Most of the articles on saltwater fly-fishing tend to concentrate
on just about everything needed to get into the sport, except what
can be the most vital element, what do you do when you finally
hook a big fish?
Just a couple of weeks ago I hooked a brown trout
very close to 4.5 kg. (10lbs.) that took me just over thirty
minutes to get to the boat for release. This was at Lake Otamangakau,
and where I was fishing the water was only about 3 metres
deep. My arms and wrists were very tired after that fight.
Then I talk to Mark Kitteridge, Assistant Editor of NZ Fisherman
Magazine, about his World Record 37 kg. (82lbs.)Yellowfin
tuna on fly-fishing gear. This fish took around three and
a bit hours to land. I am sure we will be hearing and seeing
a lot more about this capture – and so we should – it is
a very fine feat of salt-water fly-fishing. Any capture of
a tuna of this size on any gear is going to give the angler
a good workout, but on fly-fishing gear, now that is something
else.
In talking to me about this capture Mark spent some minutes
on the sheer strain of hanging on. In fact he told me that
when the fish finally got to the boat, he was feeling at
the time if the fish made another run that might be it, all
over. Knowing very well what a tenacious, stubborn lad Mark
is, I am sure it would not have been the end, but for Mark
to admit even thinking about it, shows just how tired and
sore he must have been.
The truth is that fly-fishing gear is not primarily designed
for fighting fish. The primary design consideration is how
well the system will cast a fly. Most of the time-spent fly-fishing
is in fact spent fly-casting. So the fly-rod is not a terribly
efficient fish fighting device.
The first problem with a fly-rod is the fact that it is
relatively long, usually around nine feet. This tends to
place the point of leverage further toward the fish, hence
placing more leverage on the angler end of the rod.
The second problem is usually based around the reel. Most
of us will be using direct drive reels, that is when you
turn the reel handle once the reel spool turns once. When
a fish takes-off you are faced with a big winding job – very
hard on the wrists.
The second problem is related to the first. The best angle
to hold a fly-rod in a fight is 45 degrees to the surface
of the water. At this angle the rod exerts its optimum
pressure on the fish. Lift the rod higher, or lower the rod,
and the
pressure on the fish eases. In very general terms it is
often of very little benefit to pump and wind on a fly-rod.
The
amount of lift gained is usually very small. It is the
constant pressure exerted through the fly-rod that helps
to eventually
defeat the fish. But maintaining this pressure means the
angler’s arms, wrists, and fingers are in for a lot of
punishment – there are no harnesses to lean on. (Although
some anglers
are now using them).
The other problem for those of us who cannot afford very
expensive fly-reels with an anti-reverse system, is the
problem that on a direct-drive reel, when the fish runs
and pulls
line off the reel, the spool and its handles spin like
a demented dervish. Knuckle busting stuff on one hand –
on
the other hand if you manage to hold onto the reel handles
for just a moment or two too long, you stand a good chance
of busting your leader.
So once you have a fish on your line, what tactics can
be employed to maximise your chances of landing that big
fish?
The first thing actually starts in gear preparation. Set
the drag setting with the fly line off the reel and well
into the backing. Remember that as the diameter of the
line on the spool decreases – drag increases.
When the fish makes its first run (and any subsequent runs),
keep the rod tip low, with just enough bend to maintain
some lift on the line, so that if the fish comes to a sudden
halt
there will be little slack in the water. Use this time
to ease the strain on your body and get some rest.
Once the fish stops running get as much line in as you
can, as quickly as possible. It should be an aim to fight
the
fish as close to the boat as possible. The least line out
in the water the better. As you wind keep half an eye on
the rod tip, if this ducks down, get your hands off the
reel. The sudden ducking of the rod tip is usually the
first sign
that the fish is bolting. If the run is a long one let
the rod-tip down toward the water, and get some rest.
Whichever arm is holding the rod try and keep at least
a small bend in that arm.
Many anglers, on all sorts of
gear
have the rod arm fully extended, figuring that a straight
line to the rod is the strongest. Bad news. Our arms, shoulders,
and wrists do not perform well under a constant direct
pull load. You are relying on your cartilage and tendons,
and
fingers to hold everything together. Very bad news for
your joints – as anyone that has suffered from tennis elbow
or
‘frozen shoulder’ will attest. A small bend in the arm
brings your muscles into play and allows the hand to take
some of
the load of actually holding the rod.
If the fish jumps, use the trout fishing technique, and
‘bow to the fish’, which is just a term for quickly lowering
the rod tip to the surface of the water. A fly-line picks
up considerable drag when it is moved sideways through
the water. If you do not put some slack in the water when
a fish
jumps, you can easily pop the leader, or pull the hook
out.
This problem can also be a factor if a fish is down deep
below the boat and decides to take off parallel to the
surface. Lowering the rod tip, and lowering the drag can
help here.
But overall defeating a big fish on fly-fishing gear is
being prepared to ‘hang on in there’. Maintaining constant
pressure on the fish throughout the fight, and being prepared
to move toward success in a series of relatively small
gains. It requires intense concentration, and plenty of
stamina.
Attempting to shorten the fight by a sudden or drastic
action will almost certainly achieve the aim of shortening
the fight
– by losing the fish.
Reading back over what I have written above, and having
been well and truly done-over by some reasonable sized
kingis and tuna on fly-fishing gear, only increases my
admiration
for those that manage to land big, big game fish on a fly-rod.
The rest of us can carry on dreaming, and hanging in there
till we get our chance to test our skills.
