07-21-2009, 04:13 PM
I really dig what maghunter and perry are saying on this fish fighting deal. And it definatley is against everything we are usually taught. Most guys that get a salmon (or steelhead) on would be thrilled if you pulled out a ladder for them to stand on - just so they could hold their rod that much higher in the air[laugh]. Thats just making it easier on the fish and harder on yourself. Get some line in the water and make that fish fight all that line in the current too! A real good fisherman taught me back in 2003 when your fish is having a runaway (or anytime you want to get him out of the current and closer to the bank and thus the net) face downstream with your rod pointed downstream and pull towards the bank. Plus keep your rod tip as low as possible without draping your line over the rocks. It's that pulling sideways on his head thing maghunter was talking about. Plus having some line in the water helps keep that barbless hook from coming out of his mouth.
I always offer up this piece of advice when I'm up in Idaho fishing for these Chinook, and somebody has on a salmon that is tearing off a bunch of line running downstream, or just giving them a real tussle. The ones who aren't too stubborn and bullheaded to beleive that they don't already know everything there is to know about getting a fish in the net - and try it out - are always amazed how it magically works.
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I always offer up this piece of advice when I'm up in Idaho fishing for these Chinook, and somebody has on a salmon that is tearing off a bunch of line running downstream, or just giving them a real tussle. The ones who aren't too stubborn and bullheaded to beleive that they don't already know everything there is to know about getting a fish in the net - and try it out - are always amazed how it magically works.
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