What type of rod action, faster or slower, do you think will result in more “lost” or “missed” hookups on the fish? (I’m hoping for some lively debate on this!)
Ron
I should’ve mentioned that I’ll give me answer later this evening. And I know some people will disagree . . .
Whatever rod I happen to be fishing with that day is the one I’ll lose the fish with.
I’ve lost more fish with a fast action rod, but I think that may be the product of using that rod to pursue larger quarry. I don’t chase steelhead with my mushy 4 weight.
My personal feeling is that neither will be better than the other on the “hook up” but that the softer rod will excel in landing more fish once hooked. See http://www.troutrods.com/yellrods.html One of many articles on this very subject written by the great Tom Morgan.
Since I’ve never lost a fish I’m going to have to guess:p.
The fast one…
I, for one, am an equal opportunity lost fish fisherman. I don’t know which rod, fast or slow, I would lose the most on but I do know I can lose fish with both.
If you’re fishing the salt, the straight line strip-strike is about the only hookset that will work. Using the rod, being fast or slow will result in more lost fish than anything; but to get the fly to the fish a fast action rod is better:cool:
I really don’t think it makes a difference. Have you ever told yourself , "I’m going to use THIS rod so that I’ll lose fewer fish?. Makes NO sense at all.
Mark
I fish a lot of streamers at a pretty good clip, so I’m with S.D.Dave on the slip strike for the most part.
Nearly all the other fishing I do is dependant of visual ques for strike detection. So if I’m missing fish, it’s not the rods action but mine that’s to fast or slow. As I age the latter is more often the case.
Best, Dave
Just my oppinion but I think the fast action would set the hook deeper with the same amount of energy. This being said when you tie into that big one and he makes a run I would rather have a softer action that would give more till the drag takes over or if I have the drag set wrong. That being said to answer the question you will miss less fish with a fast action in theory only.
Mark, what would we do without you?
…but as I said I never lose fish sooooo:roll:…
I think a slower or medium action rod will result in more hookups. I’ve lost too many fish setting the hook too early with a fast action. I’m fishing mostly fiberglass now, and the slower action has resulted in more successful hookups. I think it’s a matter of timing and reaction. The softer tips on a fiberglass stick have saved me more hookups than anything else.
I could be wrong, but not for me.
So far we’ve had two references to the slip strike…well isn’t that a form of a soft set…ergo…
Well, I just got back from the International Custom Rod Building Expo in High Point, North Carolina. It was illustrated to us that a faster rod will actually “pull away” from the fish faster and at a smaller angle. A slower rod will pull more “up straight” first, resulting in more hooked fish.
I know many will disagree, but if you think of the mechanics, it makes sense. What it means to me is that I would definitely choose a slower rod for most fishing conditions.
Put another way, they say that more fish are missed on the faster tapers and more tippets are broken as well.
Of course, if a faster rod helps you “get to” the fish in the first place, then that is your best shot anyway. For me, a slower action, like mod-fast, is easier to cast and more accurate for me to cast as well. Not so for everyone. Thanks for all of your responses!
Ron
If fishing (down & dirty) wet, a fast rod will give the line solidity and the fish will hook himself.
If (upstream) dry, a slow rod will take the fly away less often when a fish rises.
If fishing (down & dirty) wet, a slow rod will be more flexible and not give the fish anything solid to fight against.
If fishing (upstream) dry, a fast rod will set the hook quicker than a slow rod.
I think you are right on! Once again, generalities don’t work. Great response!
(I can’t cast a fast rod well anyway so it doesn’t matter to me!)
Have a good night!
Ron
Trying to catch salmon with a mushy rod is an exercise in futility. The hook needs setting and it needs authority to make it stay there.
The fact I am a preordained salmon fisherman is proved by the ridiculous number of tippets I break with fast rods and dries…
A slip strike is mostly for trout fishing…when one raises the rod tip up & lets the line slip thru the finger pressure holding the line against the rod…A strip strike is for bass & salt water fishing…when the rod tip is pointed directly at the fly, sometimes with the rod tip in the water; and the hookset is accomplished by stripping the flyline thru the finger pressure against the rod ( by releaseing the finger pressure ) & RIP THE LIPS OFF ! Maybe the only way to drive a hook into a concrete wall, which is what a tarpons jaws most resemble:cool: Do that with trout & you’ll either have a nice collection of trout lips or lots of flying fish :roll:
I’m not sure I’ve noticed a difference in the set itself, but once hooked I think the softer rod does better, at least on smaller hooks which may not be real deeply set into harder tissue. I once caught about a 15 inch trout that was hooked on about an 18 EHC back somewhat in the mouth. But the hook was just through some flesh on the roof of its mouth. I believe if I’d been fishing one of my stiff rods at that time the hook would have torn loose. I’ve had several days fishing small flies with the stiff rod where I’ve lost enough hooked fish to make me notice. I don’t recall one like that with the softer rods.
So I now usually pick a rod by the size fly I think I’ll be fishing. Softer later in the season with smaller dries or small weighted nymphs in riffles where I don’t need shot. Stiffer/faster earlier with bigger flies and/or split shot or if I’m using streamers anytime.
Well now I’m completely confused…
In any discussion … to have a meaning full one we have to define our terms…
I guess I don’t know the definition of slip strike…
Here I thought those of us …fishing for trout…in a float tube …with the rod tip is pointed directly at the fly,…almost always with the rod tip in the water…and applying a “slip strike” were doing it correctly…there is no “RIPPING THE LIPS OFF”…and no concrete wall…
OK … it seems to me what we have here is a failure to communicate…
Now we should define our terms… slip strike…
I’m too weary to do the google thing right now…so…
What say you or others???
There was only one reference to the slip strike…and one to the …strip strike
Don’t know what Dave E really meant but I was thinking of …slip…
Live and learn…never knew the difference…or heard of it:roll: