This serves little purpose other then to stress the rod. Just ask my wife. Stress is bad.
The Taco Effect
I love tacos. I don’ t like seeing my fly rod look like one. While guiding in Alaska, this
was an all too common event. Angler has big fish momentarily laid up close to the boat. The fish is just toying with them. Rod is held high. Guide is occupied with another angler’ s fish. Fish wakes up and lunges straight under the boat. The rod briefly looks like a taco, before exploding in the middle.
This serves little purpose other then to stress the rod. Just ask my wife. Stress is bad.
Rods are designed to bend, but only to a point. Round is good. Taco is bad. Every rod has a maximum load level. It’ s best not to try and find it. When a fish dives, lower the rod with the dive, putting the stress on the line and the butt of the rod only. The same thing applies when lifting a fish. A steep angle and high rod tip equals little pressure on the fish, but lots of strain in a sensitive section. It“ just broke” again.
The best way to lift a fish is to raise your hands above your shoulders while keeping the rod at no more than a 45 degree angle. This puts the pressure on the butt of the rod and puts more pressure against the fish. If the fish lunges, no problem. At this angle, the rod can take it and your arms will naturally get pulled downward, absorbing the shock.
The 5 Weight Mistake
Once in a while, we all end up attached to a fish that’ s larger than our intended tackle is designed to withstand. No problem. If you hook a large fish on a light rod, just don’ t bend it too much. Use every bit of your tippet strength and pull mostly against the line. When the fish runs, raise the rod and let them go. Use the rod only as a cushion
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