Charles Crolley wrote:

Slight tug - less than the BassMaster "jerk 'em into the boat"
approach, but more than just raising the rod. I should try to be less
excitable...


Kevin and Steve gave good advice on setting the hook, you have to take
it easy.

There was a tippet available a few years ago, I think it was Varias
Superstong. You might want to do a web search and see if it is still
available and buy some of the smaller diameter stuff. If I recall
correctly their 7x had the breaking point of most other makers 5X. It
was good stuff but I've not seen it lately or I would load up on it.


The drag seems okay (again, only in reference to playing the fish) but
if this continues I'll play with that, too.

As Steve said, keep it as light as it will go. There are lots of good
reels out there which will cover 95% of one's trout fishing needs for
under a $100 up to $600+. In that 5% range are those situations where
startup inertia will help increase the strain on small tippets

A 5wt Orvis Trident TLS, mid-flex.

I've not played with a mid-flex Trident in some time but i remember
them vaguely as being a little stiffer than other mid flex rods. If you
still continue to have break offs after you lessen the power on your
hook set, I would reconsider using 7X with this rod. If you like Orvis
rods, want to keep using 7x AND want an excuse to buy another rod, look
at their Superfine series of rods.