to me once, a long time ago in Florida while I was grinding Peacock bass.
I learned to do the "crazy dance" and i haven't lost a fish since. LOL

Can you teach me the crazy dance sensei?

[Capt_Mac_141]

As for low tension, I have found something I call the "crazy dance" that works for me.
You need a quick reaction time to make this work but as I said it works for me.

First I point the rod straight up in the air, ( to take advantage of the applied tension in the rod ) and wave it around like a "crazy" person, and at the same time reel in (LMB) and spam the RMB.

Another tip about spooling if I may add, after tension returns, remember that continuous reeling
( LMB ) while / if the fish starts taking line, will most likely result in you getting spooled. Stop reeling and again point the tip straight up and use the RMB to stop the fish from running.

Again, I don't profess to know everything but I do know what works for me and it has gotten me this far.

Good Luck

[That Fetcher Fargoth]

Originally posted by Capt_Mac_141:

As for low tension, I have found something I call the "crazy dance" that works for me.
You need a quick reaction time to make this work but as I said it works for me.

First I point the rod straight up in the air, ( to take advantage of the applied tension in the rod ) and wave it around like a "crazy" person, and at the same time reel in (LMB) and spam the RMB.

Another tip about spooling if I may add, after tension returns, remember that continuous reeling
( LMB ) while / if the fish starts taking line, will most likely result in you getting spooled. Stop reeling and again point the tip straight up and use the RMB to stop the fish from running.

Again, I don't profess to know everything but I do know what works for me and it has gotten me this far.

Good Luck

Wow, I didn't realize that reeling in while a fish is running makes it easier for them to spool you. That is very helpful. Thanks Cap'n!