The lazy way

[Worms 221]

It's so much easier when you are controlling a fish with a finger in the side of a centre-pin reel, but when the only control of the line is the grip you have on the line sliding between your fingers, and the fish lunges and letting go of the line makes it hard to get the line back, you are into a different ball-game.

'Palming' the reel with your reel hand whilst 'fighting' the fish with the rod gives good control. In theory, a longer rod and a lighter line means less line in the water and less drag on the line. On rivers I frequently end up with my right arm fully extended above my head if I've got a decent fish on so as to lift the line off the water.....trees allowing of course!

[Leon Roskilly 25]

'Palming' the reel with your reel hand whilst 'fighting' the fish with the rod gives good control.

 

 

That works when I'm centre-pinning, but when I'm fly-fishing most of the line is off the reel and lying in untidy (and sometimes tangly loops (especially around my muddy feet) on the bank.

 

I've not yet met something that has taken all the loose retrieved line back onto the water and I can start playing the fish 'off the reel'.

 

And finding myself down to the backing seems a distant dream (well until I get to fish for some of the monsters in the syndicate water I can start fishing in April ).

[Worms 221]

That works when I'm centre-pinning, but when I'm fly-fishing most of the line is off the reel and lying in untidy (and sometimes tangly loops (especially around my muddy feet) on the bank.

 

I've not yet met something that has taken all the loose retrieved line back onto the water and I can start playing the fish 'off the reel'.

 

And finding myself down to the backing seems a distant dream (well until I get to fish for some of the monsters in the syndicate water I can start fishing in April ).

 

Ah! as I fish running waters I tend to keep winding my slack back on the reel, otherwise it catches on your waders, and the slightest obstruction in the water.

[Steve Walker 941]

And finding myself down to the backing seems a distant dream (well until I get to fish for some of the monsters in the syndicate water I can start fishing in April ).

 

 

Surely all you need for that is a mullet?

[Vagabond 1013]

when I'm fly-fishing most of the line is off the reel and lying in untidy (and sometimes tangly loops (especially around my muddy feet) on the bank.

 

I've not yet met something that has taken all the loose retrieved line back onto the water and I can start playing the fish 'off the reel'.

 

There is another trap lurking there - the possibility of the last loop of retrieved line catching around the reel handle as the fish runs.

 

The way to prevent/minimise that happening is to always have the line from the reel running forward to the little finger of the reel hand and then out between the little and third fingers.

The loose coils of retrieved line are thus gripped between index finger and thumb at the fish end, and between third and fourth fingers at the reel end.

 

...and of course, if the fish does not take all the retrieved line, it is an easy matter, whilst controlling the business end with index finger and thumb, to wind the loose line onto the reel under light tension using 3rd & 4th fingers to apply it.

 

It is pretty elementary, yet rarely mentioned in advice for beginners to fly fishing - can I ask, how many of our experienced fly fishers use that grip? or is a case of grandmothers and eggs?

 

...and Leon, once you have mastered the basics of playing sizeable fish on fly gear, do as Steve suggests and transfer your fly experience to mullet fishing.

 

Flyfishing running water needs a further step up in skills from stillwater flyfishing, but the experience of catching a decent mullet on fly is IMHO one of the pinnacles of achievement in an angler's life.

Edited March 29, 2011 by Vagabond

[Leon Roskilly 25]

I've not yet met something that has taken all the loose retrieved line back onto the water and I can start playing the fish 'off the reel'.

 

 

Yay! It happened today.

 

A trout between 3-4lbs took the fly and headed off determinedly

 

All the loose line went through the rod rings, then it was taking line against the ratchet on the reel.

 

Unfortunately it decided on a change of direction before reaching the backing , but no sooner had I wound back the slackening line then it was off again against the ratchet once more.

 

More skirmishes as I wound line back, only for the fish to pull it off again, before it was finally netted and released.

 

 

Edited March 30, 2011 by Leon Roskilly

[Leon Roskilly 25]

...and Leon, once you have mastered the basics of playing sizeable fish on fly gear, do as Steve suggests and transfer your fly experience to mullet fishing.

 

Flyfishing running water needs a further step up in skills from stillwater flyfishing, but the experience of catching a decent mullet on fly is IMHO one of the pinnacles of achievement in an angler's life.

 

 

Having been driven nearly mad with frustration whilst targeting mullet with float and bread and centrepin, I start to shiver uncontrollably whenever the thought of fly-fishing for them crosses my mind!

[chuby 0]

Having been driven nearly mad with frustration whilst targeting mullet with float and bread and centrepin, I start to shiver uncontrollably whenever the thought of fly-fishing for them crosses my mind!

 

:D Leon,my mate had a go at them with fly(and dynamite) on the Arun last year,they drove him bonkers :D

Edited March 30, 2011 by chuby

[Tony U 36]

Medway Mullet on the fly, mmmmmm now there's a challenge!

[Leon Roskilly 25]

Medway Mullet on the fly, mmmmmm now there's a challenge!

 

 

I think I'd start in the Swale.