Newman Noggs
Well-Known Member
Top man. I always say a fish on a dry fly is worth 3 on any other method so well done. Bad luck on losing that fish. One of the most difficult things to learn when you first start up is how to control a fish when it runs. There are two schools of thought. 1) Get it as fast as possible onto the reel and let the reel (set at the right tension) take the strain and 2) play the fish using the line, that is retrieve line when you can but let the fish run when it wants by allowing the line to run through your fingers under some pressure. Both have their advantages and drawbacks. The first you have to wind unused line onto the reel manically as all the while you seek to keep the line tight between you and the fish. The second requires you to have an element of feel and touch to know how much pressure to put on the fish. All the while with either method keeping the rod at the correct angle (I have seen lots of beginners just about point the rod at the fish with obvious consequences. No wonder its probably the last thing that you get really comfortable with. And thats not to mention the little tricks that Trout like to play on you when hooked:
Jumping
Running very fast directly at you (thats always v tricky)
trying to wind you round the anchor rope/drogue/engine
being contrary annoying scaly little bastards
I have to say I have always preferred the second method although things still go wrong (a lot).
Anyway. Good luck next time you hook a big beast.
Lyn Clwedog is getting a great reputation how did your boat partner do? Did you enjoy it?
Great seeing an Osprey live. For a close up, have a look at Maya on the Rutland Osprey channel. Her first egg hatched today. Two more to go. We will see her live on Thursday morning! I have a boat booked for Saturday and the forecast is just right :-)
Thanks, I opted for a hybrid of the former and the latter method otherwise known as abject panic, but never to the point of pointing the rod at the fish ! My mate only caught 2, (he had 10 the week before) but he was this fly, that fly, up and down, in and out, this line, that line, this rod, that rod all day but just couldn't find the fish. Nevertheless, a fantastic day.
Hope Lady Luck smiles on you later in the week.