Tom brings up an interesting point. I have a pet theory on how to fight BIG fish. I am talking steelhead and salmon in fast water. Now steelies are a bit easier in this case because they rarely simply take off and GO. They prefer to dive behind a rock and rest as much as possible. Salmon tend to disdain this idea and simply GO either upstream or down. They are simply POWERFUL. Anyway, my theory (resulting in few fish lost) is to keep a constant pressure on the fish. That means not relying on drag, but backreeling when a fish takes off. The steelies rest behind rocks only for a while then take off. Some are very wise at angling their bodies in the current for maximum stress on line and arm. But keeping a constant pressure works for me day in and day out. Yes, one MUST be able to back reel. Yes, they sometimes get into the drag during a particularly hard run. Yes, I must sometimes yarn the drag down to pull harder when they get to the top of a chute and it is either break off or hope they are tired enough to gain ground where there is no more bank to follow. But the constant pressure is a winner. A friend often tells me I always catch the ol, tired, worn out fish that don’t jump. I respond that it has taken me 40 years to learn how to NOT make them jump. Constant pressure and multiplier reels.
[This message has been edited by Pete Hiatt (edited 26 September 2005).]
I cast a floating line with a 10ft sinking tip , a 9ft leader and a bead head chronimid . I let the fly sink for up to 4-5 minutes then begin a very slow jerky retrieve . it works for me . I read this thread and I asked myself … Is this a form of jigging ? hence cheating ?
I also use the same weighted bead head cronnie “no splitshot” to “noodle” just off the bottom while at anchor in about 20ft of water . This really is as close to jigging with a fly as you can get . I still consider it flyfishing . This is a method of flyfishing that I can do with my grandson . He can Noodle with the best of them but he is still too young to wave a stick . I find that A multiplyer reel is easier for the little guy .
I agree with JC in that we all have set ourself standards . None of us have the exact same standards therefore I conclude that unless it is clearly outside the rules and regulations nothing can be called cheating .
I could be wrong , It seems unlikely , but I suppose it could happen.
Now Joe has a different set of standards. {{{This is Joe of Joe’s Worms and Juicy Grubs and Special Protein Drink}}}. Joe recommends adding a chunk a worm to every fly. Joe says it improves the fishability immensely.
hmmmmm…reels don’t really make a difference in my opinion…if you can’t put a fish on your hook…reels become pretty much a mute point…as for when hooked up…if u think u need the extra pick-up…go for it…no “sissie” comments from this peanut gallery…there is a signature of a member here…“we all fish for pleasure…you for yours…me for mine”
I’ve never had a fish “on the reel”…don’t know what it is about, nor how to do it. I only mentioned it because I have heard people refer to it. In fact a couple weeks ago our fly club president was good enough to invite me and wife out in his boat, because with a new steel hip he knew she would not be fishing in a tube for till next year. Thanks to him. Anywhooooo…during one of the fish I caught I heard him say…“Get him on the reel”. (btw…I hooked into 6, caught 5…he caught ONE…ha ha) “I” only want a multiplier reel to simply reel in my loose line faster, not to gain an advantage on catching the fish. For me it has absolutely nothing to do with playing a fish on the reel. Is THAT cheating?..I dunno…don’t care anyway. I don’t fish to compete…I fish for fun. Maybe I just fish to give other fishermen something to laugh about and talk about. But I like trying new things and new toys. Just like opening a Christmas present to me.
Here’s the information on the Albright:
“Atavist Multiplier Anti-Reverse Fly reel is fully machine barstock built with our proprietary High Speed Gear Box has a 2.2:1 revieve ratio. The name Atavist refers to the “reversion of an earlier typle”. The multipler reel has been tried in fits and starts for fly reel design. The previous efforts tended to be make with light materials and would give way to torgue. This new “reinvention” of the multipler fly reel is built with 6061 Aircraft quality aluminum and is fully anodized. This is a powerful reel that should be a great relief to both the fish and the angler. Conventient right/left conversion.”
