Fish Fighting tips! – How to play and land fish more effectively
It’s a curious fact that while we agonise over flies and tactics, the actual playing of fish gets very little discussion. Yet the way we tackle up and do battle with our quarry is crucially important- especially with today’s increased awareness of fish welfare. This is your guide to best practice when playing and landing fish.
The moment of truth- a trout nears the net.
Aren’t anglers an odd breed? We talk endlessly about matters such as retrieves, fly life and fish behaviour, but the actual landing of fish rarely gets more than a fireside story.
Perhaps we naturally dislike giving others advice, especially when the angler is experienced or the pressure is quite literally on? And yet improving our fish playing has huge benefits, not only in terms of landing more of the fish we hook, but exhausting our catch less and maximising recovery rates.
In the course of over forty years fishing and a decade of guiding, I’ve learned many lessons the hard way. I’ve come across anglers who were cool as a cucumber and others totally stressed when hooked up. And there’s no better teacher, or indeed a worse feeling, than losing a big fish. It’s also fair to say that tackle and attitudes have changed a great deal in recent years. So where should we start?
How strong should my fly fishing tackle be?
Balanced, dependable tackle allows the angler to play fish confidently and quickly.
Before we even start talking about how to fight fish, the tackle we use is critical. Gone are the days when anglers are impressed by talk of that fish you played for hours. There will be odd occasions we accidentally hook an unintended monster- but most of the time it’s irresponsible to totally exhaust a fish by using inadequate tackle. For a large, precious fish, this could spell the end.
The key word is therefore balance. We absolutely want to enjoy the fight, but our aim is to make it short but sweet. The weight rating of our rod is only one part of this, but in general terms, the larger and stronger the fish, the higher the weight rating should be. For pike and salmon, for example, an eight weight would be an absolute minimum.
In practice, your tackle will tell you if you have the balance right. If you struggle to control a fish or it feels that the fight is too drawn out, this is a sure sign your rod isn’t firm enough. That said, some of us could apply more pressure than we do with lighter gear- fly rods are made to bend and we should always be in a position where we are not afraid to ‘dig in’!
How strong should my fly-fishing leaders and tippets be?
The short answer to this question is: strong enough to land my target fish (including the one I really hoped for!) comfortably. With modern copolymers and fluorocarbons offering excellent strength for their thinness, today’s angler can often go a bit heavier too.
For the majority of stillwater trout fishing, 6-8lb fluorocarbon leaders should be seen as a minimum. When fishing for species that are not line shy, like pike or bass, it’s sensible policy to go heavy- 15lbs fluorocarbon for bass, or 30lb plus a wire trace for pike. Why bother going lighter when there is no advantage?
For river fishing and dry fly fishing on all settings, finer lines and cuter presentation become more important. This especially applies with smaller fish and very clear water, when you might drop right down to 3lb or less, using a very light, flexible fly rod to cushion lighter lines.
Perhaps the most tricky situation is where we find large fish that are intolerant of thick lines and clumsy presentations. For instance, a low, clear summer river with large trout. In this instance, sound advice is to buy the best leader and tippet materials you can buy. These might cost more, but a material like Cortland’s Ultra Premium effectively gives you a higher breaking strain for a thinner diameter.
Doing battle- first steps!
Moving swiftly on to the actual playing of fish, we should start with the moment of connection. It’s remarkable how many anglers, and especially newcomers, get this muddled. There’s no need to immediately bring the fish in- and our very first step should simply be to assess what we have hooked. How big does it feel? Which direction is it travelling?
Steady pressure is the way to beat big fish without exhaustion
The last thing you want to do right away is heave into the fish or jerk back forcefully- this is liable to make it panic and chaos to ensue! It’s amazing how many times calm, steady pressure will get even a large fish under control, as opposed to trying to “pull its head off”. Quite often, this approach will give you control while your quarry is yet to “wake up” – as opposed to sparking an instant temper tantrum. Rule number one is therefore a calm head- and as a child I remember a wise senior angler telling me “the fish is the one in a hurry, not you!”
Low or high rod when playing a fish?
A low rod means a smoother fight- and more of the rod’s strength brought into play
The actual angle of your rod is the next key question in any battle. Even experienced heads often get this bit wrong, constantly insisting we “keep the rod up”.
With smaller fish and settings where the bottom is rocky or snaggy, a high rod makes sense. Those newer to fly fishing will also find it easier to keep a good bend in the rod this way, with the tip up. One common early error is to play fish too gently- give it any slack and you risk the hook coming loose.
However, for most larger fish, a low rod is much more effective and leads to a smoother fight- and this is true whether we play a big rainbow trout, a carp or a pike. There are two big reasons for this. Firstly, the fight tends to be less hectic with a lower rod. Heave towards the sky and fish will often panic- it’s as if they think you are literally trying to lift them out of their natural element! With a lower rod angle, they tend to fight much more steadily. This is also because a low rod bounces about less and the middle of the blank now comes into play more, rather than just the tip. I suspect that having more fly line under the water, rather than flailing in the air, also adds extra drag to steady things with a really big or lively fish.
In a lot of battles, a high rod is only needed at the end of the fight.
Obviously, you will need to lift the rod at some stage to net your fish, but this can come only later in the fight. Watch an experienced competition or experienced big fish angler and you will see them keep a low, controlled rod, only lifting up late in the battle, when the fish is ready for the net.
“Show it the wood!”
Talking of rod angles and bigger catches, the largest fish demand that you use the whole length of the rod is used, and for a giant you will want both hands on the cork! Catfish and large saltwater species really schooled me in this respect! You simply won’t get a catfish in by playing it using the top half of the rod- it needs to be done low and steady, using plenty of muscle!
A catfish is played using the whole rod- you can see this crazy feat in action at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-IinmL9vfM
This is what big fish anglers mean when they say “show it the wood!” On a really large fish, the middle and butt of the rod must be brought into play by utilising a low, solid angle. Both hands come into play – and extra stability comes by tucking the rod butt into your body for extra stability! This is also when the right tackle comes into play and a really strong fly line.
“Make do” tackle isn’t an option here- fish like large pike, catfish and sharks require not only strong rods but top quality fly lines with a core that won’t break even under extreme pressure. “I played it for hours” doesn’t impress anyone any more- least of all a totally exhausted fish that will struggle to recover.
Rehearse the fight- and pack a good net
If you fish any venues with snags and obstructions, another great tip is to imagine the fight and mentally prepare before you hook up! Ask yourself a few simple questions. Where are the dangers? Where do you have a bit more space? Is your tackle strong enough if it comes to a straight tug of war?
As for landing fish, how big should the net be? Well, these items are crucial and often overlooked. Stringy, old fashioned models are only fit for “catch and kill” fisheries, frankly, and for most fishing you’d be advised to invest in a generous sized net with rubberised mesh. Prepare for the fish you dream about catching- a small fish will fit into a big net, after all, while the reverse simply isn’t true!
A quality, long handled net is a must for bank fishing!
Another common problem when playing and landing fish is the wrong kind of net. For wading, a scoop is fine, but most bank fishing needs a solid, long handled model. Too many come with short handles, frankly, that are useless when you have a longer drop or or weed to deal with. Most of my bank fishing is done with a minimum of 3m, while I even have a 6m extendable handle for really awkward spots. You only need to land one PB fish and that top notch net is suddenly very good value!
When is the game up? How long should I play fish for?
Talking of nets, there is no hard and fast time fish should be played for, but a good general rule is “the quicker, the better”. This doesn’t mean playing fish brutally or taking risks- but it always means sensible tackle and steady pressure. For the vast majority of fishing in the UK, very few fish should need more than two or three minutes of playing time. Experience will tell you when a fish is “ready” – quite often this will follow its first gulp of air at the surface.
A short fight and minimal handling greatly help fish recover.
The fight might be over for you at this stage, but for fish care we are still in a critical stage. If it has been a fierce fight, do let the fish rest for a few seconds before pulling it out- you wouldn’t like your head in water after a sprint, after all! Keep the fish submerged and you can then dig out a camera, should you want a quick snap, without it flapping about.
This has lots of good advice and we cannot stress how important it is these days to take care of fish we release- especially with those like salmon and large pike now becoming rarer.
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