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Weak hook set

5 (17.9%)

Too long a drift with loose line

3 (10.7%)

Forget to sharpen hook

3 (10.7%)

Leader or mainline breaks

3 (10.7%)

Not paying attention

14 (50%)

Total Members Voted: 16

Voting closed: December 10, 2004, 12:11:19 AM

[Steelhawk]

Hi, it is me again to stir up the pot of steelheading.  This time, we try to get a general consensus why so many hooked steelies failed to be landed?  Please try to help the newbies again to guard against doing the wrong thing after getting a lucky bite.  Again, rate the highest incidence for you, and give a rough estimate of your landing % in the last few years. Here I go:

  1. Not paying attention was my worst problem.  My last year's first steelie
      was not landed as I was talking to someone when the float went down.
   
  2. Weak hook set was 2nd worst.  I fished the rapids a lot.  Among hundred
      of casts, I just snag bottoms at times due to casting too many spots.
      One of those times you think you snag, it is a steelie on the line, and the
      hook set can be weak.  Now I usually double pump again when the fish
      is about right in front, as I know if I don't do that, the next jump or roll I 
      will lose the fish.
 
  3. Long drift, therefore the line is not tight enough for a strong hook set.
      Now I don't get lazy, keep shorter drift, fan my drift, take a few steps
      down after each short drift in a run/pool.  If I target a fish in a pocket
      water, I try to stand 12 o'clock to it, so the hook can penetrate the side
      of the jaw, and not its upper lips which comes from top-down drift.

  4. Forget to sharpen hook - so ever critical, especially fishing the rapids or
      near to bottom, when the hook can get dull by hitting rocks.  Now I check
      the hook sharpness every now and then to make sure it stays sticky
      sharp. Also using high carbon steel hooks exclusively now for steelies.

  5. Leader or mainline break - I rate it last, as I fished with a customed
      Loomis 1261, pretty soft rod, and Silex/JW Young centerpins, so the
      line is rarely over-played.  Sometimes the line does break due to wear &
      tear with the rocky bottoms and just fail to detect it soon enough. Check
      the lines for weakness every now & then to reduce this possibility.

My landing ratio improves through the years from 30% to 70% roughly.

Once again, I call upon the top rods to contribute freely to give the newer
fishers some insights of your rich steelheading experiences.  Tight Line!
 

[DragonSpeed]

You forgot - Not catching them 

[Steelhawk]

Too bad DS, run out of room on the 5 polled choices.  Valid point! 

[Fish Assassin]

The question posed by Funfish is why is it so hard to LAND a steelhead not hooking one.

[DragonSpeed]

The question posed by Funfish is why is it so hard to LAND a steelhead not hooking one.

The thing is, it's impossible to LAND one, if you don't HOOK one first 

[Fish Assassin]

Speak for yourself Brian !  The probable reason why fisherman don't land the fish is because they don't know the proper way of fighting a fish.

[Steelhawk]

Hey guys, don't forget to cast you votes now.  It is your duty to vote as citizens of this great steelheading nation.  From the final vote result, new fishers will know what to avoid. Even old hand like Chris will see if every one is having the same problem like him, losing 3 on derby day.  

[Oliver]

There used to be some info here 

[TrophyHunter]

My problem is........after making 16,987 casts in one day you get lulled into some kind of dream state...so that when a steely finally takes your presentation it takes a second to actually believe there is a fish on the end of your line.... just enough time for the fish to get off......the other problem I find is alot of the fish I have hooked are right behind rocks and boulders I always have a hard time getting a good hook set in these circumstances
last year I was about 40% hook to land ratio....not very good
Rick.

[IronNoggin]

The biggest reason would be either what DragonSpeed suggested (happens far too often  ) or the lack of attention. As ThickRick suggested, I have witnessed dozens upon dozens of steelhead being hooked, but the fisher had become so complacent with NOT catching, that when the fish took, the time lag to realize the incredible had just happened often results in the steel spittin' the hook. Happened just the other day to a good buddy! Saw the flash, NICE wint! Gone 

Cheers,
Nog