FLY FISHING CONTINUED
My counsel is this : If a big fish wants you on the reel , he ’ ll put you on the reel . Trying to frantically wrap up all your slack line at the outset will more than likely get you into trouble . Usually the line is frozen under the index finger of the rod hand , and there is no way to react to sudden violence on the other end . The rod tip shakes the line uncontrollably with each turn of the reel handle – a good way to shake the fish off .
Steady pressure is the requirement – not rapid-fire jerking on a taut line . When you strip , keep the pressure steady – and don ’ t step on your line .
Watch your rod angle Keep the rod at about a 45-degree angle to the fish . The rule is this : the fish gets the tip as a shock absorber ; you get leverage with the butt . When the fish runs or jumps , salute him with the rod . Lift the rod again as the run or jump ends . And don ’ t go fiddling with the drag on the reel . Set it initially for easy stripping of line with no overrun . When needed , add to that moderate amount of drag by gingerly and gradually applying finger pressure to the spool . Practice this on dry land with a friend before trying it on the stream : you ’ ll be surprised at how very little finger pressure on the rim seems to compound itself by the time it reaches the fish . The object here is to add just enough resistance to slow the fish down – not give it a whiplash . If the fish is headed away from you it has the advantage , and overreaction on your part will likely end in a breakoff .
Side pressure eventually tires this big fish
Side pressure My big fish on the Blackfoot turned out to be a battle-scarred veteran of the angling wars . He did everything he could to get rid of me : he swam upstream under the ledge came up from , he ran downstream toward rocks that would surely saw off the leader , he dogged it on the bottom , at the end he tried to run under the boat . Continued on page 22
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