Doubtless this has been posed before but if so I missed it.
When playing a trout - or any fish on the fly I suppose - what do members prefer? To play it via the line or off the reel?
I ask because last May, when invited as a guest to the Frandy (I know - stockies as well as wildies - but with nice upland scenery to compensate, and hard-fighting fish to boot), I was playing a 3lb'er off the reel and one of my companions on this foray - a young lad and friend of the people who invited me along, who I'd never met until that day - said, matter-of-factly and somewhat sardonically on seeing me take in the slack and tighten the drag a bit: "you're better playing it off the line mate".
Why?
Personally I feel that there are many situations where you don't want loops of line at your feet, particularly on the river and especially when wading. Also, I feel that playing off the reel, with the application of some modest drag, means the fish is not only fighting the rod spring but the drag as well. So, unless it's a wee bandie I tend to reel in and play the fish that way. Sometimes the fish reacts in such a way that you simply have to use whatever method you can - at least initially, but even in those situations I will wind in the spare line if possible and fight it that way.
What do others think?
Fish On ! Panic to get line up out of the grass and thistles or out from under wellies in boat - then trying to hold by hand whilst winding or not - depending on weeds or wellies snagging - and then onto reel. That seems to be my average performance !!!!
If it's a small fish I don't bother, big fish I want on the reel. I don't want loose line catching in weeds or tangling. Have lost fish in the past because of this.
Quote from: admin on February 15, 2014, 05:43:45 PM
If it's a small fish I don't bother, big fish I want on the reel. I don't want loose line catching in weeds or tangling. Have lost fish in the past because of this.
Same here. You may have to move position (or run) with a big fish on. Trying to do that with loose line lying about is a no-no.
Alex
Quote from: haresear on February 15, 2014, 05:51:44 PM
You may have to move position (or run) with a big fish on. Trying to do that with loose line lying about is a no-no.
As the video of yours that I posted a few weeks ago demonstrated. Of course for loch only fishers this is not nearly as much of an issue as it is on rivers.
Here it is again. For some reason I never tire of this one. :lol:
Brown Trout Runs Downstream (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUpfA2aIjIU#)
Seems we're mostly in accord on this then and for much the same reasons. In terms of bankside snags though - I tend to find that if there is loose line before winding it in, it always seems to find the tiniest, most insignificant wrinkle to get stuck on!
Andy - yes, agreed, although I don't generally use finger or hand pressure as you and others do. What i've found myself doing is applying the drag a little bit and then increasing (or decreasing) as required.
Bobfly - that sounds like my very early attempts when getting a take - whether a big trout or a bandie! Think Stan Smith in American Dad running up and down the bank going "arrrghhh arrghhh arrgghhh!!!" when he hooks a fish in the episode featuring his criminal Dad :lol: On one memorable occasion in my first season I was drifting a Daddy down a riffle when a (very small) bandie took it. Instead of raising the rod tip a bit I literally yanked the poor thing so that it became temporarily airborne, landed in the shallows near my feet, and very understandably shook itself free and bolted for the far bank! My companion/tutor burst out laughing, and I spent the rest of the session breaking down in giggles. needless to say I didn't get another take :)
Fred, nice video - and nice trout! Must admit I like the commentary, but also the NZ guide in the background barking out orders like a retired Drill Sergeant!
QuoteFred, nice video - and nice trout! Must admit I like the commentary, but also the NZ guide in the background barking out orders like a retired Drill Sergeant
Midgie Hater, the guide, my pal John Boyles must have been behaving himself because I was filming. He isn't normally so resttrained :)
Alex
Alex If that's restrained, i'd like to hear unbridled :lol:
Les
Until I contacted a North Platte rainbow I would not have bothered with the reel but that has changed. In a big fast river with a silver torpedo on and generally with 15-20 feet of line out I end up having to change arms before I get a 2lber in to net range. A drag reel is not a luxury!
Quote from: Midgie Hater on February 16, 2014, 01:28:39 AM
Alex If that's restrained, i'd like to hear unbridled :lol:
Les
Les, he's actually fairly diplomatic and understanding until he gets to know you. Once has done that, he takes no prisoners. "What the fuck are you doing?" is a frequently used phrase :lol:
John wants his clients to get fish. That's why once Fred has hooked the fish, John sees the pitfalls that can happen if you don't follow the fish downstream. In among those big rocks you need as little line as possible between you and the fish, otherwise you may end up with the line around a rock. These guys hook big fish on an almost daily basis and are well worth listening to and learning from.
Alex
Alex
Quote from: haresear on February 16, 2014, 01:58:05 AM
...he's actually fairly diplomatic and understanding until he gets to know you. Once has done that, he takes no prisoners. "What the fuck are you doing?" is a frequently used phrase :lol:
In among those big rocks you need as little line as possible between you and the fish, otherwise you may end up with the line around a rock. These guys hook big fish on an almost daily basis and are well worth listening to and learning from.
Oh, for sure. Absolutely. I was just amused at his "instructions" to Fred, which, as you've explained there, are borne of familiarity and a desire to impart experience in order to help the client avoid some of the pitfalls of their local river. Although i've never hired a guide myself i've certainly, in the past, had far more experienced companions roaring at me when in danger of making a pigs-ear of a play - so fairly often in fact! :lol: Yep, the benefit of others' experience can be a valuable thing. I'm fully expecting the same kind of treatment when I finally hook up with veteran regulars on Oregon's Sandy river later this year :)
Other than a salmon, which I lost, I don't remember ever playing a trout off the reel, always by hand lining. It may take all the slack line up to the reel but I always play them by hand lining.
If I get a biggish Trout (not very often) & certainly Salmon & Sea Trout I like to get the line on the reel if at all possible. Smaller fish I hand line & control any small runs by tension
between my fingers. Having said that I very rarely wind loose line on to the reel whilst "clamping" the loose line. Two reasons the line goes on the reel slack & if the fish makes a lunge for freedom the loose line can jam up. Also there is a chance that the fish can come of if you are taking unawares whilst you try to wind in loose line & the line under tension with you hand clamped against the rod. Both of which have happend to me more so the latter.
All down to experience, I can control the line reasonably well by hand & if it gets "on the reel" you have best off both worlds if required.
I can see the argument for "not" having coils of loose line where they can get either stood on or snagged up on rock or vegetation. On open water or from a boat should not be so critical a operation. One reason a boat should not have clutter lying about. I once saw a landing net fly up in the air when a fish that had made a mad dash for freedom & the loose line lying in the boat had got round the handle. Believe he got the fish but lost a perfectly good net. You really must be aware of your surroundings & act accordingly to my mind. Fraid this comes from experience & importantly learning from mistakes which we all make on occasion. Sadly some do not seeing some of the antics I have observed over the years.
Tight Lines
I'ts got to make sense to get the line on the reel if need be. No hard fast rule, make the decision at the time.
I sort of thread the line between my thumb, three middle fingers and pinky allowing me to keep the tension on both ends and wind at the right moment when the fish is having a think
I've had a bit a success keeping trout on a short line using any reel with a half decent drag set light and a soft actioned rod, with that and a bit of walking to a slow bank, most trout seem to throw in the towel fairly easily.
I always aim to get it on the reel but with the smaller fish I dont worry to much about winding in the slack, I'll just hand line it if it has to be that way.
I always folk who's bread and butter is rivers will near enough always get the fish onto the reel where as those going for the Rainbows near enough never bother getting the fish on the reel. Just my observation.
I like to get the line back on the reel whether its rivers or loch, unless wading a loch.....for reasons already mentioned and to avoid clumsy foot work damaging the line. A large arbor reel helps a lot :D
How much extra weight does the retrieve mechanism add to the reel Alan? Been tempted to try one of those......aesthetics are a little off-putting but I like as little weight hanging off the cork as possible.... :)
Sounds worth a closer look and many thanks for your kind offer Alan, perhaps we will get a chance to meet up during the season when the lochs are fishing better, its been a year or two since I have got out much.
Have a look here Joe.
http://www.sexyloops.com/tackle/vivarelli.shtml (http://www.sexyloops.com/tackle/vivarelli.shtml)
Tight Lines
Quote from: Alan on April 12, 2014, 09:33:35 PM
'The line back on the reel' is a frequently used phrase here, seems to me fly reels are not designed to do that terribly well......this picks up whats at your feet in 2 or 3 seconds, about 2 handle pulls, and doesn't need the left hand to do it.....
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-hk6RhE1hcVM/TYaW8hLJi_I/AAAAAAAAAGg/MlFIhWfuxWQ/s1600/IMGP0884.jpg)
When I was in the engineering industry that looks like what we called as "a nice to have" A luxury that does not really add to the basic function of the design. I don't have too much trouble get the line back on the reel and I don't cast out too far anyway.
On some of the places I clamber about I don't think the lever would be attached for long :)
Thanks for the link Highlander....even when there is not much loose line if a fish runs towards me after tightening on the take on the river theres more loose line than I like to get on the reel before getting up the bank and onto the fish so this is worth at least a trial I think.
I've wondered how those quick-retrieve reels perform. Now we know :)
My only slight concern would be, in the heat of a hooked fish moment, not realising that the fly line is wrapped around your foot when engaging it!
Quote from: east wind on April 12, 2014, 11:22:31 PM
I don't have too much trouble get the line back on the reel
Nor do I. That reel looks like a fast track towards repetitive strain injury
Sexyloops write up seems balanced which encouraged me to look further....only way to know is give it a go...reel now ordered I suspect the decison to use or not will be a bit like picking up a favorite rod but perhaps a bit more like marmite on the scale of love or hate, time will tell....
Thank you so much Alan but having not bouhht anything other than tippet in two years I let my impulsive nature win..fingers crossed it arrives for the next day off on Tuesday!