Gentlemen,

These are excellent tips.

Ed, based on your and daRock's comments, I can now say with almost certainty that my tension is not high enough. I don't even come close to a vertical line release & "snap" when I lose the hook. Further, I never make it over the stake before I drop off.

Also, I do launch into the wind, and the towhook position is probably about a inch or so in front of the C.G.

So, first order of business is stopping by the fish & tackle dept at my local "big box".

Thanks again, gentlemen. I'll keep you posted (I'm now inclined to play hooky from work and test this out! lol).

Best... Roger Parrett