What knot are you using? I use Excel most of the time, for years! I have problems with the 6 and 8 lbs sometimes, mainly because I set the hook too hard. But I can assure you, I only go as far as 17 lbs on my striper trips and I've not lost a bait in years. I can count on one hand how many I've broken on a hookset flippin bushes with it in the past couple years. I use a simple palomar knot, just make sure its wet before you cinch it down. Bad batch of 20 lbs two times is hard to beleive, but possible I guess.