R
Ron Troversial Clay
Guest
This is a very interesting article.
Although I have never been an advocate of fine tackle for catching big fish, there are times make no mistake when you hook a big one on very fine tackle and somehow you must try and land it.
Mark mentions **** Walkers advice about keeping low and out of sight whilst playing the fish, and how true this is. What makes a fish alarmed when hooked is when they see an angler on the bank. I am convinced of this. Barbel particularly often go like hell when you finally get them on the surface under your rod tip and they see you!
I have landed on occasions very big trout by keeping out of sight and coaxing them into the net.
And when in the meshes they have gone beserk.
In clear snagfree water it is often fairly easy to land a big fish if you take your time. The problem can be great if you hook a very big fish on light tackle in a fast river. Sure you can follow the fish downstream but there come a time when you must hold the fish against the current. This generally results in a broken hooklength.
If there is anything I cannot stand are those anglers who hook big fish on strong tackle and don't make them fight for every inch of line that they take. They stand there with the minimum amount of bend in the rod.
I once saw an angler take 25 minutes over a carp in open water using 15 lb line and a 2 lb TC rods.
That fish should have taken no more than 5 minutes if the angler really knew how to use the rod.
As Frank Guttfield used to say: I don't believe in giving fish swimming lessons.
Although I have never been an advocate of fine tackle for catching big fish, there are times make no mistake when you hook a big one on very fine tackle and somehow you must try and land it.
Mark mentions **** Walkers advice about keeping low and out of sight whilst playing the fish, and how true this is. What makes a fish alarmed when hooked is when they see an angler on the bank. I am convinced of this. Barbel particularly often go like hell when you finally get them on the surface under your rod tip and they see you!
I have landed on occasions very big trout by keeping out of sight and coaxing them into the net.
And when in the meshes they have gone beserk.
In clear snagfree water it is often fairly easy to land a big fish if you take your time. The problem can be great if you hook a very big fish on light tackle in a fast river. Sure you can follow the fish downstream but there come a time when you must hold the fish against the current. This generally results in a broken hooklength.
If there is anything I cannot stand are those anglers who hook big fish on strong tackle and don't make them fight for every inch of line that they take. They stand there with the minimum amount of bend in the rod.
I once saw an angler take 25 minutes over a carp in open water using 15 lb line and a 2 lb TC rods.
That fish should have taken no more than 5 minutes if the angler really knew how to use the rod.
As Frank Guttfield used to say: I don't believe in giving fish swimming lessons.