Forgive me if this is a dumb question, but I'm new to rod building. What exactly is "high sticking"?

Daryl, there are no dumb questions only dumb answers.

I found this on the internet, it is pretty much what I thought it is.

High sticking in fishing refers to raising the tip of the rod past 45 to 60 degrees when fighting a fish. This forces the rod to load up and bend much closer to the tip than it is designed to do. Since the tip of the rod is the most fragile part, high sticking your fishing rod can cause it to snap and break.

High sticking in fishing also occasionally refers to a technique used by fly fishermen where they raise their fly rods high in the air to minimize how much line touches the water. You’ll note that you’ll want to stop high sticking once a fish is on the hook, or you’re going to have the same issue with placing far too much pressure on the tip of your fly rod.

Have fun

John

Hello Daryl

John is right "no dumb questions".

Here is an article from the library listed up top.

[www.rodbuilding.org]

Hope that helps.

Tight Wraps & Tighter Lines.

Bob,

New Bern, NC.

Thank you, gentlemen!

Most high sticking occurs during the time the fish is very close to the boat or being landed. Fly fishermen and bass fishermen alike are notorious for doing this.

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A picture of "Low sticking".
However, if the rod were pulled back 2 feet, it would then be "High sticking".

[www.alamy.com]

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A video illustrating "High Sticking"

[www.youtube.com]

Note that just before having the rod break, the person fishing was holding his rod so that the rod was pointing 20-30 degrees behind him. That meant that when the fish made a run, the rod was being asked to bend about 200 degrees. It just wasn't up t such a task.


Also note, that in the video there is a caption of the time that the person is "High Sticking" his rod.

For myself personally, I have broken a rod high sticking doing essentially the same thing that this fisherman did. i.e. I was landing a fish on an ultra light that was too heavy to support the full weight of the fish. I also had the rod vertical and when the ultra light rod was asked to bear the entire weight of the fish when it was out of the water was not up to the task and it broke.

Best wishes.

@ROGER when I saw him pull line to his rod holding hand I thought oh boy there it is - I can't even understand why he did that, must have just not been thinking about what he was doing.

Sometimes I get nervous in the kayak when trying to get a good fish close enough especially finesse fishing with light tackle.

Building rods in MA, Building the community around the world