Wishin. try backing your drag off, set them just heavy enough to hold your equip. from pulling drag also leave the clicker on until you fight a fish. As far as loosing them at the boat thats where most are lost. I beleive the proper way to bring a fish in is that you (we) are suppose to back the drag off the closer the fish gets but most don't! Instead we winch them in. Just my 2 cents.