Let me start off with the good news...
I GOT MY FIRST FISH ON THE FLY ROD!
The bad news....
I LOST 3 NICE FISH AT THE BOAT!
I am currently up in Montana and went fishing with a buddy and my bro-in-law on the Bighorn River. It was a beautiful float and a lot of fun. I brought my fly rod and told myself today was going to be the day i got my first fish on the fly. After about 6 hours of floating and watching my buddy and bro catch a few each i finally got my first strike. I set the hook very instinctively and played the fish for about a minute or so until it was worn out and i had him close to the boat. My bro in law went to net the fish and it made another run and got loose.
Pretty similar story on the other fish i hooked that day except for one which was ALL my bro in laws fault because he tried to grab the fish by and out of the water from the boat.
Anyone have any tips on how to boat more fish and not lose them at the last second?
P.S. I am now hooked on fly fishing and will prob only keep my spinning gear for Bass fishing.
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Float fishing is a lot of fun, but it can be difficult to land fish depend on how fast the water is where you hook them. Without being able see exactly what happened my advice would be get a longer net.[
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Windriver
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Thanks for the advice. The funny thing is that is exactly what i told my buddy! We literally had the fish within arms reach and just couldnt get the fish in the net before they got off.
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get some better netters....
as you get closer to landing the fish try and keep the fish's head up (not necessarily out of the water) to try and curb a last minute run...seems to work for me anyway.
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id have to agree ols saying is control the head control the fish is ussually true
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I agree to keep the head up AND
Once you have determined which side of the boat the fish will be coming to, get the net into the water. Submerge as much of the rim of the net as you can, but leave some of it out so that the angler can clearly see where he needs to get the fish.
Do not jab at the fish with the net. Simply leave the net in the water and allow the angler to lead it in.
Turn the net so that it offers the largest possible entry to the fish.
As soon as the fish is past the rim of the net, lift it out with a slight scooping motion. If the fish is large, do not scoop, rather hold the handle of the net in a vertical fashion and lift the net out of the water.
But I wanted to welcome you to the L.D.R. club and it will happen allot!
L. long D distance R release.
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Thanks for the info! Like i said it was my first few fish on the fly so i was just happy to have them hooked. I did get to see all the fish and they were nice size i just wish i could have touched a couple so that my hands smelled like fish and my wife would believe me that I actually hooked something!
I will have to look into getting a larger net and also some better netters!
I cant wait to get back to Idaho and do some more fly fishing!
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I find randomly pushing the netter out of the boat keeps them motivated not to lose any more fish.
As always, maker sure the one you are pushing is smaller than you and/or good natured about it.
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Unfortunatley for me my bro-in-law is 3 inches taller and about 100 lbs heavier!
I guess we could always leave him in the water and pick him up at the next rapids!
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FG nailed the netting on the head. I have seen many fish lost by the netter chasing the fish with the net. Do not jab the net into the water as the fish will spook and be gone. I watched many people trying to land salmon a few weeks ago and there is definitely an art to netting a fish. Very slow movements until the right moment, having the net in the water waiting, letting the fish be led into the net, and most of all, every one needs to stay calm.
You can also net two ways, head first or tail first. There is a difference depending on what water you are fishing. Head fiirst is preferred for lakes and calm rivers/streams. Follow the above directions.
For tail first, this is used on fast moving waters with bigger fish (Salmon, Steelhead). The netter setups and waits about 10-20 feet down stream of the fisherman and about poles length farther into the river. The fishermen will then lead the fish to the net. Watch out in case the fish runs, you may have to duck or dance around the line. When the fisherman gets the fish in front of the net with the tail just starting to go into the net, he tells the netter he is ready. The fishermen will then slacken the line by letting the rod tip down and turning to face down river a bit. This will catch the fish off guard and the current will push the fish backwards into the net and at the same time the netter raises the net. Biggest thing with this technique is timing, communication and not to touch the fish with the net until you are raising the net. With a little practice, it becomes very easy using this method working as a team.
Good luck and enjoy.
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Thanks for the info!
Sounds like a lot better way then what we were trying! My bro in law tried horsing one of my fish in by grabbing my line and lifting the fish in the boat and it shook loose before it was over the side of the boat. Another fish he started running up on it in the shallows and the fish went running and my line hit some rocks.
I guess i just need to educate him on proper technique and I could probably use a little practice myself.
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