help please

[donm]

Hi every one I need some help I have been out getting some gar but they keep cuttting the line and these are small ones I am useing 80 lb braided line what am I doing wrong thanks for any help

[carpsniper]

Well donm, braided line is the first thing. Braided line is great for many things, but not for gar. I've used 80lb Gorrilla Braid for some big carp, and liked it. But with gar, even 150lb power pro will cut and break. Try using 200#fast flight.

Another problem is that you're shooting completely through the gar. AMS safety slides help. Sometimes the slide will hold the arrow from completelypassing through. If you don't use slides, you can try a piece of rubber tubing (something that will fit snug but not too tight on the arrow shaft). This also acts as a brake to keep the arrowin the fish.

Lastly, if you can turn down the draw weight of your bow or use a lighter poundage bowit would help as well.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

[donm]

thanks what is a good draw weight for the bow i am shooting through the fish and i am using slides

[Bulzeye]

Gar scales are rough on line.

I would go heavier and maybe switch to Fast Flight.
I tried some 80# braided line marketed for catfishermen as an experiment, but the line didn't hold up to a 'oops, I forgot to push the botton on my spincast', so quit using it. I was trying to find a cheaper alternative for beginners with tight budgets, but arrows are just too expensive to risk it.

I like 100#and 200# Fast Flight in spincast reels.
In the AMS Standard Retriever, I use the 130# braided dacron that comes with it. Other Retriever models come with 400# FastFlight.
I've also heard good things about Power Pro line, but haven't tried it.

[carpsniper]

I know some Oneida shooters have their bows turned down less than 30lbs and shoot A LOT of fish. I shoot a 70lb recurve so to turn it down I short draw. This year I may change to a 50lb bow.

That being said, unless you're shooting fish that are more than 3 feet down, you can probably get by with 35 to 45lb bow

[RobinAim Low]

ORIGINAL: carpsniper

Try using 200#fast flight.

This is your answer. If you are using an AMS reel, use 400 lb.