Kern River Fly Fishing Forum - Interesting Tip

Ants

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Interesting Tip - What's your thoughts on it?
Dec 3^rd, 2011, 8:52am

From Fresh-water Fishing Illustrated, How to Catch Fish in the West, a Sunset Book, by Morie Morrison, the following was noted by the author as a "secret tip". I think it applies to takes and sets under gentle conditions, not for streamer fishing or one of those "what is that fish doing flying at me" sets.

Morrison states when a rod handle is raised for a set, the tip flexes toward the line and introduces slack instead of tightening the line.

So, Morrison suggests setting the hook by pushing the rod handle down. This would force the tip upward and put a mild pressure on the line to set a hook.

I am sitting at a computer and have not tried this on the water. Even though it seems contrary to usual practices, a downward action hookset would prevent a cast from being disturbed. If it was not a successful, then the drift may continue.

If anyone uses this technique or has heard of it, let's see what comments arise.

Thanks,

Ants

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If you're practicing catch and release, what difference does it make for the size of the fish you land.

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Rasputinj Silver Member Posts: 221	Re: Interesting Tip - What's your thoughts on it? Reply #1 - Dec 3^rd, 2011, 9:36am I always felt the way around the slack was to pull a little on the fly line (strip strike).i either just raise the rod tip or pull it parallel to the water .
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jdmanville Gold Member Posts: 316 Gender:	Re: Interesting Tip - What's your thoughts on it? Reply #2 - Dec 4^th, 2011, 10:15pm I understand the logic but it seems so counterintuative that I doubt I would ever successfully pull this off.
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planettrout Gold Member "Go here and DIE DAD!" Posts: 363 Gender:	Re: Interesting Tip - What's your thoughts on it? Reply #3 - Dec 5^th, 2011, 6:17am This "tip" has been around for a very long time. An article in FF Magazine described this technique back in the early 80's...like jdmanville states, it is counterintuitive...it takes a lot of practice to be able to break ingrained habits. That being said, it does work... PT/TB
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Ants

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Re: Interesting Tip - What's your thoughts on it?
Reply #4 - Dec 5^th, 2011, 9:51am

It is good to read the comments. I forgot to add that the book was published in 1966 - so since that was a decade or two before the FF magazine, it very well may have been a Hot Tip at the time. I look forward to giving it a try, except when I have the streamer rod in hand.

Like a lot of other things in fly fishing, when the fly fisher get to enhance his control, the catching will do nothing but improved.

Ants

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If you're practicing catch and release, what difference does it make for the size of the fish you land.

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Loy Silver Member Posts: 203 Gender:	Re: Interesting Tip - What's your thoughts on it? Reply #5 - Dec 5^th, 2011, 4:51pm I don't know why but I have found myself slightly raising the rod tip AND strip-setting. So as I raise the tip I am stripping line. I find I am getting more sets. IDK....it works for me.
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Rasputinj

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Posts: 221

Re: Interesting Tip - What's your thoughts on it?
Reply #6 - Dec 5^th, 2011, 8:17pm

Quote from Loy on Dec 5^th, 2011, 4:51pm:

I don't know why but I have found myself slightly raising the rod tip AND strip-setting. So as I raise the tip I am stripping line. I find I am getting more sets. IDK....it works for me.

Strip setting has also helped me out. I also make a bigger effort to keep my hooks sharp.

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bluefish

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Re: Interesting Tip - What's your thoughts on it?
Reply #7 - Dec 6^th, 2011, 4:09am

There's alot of difference between the fiberglass and bamboo of the 60's and the graphite rods that are the majority now. You use to be able to tie a fly in the time it took for your backcast to straighten. Grin

Even some of the 0 and 1 wts. have more power transferred to line on the hookset, than some of the older 6's. By the time someone showed this to me in the early 80's it was kind of fading . For me, I always thought having a soft tip (like in glass and boo and soft tapers) was a great advantage in not snapping small tippet, and the added slack buffer was an advantage rather than a detraction. Boo is great for dries. That added split second on the strike gives fish a chance to turn down and increases hookups if you tend to strike at the first sign of a rise.

Charlie

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fishinXJ

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Re: Interesting Tip - What's your thoughts on it?
Reply #8 - Dec 6^th, 2011, 5:30am

Quote from bluefish on Dec 6^th, 2011, 4:09am:

There's alot of difference between the fiberglass and bamboo of the 60's and the graphite rods that are the majority now. You use to be able to tie a fly in the time it took for your backcast to straighten. Grin

Even some of the 0 and 1 wts. have more power transferred to line on the hookset, than some of the older 6's. By the time someone showed this to me in the early 80's it was kind of fading . For me, I always thought having a soft tip (like in glass and boo and soft tapers) was a great advantage in not snapping small tippet, and the added slack buffer was an advantage rather than a detraction. Boo is great for dries. That added split second on the strike gives fish a chance to turn down and increases hookups if you tend to strike at the first sign of a rise.

Charlie

Great stuff and the reason I love grass rods and fiberglass. My hook up ratio is easlily a third higher. Might be why Winston Rods are so popular..the softer tips.

shane

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Cast It Forward!

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Brian R Platinum Member Love to Hunt and Fish with the kids Posts: 1179 Gender:	Re: Interesting Tip - What's your thoughts on it? Reply #9 - Dec 6^th, 2011, 1:47pm That is one reason I still fish a 4wt 7 1/2 FT Cortland Leon Chandler fiberglass rod. It has a soft tip and I don't loose sppoky fish on creeks where I need the extra weight to get line out. I love that rod.
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Ants Platinum Member SSFFC Fly Fishing Book Afishianado Posts: 867	Re: Interesting Tip - What's your thoughts on it? Reply #10 - Dec 6^th, 2011, 3:36pm Wow! I didn't think about the difference in gear. Let's see, it is now 3:35 and the Bodfish chores are done for the day. Time to see how the fishing is. Ants
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Ants Platinum Member SSFFC Fly Fishing Book Afishianado Posts: 867	Re: Interesting Tip - What's your thoughts on it? Reply #11 - Dec 6^th, 2011, 6:34pm Follow-up comments. On the water at 4:02. First streamer cast gets a take, however that was the only take. Hope springs eternal. Nice moon for the walk back to the truck. Time to feed the dogs at 5:52. You know, there are only 3 letters different between Bodfish and Flyfish. Cheers to all. Ants
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Loy

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Re: Interesting Tip - What's your thoughts on it?
Reply #12 - Dec 7^th, 2011, 7:19pm

Beautiful downtown Bodfish? Quote from Ants on Dec 6^th, 2011, 6:34pm:

Follow-up comments. On the water at 4:02. First streamer cast gets a take, however that was the only take. Hope springs eternal. Nice moon for the walk back to the truck. Time to feed the dogs at 5:52.

You know, there are only 3 letters different between Bodfish and Flyfish.

Cheers to all.
Ants

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Loy

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