Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum
Fishing in British Columbia => Fly Fishing Cafe => Topic started by: qescott on December 26, 2011, 09:12:13 PM
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Of the three fish I've hooked in the last two trips I've lost them all. The most recent one made me think perhaps something isn't right. I had complete tension on the line and the fly could be seen firmly resting in the jaws of a sizeable bull trout. For no apparent reason unhooked itself in about three feet of water, whilst I sat there unable to do anything as my reward for a days hard work swam away. Usually I'm not severely troubled by lost fish, a hook up is enough for such a new angler to satisfy for a day but with this many reoccurring lost fish I'm sure I'm doing something wrong. I was using barbless streamer hooks, frequently sharpened. Nothing I was doing from what I could tell should be causing this. Perhaps a string of bad luck? Anyway, before this becomes a short story I would appreciate any input. Thanks guys, and good luck fishing!
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is your hook bent ?
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Probably just unlucky! I lost over 50 coho in my first three outings this fall and then landed 70% of them after that. Maybe just a change of hooks? I changed brands after losing all those fish and it may have been the reason why. Hopefully you will start to land them since your putting in the time to find them. Its just all a part of fishing, sometimes you can hook and land dozens of fish, and some days you can't hook a leaf. Good luck on your next outing!
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can be a multitude of things, too much pressure, not enough pressure and that split second the fish got slack and took off, not good hook set, etc etc, so many things it could be. only way to fix it is too go out and try it again ;)
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Thanks guys!
is your hook bent ?
Nope, it's completely fine.
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Some nice advice from a 14,15 and a 16 year old eh Austyn ahahah
Just go out there and try again, you can go 0-3 today but then go 10-10 tomorrow. You just never know and that's the great part about fishing. Good luck to all of you this year :)
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Some nice advice from a 14,15 and a 16 year old eh Austyn ahahah
Just go out there and try again, you can go 0-3 today but then go 10-10 tomorrow. You just never know and that's the great part about fishing. Good luck to all of you this year :)
:D :D :D hahah yeee buddy ;)
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I used to have a similar problem...for me it was the hook set, especially if fishing in a moving water situation. I have began to add a bit of a strip set now instead of mainly using the rod. Seems to have helped quite a bit.
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You mentioned that you were using streamer flies. If tied on traditional streamer hooks then that may be the source of your increased loss rate, imo. The long hook shank will give the fish leverage to throw the hook when its turning and twisting around. If you look at many newer patterns you'll notice the trend has been to tie your streamers (bunny leeches etc) on streamer style hook shanks but clip the bend and add a trailer hook that is much smaller.
Here is a bunny leech tied with a trailer hook.
http://www.fish4flies.com/Salmon_Steelhead_Pacific/Bunny_Leeches_Streamers/Black_n_Pink_Trailing_Bunny
No leverage = less lost fish.
:)
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You mentioned that you were using streamer flies. If tied on traditional streamer hooks then that may be the source of your increased loss rate, imo. The long hook shank will give the fish leverage to throw the hook when its turning and twisting around. If you look at many newer patterns you'll notice the trend has been to tie your streamers (bunny leeches etc) on streamer style hook shanks but clip the bend and add a trailer hook that is much smaller.
Here is a bunny leech tied with a trailer hook.
http://www.fish4flies.com/Salmon_Steelhead_Pacific/Bunny_Leeches_Streamers/Black_n_Pink_Trailing_Bunny
No leverage = less lost fish.
:)
I've pondered something like that but I couldn't figure for the life of me how to attach the two hooks, I'll check it out. Thanks everyone!
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For me lost fish are almost always tied to poor hooksets. I am almost never surprised by a lost fish because I already know that I'm in trouble.
Don't be afraid to give it some welly.
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Yeah, probably true. Haha, I always feel bad for a fish when I yank on them hard though. Perhaps I'm destined to be a bad fisherman.
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I've pondered something like that but I couldn't figure for the life of me how to attach the two hooks, I'll check it out. Thanks everyone!
Lots of video on youtube to show you the way.
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If I set the hook and feel weight I'll reel down and set the hook again for good measure. I've reduced my lost fish greatly by doing this. Mind you this is my method on gear rods and have yet to hook a fish on the spey so maybe it's diferent when fly fishing, but should still work.
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I love trailer hooks if at all possible to use them, you can use smaller hooks better hook sets and i agree with the other post about the fish getting leverage against a long shanked hook.
Could also just be your luck!
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I had this problem earlier this year on the Thompson. While fly casting for pinks i would hook into them almost every cast but they'd pop off midway through the fight. I probably landed 5 fish that day and lost 50.. Then i went back the next day and hardly lost anything same fly. I think it is just luck and when you start noticing it you put more pressure on yourself whenever you hook into a fish and then you start loosing more. imo
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in my experience the most important thing is to have sharp and I mean very sharp hooks. While the best quality hooks are that sharp right out of the package not all new hooks are sharp enough. The same is true for purchased flies. Encounters with rocks etc will dull hooks. Have a good hook sharpener with you and know how to use it. Check the hook often.
This is the best that I have used:
http://eze-lap.com/hunting_fishing_outdoor_use/pocket-sharpeners/
Once the hook no longer gets to that sticky sharp quality - retire it.
believe me sharp hooks makes tips about strikes and hook sets moot.
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I've lost my last four steelhead. Three on flies (one on an intruder and the two other regular long shank steamer type flies) and the other fishing gear.
There's a lot of info out there that has been suggested: holding a loop of extra line, letting the fish turn before setting the hook, setting the hook toward the bank close to you.
Needless to say it's pretty tough to keep composure when you realize you've got a steely on your line, and I haven't hooked enough to give my own advice. But I do know that sometimes the hook just isn't in a great spot for setting, and for me there's nothing worse than feeling a take, and having your hook shoot back at you when trying to set it. So more than anything I've been trying to be patient in waiting for the fish to turn, but even then I've had them unbutton closer to the end of the fight.
Frustrating for sure, but also easy to overthink this topic.
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50/50 is a pretty standard ratio for steelhead landed versus lost for gear, It's probably lower for fly.