Playing fish with two hands on the rod

[WickerDave]

What is the advantage of playing fish with two hands on the rod, i.e. one holding the handle above the reel and the other a couple of feet above it cradling the rod? I've seen several people do it, it just doesn't look right, but there must be some reason for it.

 

Last time I saw it was by someone playing an 8lb carp on proper carp gear. I guess I should have asked him at the time!

[PeterJC]

Hi WickerDave,

I use the two handed approach sometimes. I find it useful where a little extra leverage is required, keeping fish out of snags or lifting them off the bottom for example.

During a long fight it can ease the pressure on the muscles in the rod arm.

Cheers, Peter.

[Bradford Angler]

yep . . it is for resting the wrist during fighting . . mostly on larger fish caught on lighter tackle . . it also takes some of the humps and lumps out of the fight. When thefish bolts and all the pressure goes on the wrist . .

[John S]

I've played large(ish) fish with two hands before, but with one hand over the reel and the other right at the butt. Never cradled the rod above the reel though.

 

Tight lines

[Julian]

Yup. I play decent fish at close quarters with two hands on the rod; my right hand above the reel so I can control the line of the spool and the other about half way between the reel and the first rod eye – I find having a hand further up the rod puts you in touch with the fish much better allowing better control when playing fish close in.

[Peter Sharpe]

I think you will find it is mainly for the limp-wristed element Dave

I think it first started when one of angling's bigger posers did it in a photo shoot to look arty and sensitive. I think it looks completely prattish myself, but each to their own.

[poledark]

Leeda put a bit of whipping/crisscross about 12ins above the reel fitting on their feeder rods just for that purpose.

Very thoughtful of them specially when fighting a powerful carp or barbel.

 

"limp wristed indeed" my right hand gets to much practise to ever be limp wristed

 

Den

[Bruno Broughton]

Didn't any of you do physics at school?

 

The falcrum (point of balance) on a rod when playing a fish is at the tip. The longer the 'lever', the more pressure you have to apply to achieve the same force at the falcrum. The 'lever' is the point of force in relation to the falcrum.

 

At least, that's how I seem to remember it.

 

 

It's no poser-stuff to put one hand up the rod - thereby shortening the 'lever' - and pulling. I have watched people playing big fish by hanging onto the (butt) end of a 13-foot rod, claiming "I couldn't stop the fish". Place a hand half way up the rod and pull - easy peasy. Shorter lever = greater force = controlled fish.

[monkeyboy]

poledark havent you ever heard the phrase '99 change hands'?

[Peter Sharpe]

We are not talking about raising the Titanic here, merely about playing a fish. You can hold the rod in one hand and the net in the other. Anything else is just posing. Even worse are those who give it the little tapping motion with their left hands. W*nkers...sorry, poseurs.