But does my comment about applying less pressure if he's upstream make sense?

@Andre, I think that's part of my problem and you mentioned this before. I need to just be a bit more forceful and get the upper hand and not worry about hook popping.

I know I'm to gentle as I have only lost about 5 rigs in around 10 outings. 1 to split shot cutting the line. 3 to a bad knots my bad and that has gone away thankfully. 1 to a monster carp that just blew my mind with pure power that I really didn't know what to do and he just destroyed my rig. Should have just let him run but I think I was so impressed by the rooster tail he caused in my line while he bolted on his second run that I was to confused to get him more line to go. :-)