A line with a sag in it is actually "tight" insofar as water keeps tension on it in a way that air cannot. A totally slack or coiled line, however, is a completely different thing.

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Exactly Tom. When I take my inexperienced friends steelhead fishing. They inevitably ask why I am getting more hits/fish. 9 out of 10 times I tell them that they need to take up the slack in the line as so they can feel the fish take the fly. I tell them they need to keep enough tension in the line so they can "feel" the fly ticking the bottom on a drift. It IS possible to feel the bottom with a bit of "sag" in the line. Not when there is a complete slack line. Granted this is with fly line, but the same priciples exist.

More so, when nymphing for trout on spring creeks, a stike indicator will increse catch rates almost 10 to 1 in my opinion proving the amout of hits that would never have been felt otherwise since its almost impossible to keep a tight line in a healthy current.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/16/2010 10:35AM by Larry Damore.

Tom, in my case, I would say I had a 'tight' line as you described it above. There was a big sag in the line, but no coils. That explains why I was easily able to feel the little guys as they pecked at my senko.

jeremy

Tom, in my case, I would say I had a 'tight' line as you described it above. There was a big sag in the line, but no coils. That explains why I was easily able to feel the little guys as they pecked at my senko.

jeremy

I'm looking for a rod sensitive enough so that I can feel and avoid obstacles while I use my line to push lures back into tough-to-get-at places. Oh, and sensitive enough so that I can detect bites through the slack line created by pushing these lures.

We'll plan to use the pool at the hotel in February. While a lot of guys are no doubt very adept at feeling even subtle takes, nobody is "feeling" as much as they think they are, or even can. Wait and see. This little demonstration will unnerve a good many.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/16/2010 05:07PM by Tom Kirkman.

Tom,
A time needs to be set for this endeavor!!!

Cuz,I don't want to miss this..!!!
mikeb


Steve in the pool whacking a senko...priceless!

Home Town,Gretna VA

Mike;
you have it backwards. I volunteered to hold the rod

Oh Sorry Steve,,,,,my bad!
mikeb

I still want to see the show!

Home Town,Gretna VA