I can't even begin to count the number of times I've heard stories about the line breaking during the hook set. I've seen this done even on heavy twenty pound line especially on short casts or pitches. However, in all my years of fishing I cannot recall breaking my own line even one time on a hook set. I explained to a friend not long ago that I have never set the hook and broken the line even on a snag. The most critical part of getting a bass to the boat is the initial hook set.
Anytime force is applied something has to give.
In the case of bass fishing several factors come into play. The main factors are the bend of the rod to absorb shock, the line stretch, the movement of the fish during the hook set or the movement of the hook through the flesh and bone of the fish. The risk of loosing a fish is greatly increased when any of the formentioned factors fail to tolerate the force applied. Losing BIG fish. Many people wonder why it is that big fish seem to get away more often than small fish.