Every keen fisherman has a story of the one that got away. These heart-breaking stories usually involve hooking the fish of a lifetime and losing it to unruly conditions. If you love fishing, you know how exciting a fish on the line is. Landing a big catch creates memories lasting a lifetime. However, you are probably not oblivious to how easily a catch can be lost too. Here are some practical pointers to keep you landing those fish.
Seven simple tips to stop losing fish include sharpening or replacing your hooks, replacing your line when necessary, trying a different rod, learning how to perfect your knots, changing your drag settings, learning to hook the fish at the right time, and maintaining your line tension.
Following these 7 simple steps may cure a whole lot of disappointment and heartache. Let’s dig into them!
Tip One: Sharpen or Replace Your Hooks
Most newly bought fish hooks are sharp right out of the box and ready to use. But leaving your hooks in the tackle box for long enough tends to dull down the hooks, and using the same hook often accelerates them losing their sharpness.
Dull hooks are one of the top causes of lost fish. If the lip isn’t sharp enough, fish tend to slip off the hook easily. Your two options are to have a hook sharpener on hand or to replace your hooks more often.
Ask yourself the following:
- Is the hook rusty?
- Is the hook blunt?
- Has the hook been bent?
- Is the eye of the hook in good shape?
If your answer is yes to any of the above mentioned, consider replacing you hook.
Tip Two: Replace Your Line
When switching or replacing your line, it’s vital to consider the following attributes:
- The quality of the line
- The material
- Length
- Weight
- Thickness
To level up their angling, many fishermen are switching from old school, monofilament lines to modern, stronger braided or fluorocarbon lines. A new line won’t easily break when fighting a fish, even if it’s massive!
When to Change Your Fishing Line
A common mistake for beginners is the assumption that fishing lines last several years because there isn’t an expiration date on the packaging. A definite timeline as to when your fishing line should be replaced is not determined. The regularity depends on how often you go fishing. Evidently, the more the line is used, the more times it should be replaced. Another factor is the way that the item has been used and the conditions it has been exposed to, for example, rocky bodies of water will wear the line quicker. The reality is that as fishing lines come into contact with water, rocks, timber, and other things, they begin to weaken.
The best advice would be to examine your line before heading out to the waters. Look out for discoloration, cuts, creases, abrasions, and threads coming off.
The type of fishing line used also plays a major role.
Monofilament lines are made with a single, nylon strand. It is stretchy and known as the “jack of all traits”. Unfortunately, the monoline much weaker than other lines and is easily degraded by UV light and heat. Monofilament lines are recommended to be replaced every fishing season.
Braided line is made of two or more fiber materials. Braid has no stretch and no memory, allowing it to flow freely without creating kinks. It tends to wear out and unravel and is harder to tie knots with, but it generally outlasts the monofilament line. Braided fishing line has to be replaced every second or third fishing season.
Fluorocarbon isn’t much stronger than monoline, but it is super abrasion resistant and long-lasting. Fluorocarbon has a high memory making it quick to tangle and knots tend to fail if tied incorrectly. It is high-end, but you need to know what you’re doing with it. The fluorocarbon fishing line has to be replaced every two years or more.
Tip Three: Use a Different Rod
It’s beyond disappointing reeling in a monster fish, only to have your rod snap. Stiff rods put more pressure on tension points between you and the fish; there won’t be much absorption. Using a lighter and more flexible rod will ease the tension and will prevent it from snapping during pressure overload.
Once you’ve hooked a fish the excitement kicks in! Giving them too much slack or horsing them in are both recipes for losing a fish. Instead, focus on holding your rod steady and take time to allow the rod to tire the fish out for you.
Tip Four: Learn to Perfect Your Knot Tying
We are all in a rush to be the first one to get our line into the water, so we hastily tie our knots, and as a result, we end up losing the big guy. The majority of break-offs happen at the knot. Vegetation and previous catches can quickly weaken your knots. Aim to check your knots a couple of times throughout the day.
Taking time to practice and perfect knot tying will save you a lot of trouble and heartbreak in the future. Here are the 5 most common knots to tie with.
- The Palomar Knot: The Palomar knot is the best fishing knot according to anglers. It is easy to tie, one of the strongest knots, and can be used on any fishing line. https://youtu.be/uWw_f7CQQLg
- The Improved Clinch Knot: This knot is great for general uses. It is easy to tie and works great for bog baits, spinnerbaits, and larger crankbaits. https://youtu.be/0vlraTvVotI
- The Surgeon’s Knot: This is the best knot for anglers who want to attach two lines. The knot is sturdy and does not break easily. https://youtu.be/yftA2kvFERU
- The Blood Knot: The blood knot is used to fasten hooks or lures, but it is an excellent knot for fly fishing lines. https://youtu.be/0qPjEQISVrg
- The Spider Hitch Fishing Knot: The Spider Hitch knot is rarely used, but it sure comes in handy when you need to boost your line’s strength and when you want to use a heavier hook. This knot is great for saltwater fishing. https://youtu.be/lNQ1l9KPTQA
Tip Five: Change Your Drag Setting
Many fishermen completely ignore the drag setting. If you have lost a lot of fish lately, lightening the drag will prevent you from pulling too hard. The less line on your spool, the tighter your drag will be. Additional strain is put on the line when catching a big fish, causing the line to break easier.
A good-rule of thumb is to set your drag at under one third of the lines breaking strain.
Tip Six: Hook at the Right Time
Setting your hook too early may cause the hook to dislodge from the fish’s mouth. Setting the hook too hard may cause the hook to tear the fish’s mouth, releasing the fish. Whereas, hooking the fish too lightly does not fasten the hook in the fish’s mouth, causing it to be dislodged too.
To help you set the hook better look for the following common signs:
- If the fish only tapping your bait lightly and not really biting it – WAIT!
- Wait to feel the weight of the fish before setting the hook.
- If you are using a bobber, wait for it to completely be pulled underwater.
Tip Seven: Maintain Good Line Tension
It is important that you keep a firm tension on your line at all times. If the line slacks, the fish may throw the hook. But, putting too much pressure on your line can cause the line to snap. So, when a large fish makes a run for it, do not fight them. Instead of reeling in the fish, loosen your drag, keep a firm line tension, and let the fish tire itself.
Conclusion:
Proper fishing techniques help to prevent you from being left with an empty feeling in the pit of your stomach. To avoid losing fish ensure you are using sharp hooks, and remember to replace your fishing line with a newer and stronger line. Using a flexible rod and paying close attention to how you tie those knots will help to avoid losing fish.
Perfecting these 7 simple steps will leave you a happy camper.
