Thinkxingu -- Your issue is quite simple ...... not enough scope !
By your own admission you are expecting it to hook with 20' of line and hold a 20' toon. NOT gonna happen !
Solution - if you are truly always at the FL75 sandbar or Margate or similar-- then be prepared to jump off and set it manually
If you go to Patrician, Blueberry, Braun or other sandbar then you will be afforded the opportunity to have 40-60' of line off your bow and you'll catch just fine !!
I have a 26' bowrider, if I go to any of the sandbars first listed -- I know I am gonna get wet !! because the nature/ boating culture of those sandbar does not lend to a lot of scope (simply, I would look like an idiot with 80' of line out).
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A bad day on the Big Lake (although I've never had one) - Still beats a day at the office!!
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