I didn't comment on lures of line weight because it varies with where your are and what you are catching. I carry extra yo yos rigged with different weights and lures.
No, 300 pounds is not overkill for larger
game fish. But 100 pounds will catch quite a lot. When you get the fish closer to the
boat, remember that your arms is the spring, and if you don't give a little, any fish can tear the hook out. Also, longer lines are less prone to breaking on the strike because they stretch more.
Generally, I have to reduce
canvas quite a bit to slow down to 5 knots--I didn't understand the mono comment. If a
multihull is that slow there is something wrong.
The best speed depends on what you are
fishing for. Faster for tuna, mackerel, and bluefish, slower for stripped bass. And even then, vary it a bit; it changes with
water temperature and
weather. I've caught blues at 4 knots and striped bass at 8-9. It varies.
Don't take any one piece of
advice, because they are probably ALL right at some place and at some time. The distance from the
boat, speed,
depth, lure type and size, and direction relative to waves all play a part.
Fish can pull off the hook for many reasons:
- Did not bite the hook properly. Perhaps something warned them off at the last spot second. Often this happens multiple times in a row. Change lures or change speed.
- Careless handling near the boat allowed them to get slack. Your arms to keep the slack out. That is the main function of a trolling rod.
- Don't stop the boat. Likewise, the problem is slack. Just slow down. It is more work, but you will loose fewer fish.
- Line too strong. Means no stretch, means slack.
- Dull hooks. Needle sharp. Replace or sharpen when dulled even a little.
Expect big fish to be some
work. You have to keep tension, so that means a long pull.