There is nothing worse for an angler than to lose his fish after the excitement of hooking it. Here are some hints to minimize your chances of losing that great fish.
* Use premium grade hooks. Many lure manufacturers cut costs by using cheap hooks on their lures. Replace it with one of premium strength with a good, sharp tip. Hook manufacturers also offer standard and premium hooks. A blunt-tipped hook is less likely to catch a fish and if it’s not a strong one it can be pulled out of shape during the reeling in, thus allowing your fish to escape.
* If your line breaks or the hook is continually pulled out of the fish’s mouth, it could be that you’ve set the drag too tight. The correct drag should be a quarter of the line strength. The test weight of the line will be on the packet. Find the number and divide it by four to get the correct drag. Eg., if the test weight is 20 pounds, then the drag should be 5 pounds. Set up your rod and reel, then connect the end of the line to a spring scale that is fixed to something solid like the gatepost. Pull on the line, allowing the rod to bend over and set your reel to drag as the scale reaches the correct number.
* Land the fish quickly. The more time you spend in playing the fish, the more time it has to get off.
* Don’t pull hard. Play the fish light and he won’t fight as much. A fighting fish is more likely to get off.
* Don’t pump your rod high or fast as this can cause too much strain on the hook, the line or the fish. Something is likely to give and whether it is the line the hook or the fish’s mouth, you’ll lose the fish. The rod should be moved only between the one o’clock and three o’clock positions.
* Reel in the line only on the down stroke of your rod. This is when the line has a little slack. If you reel on the upstroke you’ll be putting too much pressure on it and it will be more inclined to snap.
* Reduce the boat speed once the fish is hooked. A speeding boat will put extra weight on the line too.
With these few hints you will be better equipped to successfully pull in that big one.
