The Pull

[LD1]

So I was down on the Clearwater this weekend and the prior Sunday. Had some success but was some what frustrating also. The good thing is I was getting pulls, the frustrating part is they really did not give much of a chance to set the hook.

Two weeks ago - water temp mid 50's to a little higher late afternoon.
- little pull and nothing - tried to get the fish and nothing
- pull take and fish tail walking - runs right at me, strip like crazy fish still on - runs up again no fish - all happened so quickly I do not think I got a good hook set -good opportunity anyway
Last weekend- water temps 55 to 59 degrees
My friend Jim-
- grab on the retrieve - most likely pulled the fly away - happens
- little tug end of the swing - we both tried again nothing
Me-
- little tap and nothing - went back nothing
- -tug and nothing, tried again nothing
- text book pull, line peels off swing towards the bank, fish tail walking and running, nice native hen to hand
- good pull stripped a couple feet and before I could set the hook fish off - started to take and felt the line and turned?
- little tap - nothing, went after it and nothing

I am going off the reel with the drag set almost to free spin, sometimes holding a loop. I have limited experience with steelhead (couple of years). But usually when I get a pull the fish will take the fly. But most of the recent takes you get a little pull to a good pull and they don't seem to take the fly and turn. (I did go through the bass master faze where I would try to set the hook, but that is not the problem now). If water temps were to high they would not be that active. Could most of the little pulls be hatchery fish? Also did not get one fish to come back to the fly. So any thoughts?

[Steve Egge]

That is why I don't carry a pistol or any firearm with me ... I would worry I'd go shoot myself when this kind of stuff happens.

Hind sight is so perfect ... "I should of done something else"

Only three options are go early, go very late, or stay the course.

After a couple of pulls and nothing ... just start setting early and see if it helps ... I've had some success.

I've also heard the John Hazel story of him ripping line off the reel to feed slack, create more of a natural pull on the line to put the hook in the corner of the mouth and set when the fish turns ... with the hook kept in place by the pull of the line in the current.

The other thing is to realize that the hook if vertial can turn so the hook sets in the corner ... or turns so the bend of the hook shields it from a hook set and the hook falls out (bummer) ... 50 - 50 ... Hmmm .... that thought can give you solace ... just a string of bad luch that will change on the next cast.

Just some random thoughts ...

Steve

[TheWaker]

I can't emphasize the need for sticky sharp hooks enough. What some people consider sharp I would not even fish. This took me a while to figure out. I check my hooks a lot and have a good file. I believe my hookups have gone up since I started obsessing with my hooks.Sure you still miss fish but more will stick if your hook is wicked sticky.

This is an area that I see most often neglected in a set up.

Like Steve said, when I have missed a few for not being on it, I start setting early and see what happens. That often can pull me out of the tug,pull,bump, slump.

[Stumpy]

I check my hook point against a thumbnail. If it sticks, immediately and firmly, then the hook is sharp in my opinion. If the hook slides over the nail, out comes the file. On some hooks, 4 strokes each side and bottom will get it sharp. On others, you could grow a crop of radishes before it sharpens up.

[TheWaker]

The fingernail is a great test and also what I do. I think it best imitates the hard part of a fish mouth.

It is surprising how nicking just a small rock will ding the hook and it will just slide across the nail. That means it will more easily slide out of a fish mouth. I find when I get lazy and don't check my hook, fish don't stick anymore......go figure.

Sharp hooks take a lot of the guess work out of the equipment side....but there is always still unforced operator error that comes into play.

[LoloPass]

Early in the season I tend to start in trout mode, that instant reaction to set the hook. I have to remind myself to back off and let em take some line. I always carry a slack loop, let it go, and then raise the rod tip toward the bank.

I agree with the sharp hook and light drag!

[wetoddad37]

I have no advise or answer to give on the subject as I am also somewhat new and still learning( something tells me I will allways be learning). All I can say is that I understand. Two weekends in a row hooked into a fish, and every time I get them in close enough to land, the fricken hook popps out. Last year I had a good fall season , but I had the same problem and lost more fish than landed(alot more) the same way. I felt very greatfull for the ones I did land. I did get frustrated and sometimes embarrassed if other guys were around, but all I could do is laugh. I do think that I figured out the common denominator and I will try to fix it.

[LD1]

Mark, I did notice one of my hook was dull and changed it. I will watch it more.

William, I am fishing a dry line and a small wet fly. I did try to get them back, changed flies and went up stream a little but not that far. May be better to work harder in a run when you find a willing fish that chasing another. And do realize the fish that feel the hook are done.

Steve, I am hesitant to try early sets. I has such a mental block for over a season trying to set the hook that it is hard to go back that path. never hooked a fish when I tried to set the hook. Feeding line is worth a shot as well.

wettodad37, once I hook a fish my landing percentage is very good. Just need to get them on the hook.

Thanks for the responses.

[wetoddad37]

Mark, I did notice one of my hook was dull and changed it. I will watch it more.

William, I am fishing a dry line and a small wet fly. I did try to get them back, changed flies and went up stream a little but not that far. May be better to work harder in a run when you find a willing fish that chasing another. And do realize the fish that feel the hook are done.

Steve, I am hesitant to try early sets. I has such a mental block for over a season trying to set the hook that it is hard to go back that path. never hooked a fish when I tried to set the hook. Feeding line is worth a shot as well.

wettodad37, once I hook a fish my landing percentage is very good. Just need to get them on the hook.

Thanks for the responses.
whats yur secret?

[mrslide]

Sticky sharp hooks... basic!

I think that waiting for good solid weight on the line before tightening smoothly is usually the best policy.

If these missed takes are coming at the hangdown, seriously consider staying in closer to the bank so you can keep some angle in the swing; line manipulation can help here too. Try to keep some line across the current, even a little " hook " at the end. Hangdown fish are notoriously hard to stick.

That said, sometimes the fish are just not taking the fly solidly, and nothing you do will produce a solid hookup. Console yourself with the fact that you moved them to your fly; sometimes that can be enough reward.

Tight lines, Chris

[roballen]

Don't over think the issue it's steelheading and that's just the way it is..

sometimes they don't stick sometimes they stick but come unbuttoned sometimes they do each of those so often you feel like you have to be doing something wrong....... nope that's just steelheading

sounds to me like you are getting lots of grabs which means you are doing most everything right.. are you enjoying the time you spend on the water?? if so absolutely everything right...

don't worry about the grabs that don't connect it's just part of the game

if you obsess about every bump that doesn't turn into a solid hook-up you'll spend a lot of time frustrated..

the clearwater is a gorgeous river my advise is this..

make a cast mend it then forget you are fishing , take a look around and enjoy the views and the wildlife... the less attention ( within reason) you pay to your fly as it swings the more of a shocking surprise it will be when you get those grabs , like waking up from a dream..

[caihlen]

Don't over think the issue it's steelheading and that's just the way it is..

sometimes they don't stick sometimes they stick but come unbuttoned sometimes they do each of those so often you feel like you have to be doing something wrong....... nope that's just steelheading

sounds to me like you are getting lots of grabs which means you are doing most everything right.. are you enjoying the time you spend on the water?? if so absolutely everything right...

don't worry about the grabs that don't connect it's just part of the game

if you obsess about every bump that doesn't turn into a solid hook-up you'll spend a lot of time frustrated..

the clearwater is a gorgeous river my advise is this..

make a cast mend it then forget you are fishing , take a look around and enjoy the views and the wildlife... the less attention ( within reason) you pay to your fly as it swings the more of a shocking surprise it will be when you get those grabs , like waking up from a dream..

You nailed it.

kc

[SpeySpaz]

LD, you're paying way too much attention.
just watch the birdies man, a good swing will take care of you eventually.
hang in there.
I lost 4 fish in a row at the bank this summer, and I wondered what I was doing wrong till I stopped losing fish at the beach.
My major technique change? no change. I don't know, it's fishing, man!

maybe it's like that hot girl in high school, you aren't going to score till you ignore her.
That's all I got, and it's not much.
Bob