I've tried to search on the subject but didn't find anything. I thought Tom or someone else gave a tip on how to land a fish by yourself and still hold the rod without high sticking. I'm going to be Steelhead fishing next weekend and would prefer not to beach them in order to effectively catch and release. I'll probably be using a 13' float rod so any help would be appreciated. Thanks.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/17/2007 09:33AM by Tim Collins.

We covered this in a pictorial article in the magazine a couple years back.

Such a long rod makes it a little tougher, but you can follow these two guidelines for some help.

1. Never recover so much line that you have less line past the tip than the length of the rod itself. So, on your 13' rod, you would always want to have at least 13 feet of line out past the tip. At least 13 feet, preferably about 15. If you do this, it will be impossible to high-stick the rod when landing your fish.

2. When the fish gets in close, flip the reel up on top, effectively turning the rod upside down and move your rod hand back away from you at full arms length. Angle rod upward only to the point where you can grasp or net the fish with your other hand. Typically this will keep rod angle to the fish at no more than about 90 degrees.

.............

Tim: Rodmaker Vol. 7, #5 I think. Bob

Thanks Tom and Bob, I remember that description exactly and the article now - my Old Timer's disease just prevents me from remembering where I saw it. I hope I get to try it out next weekend.

I steelhead alone most of the time and have developed a couple of techniques for landing steelhead unassisted without a net or completely removing them from the water. Some of the holes I fish for salmon and steelhead have steep banks with drop offs right at the waters edge so the method I use is to point the rod straight at the fish when I get it close and then move the rod back in my hand and rest the butt on the bank behind me so I am holding it at about the first guide or as far forward as I need to reach the line I then grab my line and hand line the fish in the rest of the way. Since you are planning on catch and release if the fish happens to make a last run and break your leader no big deal. just don't wrap the line around your hand. The other method that works for me is if there is a shallow riffle or gently sloping bank you can often "beach" a fish it with out removing it from the water. Just guide the fish into the shallows then keeping pressure towards shore walk behind the fish and tail it. this is accomplished by reeling down as you walk towards the fish and holding the rod parallel to the ground and perpendicular the the flow of the river as you get closer you will have to move your arm back to keep pressure on the fish. Once you get as close as you can with out sideways high sticking you take the pressure off the fish and grab it. As long as the water is shallow enough, about half the body height of the fish then they have a difficult time maneuvering and you should be able to get a hold of it before it has the ability to get moving and head out the deeper water. This method will keep its head partially submerged so it can at least breath a little bit. A little long winded but I hope this helps.

Also send Emory Harry a email emory fishes long rods and is a bank fisherman. He fishes Salmon and Ironheads in OR.
Good Wraps Bob