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[DRP79]

Ive been reading books to learn as much as I can and then practicing on the river. I have learned a lot, got my firstt steel out of the way and have hooked into a few more but not landed another yet. The books get into why longer rods help in fighting fish but I havent seen any instruction on what to do and when once you have a fish on. I know to let the rod do the work and not use the reel to winch the fish in but I know there is more to it than that.

I lost a big fish on Saturday and its been on my mind since. I was in a tight spot and lost the fish to an obstruction in the river, the fish headed for it and then my main line snapped, Im assuming was due to the pressure I was putting on the rod and hitting something in the obstruction.

What is the best way to fight a fish in tricky situations like that. I tried to use side pressure to turn the fish back towards me but thats when the line snapped. Just wondering if I did something wrong or if thats just the way the game goes?

[frozensalmon]

drag is too tight ? i was told that when big fish on you always have to play with it , make it exhausted from the run then it's easy to get it in

i lost couple of coho/pink in salmon season and my reason is my drag is too tight back then, got to loose just a bit to let the fish run but too loose tho , hope it helps

[Big Steel]

That's just the way the game goes... I had landed 25 of 27 this year up till Saturday, and some stupid log aided in me losing 2 in a row there... and I lost one earlier cause I wasn't paying attention.  BUT, there are things you can try to get the fish away from obstacles.  They may not work tho if the fish sees the log/obstacle and is determined to get into it like the 2 I had head straight for it.  You can try not putting a whole lot of pressure on the fish, just enough to keep a good bend in your rod and hope that makes the fish want to stop a run or in hopes that it makes the fish want to go on a run to clear said obstacle. I have had that work with spring a few times.  The rod sideways to turn a fish works, as long as not in the middle of a strong run, or they will snap you off. You can also use the sideways pull to try and pull them down river to stop them from heading up river into a submerged log...lol   I tried all of this on sunday... none of it worked to well... both fish made a B-line for the log.  The first came up river about 50 feet to yank the hook out on the end of of the log right in front of me as I tried to turn it down river... and the second one was hooked about 5 feet out in front of the log, and it danced all over and around the log even tho I was trying to get to get it to run away from or down river below the log... wasn't happening...lol   But mostly, it's just how things go sometimes...You can also think ahead and not fish spots you know you are going to have issues with if the fish is cranky or likes to run or hide...lol

But in a case when a fish goes on a big run down river... you have to be in a spot where you can chase... 99.9 percent of the time they ain't coming back and you either get spooled or they break off.  There is also no way you are bringing them back up thru tough water/fast water if they get in it, they are going to keep going till they hit some soft water.  Gotta chase them down to the next rest area they would stop in.  If you can't chase, they will win.

[DRP79]

Thanks, it was a tricky spot for sure and not open to chase a fish through. My drag wasnt to heavy either, this fish had no trouble peeling line off. Its going to be tough not to try the same spot again as i am stubborn and now i know that big fish hold in that spot, as that was the 3rd time ive seen a big one hooked, lol. Maybe next time ill try the same spot but from the other side of the river where there is room to chase.

[silver ghost]

Having a longer rod is better because it makes casting a heck of a lot easier, and  because the rod is longer, there is more...for lack of a better word 'pressure' on the fish when fighting it. If the rod is taller, the bend in it will be a lot bigger, tiring the fish out more. Not only that but it will be a lot easier on the angler... [imagine trying to land a spring with an ice fishing rod...not happening] When you are keeping the rod high and you have a big spring or steelhead on, it is definitely strenuous. Well this same strain is also put on the fish, tiring it out more.

In terms of what to do when a fish on... well yes you are right, letting the rod do the work is important. As the fish tires out, you will be able to bring it in easier [obviously]...so you use the rod to steer the fish towards you by giving it a bit of pull back, and retrieve as you bring the rod back down again. It's kind of hard to explain without pictures but I think I make sense

No, losing that monster was not your fault. Fish panic, especially when they feel themselves touch the bottom as they get dragged in close and it taking off towards the obstruction is only instinct. I can't even count how many times this has happened to me! It's just part of the challenge i guess.

Not sure what you mean by the side pressure, but I'm sure you did all that you could have. When fishing in tight spots I "worry about one thing at a time"...which often time means hooking into a fish while standing on something ridiculous, or right above a set of rapids etc...

All you can do when you feel the fish going into rapids is just ease off the tension on the reel [if it's a center pin then gently palm it] and let it fall back, as it may think it has escaped and swim back into the run, or if there is clear space you can just fall back with it, chasing it into the end of the run

[yoda]

Ditto, DMW, all great points
I see a lot of people lose fish because they don't chase when the fish run. Trying to beach a fish that you are going to kill before it is tired is not a great idea.
Wait until they start to go on their side, then they are ready. Also if you can land them bringing them onto a gentle beach from deeper water is good.
Fish seem to go psycho when you bring them in from shallow water. I try to pick my spots and make them swim with me, even if it means walking the fish to a better spot.
That being said, i lost a big slab last saturday only out of my own fault. I retied a new leader the night before but hadn't checked my line above the swivel and Yup, main line snapped:(

[coho killer]

I don't know how much truth there is behind this theory, but it seems to work for me. Supposidly if you hold you rod down and to the side it closes the fishes gill plate and cannot breath. I was told this early this year and have landed 10 since and lost 2. Far better than my ratio earlier this year. Remember though I can't say if it's true or not but my be worth trying for your self.