Fight the Reel Fight to Spare Your Fly Rod

Nothing sickens a flyfisher’s stomach like the cracking sound, or outright KA-POW! of a fly rod during a battle with a good fish. (Or while casting or simply pulling line from the tiptop for that matter.)

Most rods that “blow up” during battle do so because the angler allowed for too much bend in the rod, particularly the top third of the rod. It’s known as high-sticking. And it usually happens toward the end of a fish fight because of the decreased distance between the rodtip and the fish. I’ve suffered this mishap, and as a former fly guide, I was especially watchful over clients who allowed that “severe C” in the rod as a fish dug deep under the boat.

The key is to fight with your reel, not your expensive rod (or your guide’s!). The straighter you keep the rod under a load, the less likely it is to fail. You needn’t much of a bend at all.

The butt of your rod is where the pulling power is. The tip of the rod is for casting. The butt is for fighting. Keep that in mind. Even when my fish is running against the drag out on the horizon, be it a tarpon, bonefish or big snook, I point my rod nearly right at the fish, and I palm the spool of my reel when necessary.

When the fish stops taking line, I pull my rod back toward my waist, and gain line between pulls. I’m basically keeping the pressure on the rod butt, and I continue in this manner as I get the fish to within 10 yards of the boat.

If the water is shallow, say 4 feet deep or less, the fish can’t do much under the boat to threaten rod breakage. It is in deep water that you must safeguard against breakage. Fight the urge to pull a fish up from the depths by pulling straight up and allowing your rodtip to end up way overhead. Keep the rodtip at waist level at most, preferably lower. It’s better to push your rodtip into the water, again pointing nearly straight at the fish. A slight bend in the rod is fine, but let your reel do the work.

Lighten Up on Drag

Generally, I would rather add pressure against a fish with my palm on the reel spool. Set your drag too tight and you’re putting the rod at risk, especially if you opt for a heavy class tippet, as is recommended around rough structure such as jetty rocks, bridges and dock pilings. You can always add drag this way, you don’t want to fiddle with a drag knob during a fish fight.

Finish the Deal

When the fish is ready to land, have your partner net it or land it by hand, while you pull some flyline off the reel to create slack and take more pressure off the rod. If the fish is still “green,” back up a few steps and keep your palm on the reel spool, ready to release drag if the fish surges out of your partner’s grasp. Above all, keep your rod away from the fish. I’ve seen tarpon and even big snook tail-walk next to the boat gunnel and strike the rodtip. I lost one (the fly rod and fish) that way.

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• This article was featured in the February 2024 issue of Florida Sportsman magazine. Here’s how to subscribe.

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