Before I started fishing with a guide on the OP rivers, if there was one piece of fishing advice I considered to be gospel, it was "keep your rod tip up!" The first fish I caught with him, that's what I did, as that's all I knew and had really never considered anything else. My guide almost jumped out of the boat. His gospel is to keep the rod tip low - "we aren't fishing in Puget Sound!" Once given, he considered his lesson taught and on repeat offenses he's threatened to introduce me to the salmon priest of love and/or the thermos of love. I'm hardheaded, but I am a mammal and I can learn - if not from verbal instruction, then from aversion therapy.

Maybe I don't get out enough. Is this something all experience river fishermen take for granted? Was I a cracker, or are there different schools of thought. (Is it better to just sit there in your yellow rain jacket and have everyone think you're a cracker than to get a fish on and prove to everyone that you are?)

In some sort of Pavlovian response, I have switched to the low rod angle.

I see people fighting fish on the rivers both ways. I see extremes on both sides. I see people with their arms extended over their heads. I see people with their rod butts pointing up in the air and their rod tips almost submerged. I see people changing rod angles like they were fencing.

I think the major reason I was given for the low rod angle was that it tends to keep the fish off the bottom, in the pool and out of the air. But it sure makes for a more radical movement when you have to change the direction from which you are pressuring the fish.

Which is the better/preferred/more efficient technique on a river of typical depth and for what reason? Does it really matter? Is the answer: "It depends"? What would you instruct your clients, or, if you aren't a pro, what would you instruct your children or a friend new to the sport?

I keep my tip up to feel fish and down to feel for the bottom. Hope this helps!

always low, until they're in the shallows

I'm fairly new to salmon and steelhead fishing (but 20 years of trout fishing) - so take this with a grain of salt...

Just to clarify your question - I think you are asking in the context of fighting a fish - not in the context of doing the actual fishing - right?

When fighting any fish, my rod tip is up most of the time. Only when I need to steer around an obstical or when the fish takes off on a run would I drop my tip at all.

I tend to fish light line, so I rely on a good rod to handle to load of a large and/or aggressive fish. Especially when fly fishing and using a light tippet. That's why most meat fisherman who don't have a net drag the fish onto the rocks a ways (with a bent rod) before wacking it. If they tried to grab the line by hand, the fish could easily snap it - a bent rod will buffer sudden lunges and runs. (I guess a good drag can do this, but I think you need to rely on both the rod and the reel to fight the fish)

Some people like to lay the rod sideways at times (still bent at the same angle) for a few reasons. One is when a fish is jumping, they want to try to keep it in the water (since head shaking mid-air is a likely time for the hook to pop out). Personally - I say let them jump! That's half the fun of fishing is to watch the acrobatics. I'm planning on letting it go anyway... (usually)
The other time some (me included) will lay the bent rod sideways is to put pressure on the fish from different angles to cofuse, frustrate, tire, and ultimately to give up in a timely manner. Noodle rodders really need to apply some kind of a strategy like this, since they can't just horse it in like those with stiff rods and 20lb line.

Well, that's my .0002 cents...

In the end, do what feels right for you and have some fun!

-Chad

Good question Tad. And an equaly good answer Chad. I would just like to add that I'm a noodle rodder, and use light line. Therefore I do keep my rod low, but with a good bend in it to use it as a shock absorber. And at times I have stuck the tip of my rod in the water to get a fish to turn when running. It seems the extra line in the water puts more resistance on the fish

Wow this is interesting!I fish with a 10'6''noodle rod so I am trying to picture holding my rod low.I don't always use light line depends on what and when.Alot of the time I use super braids.I guess I turn it sideways down low if I think a steely's going to jump but most of the time I have the rod up.When you say you are holding the rod low do you mean you are pointing the rod more at the fish?I ask this because think I stand to learn some thing here.I don't quite get the idea of holding the rod low???

Cyclops, I think I know you. You got hair on your head?

I'm one of the fishing brothers.

FJ...out.

ltlCLEO, I just don't hold my rod high for the same reason you stated. Not wanting the fish to jump. I usually hold it to the side horizontal with a good bend in it.
FJ, thinning but yes I got some. Why do you think you know me?

Yeah, I'm a cracker who's been lurking for awhile. But, whatdaya expect from a hick from NoDak!! :p

[ 12-06-2001: Message edited by: Cyclops ]

Keep it low in the rivers until ready to bring the fish in. Allows you to respond faster to a steelies changes in directions and other maneuvers. You can use the rod low to the side to maintain some angle on the fish to keep it away from hangups and such. With a high position you're almost always going to end up giving the fish slack during the fight when you definitely don't want to.

Gooose

Y'know, this is a topic which intersts me to no end...hooking hot springers in a tailout on straight 8lb test taught me to keep the line in the water to use the current to bring some side pressure on the fish...battling chums (hurry the heck up and tire out so I can get you off my line and get back to fishing) I noticed that changing the angle of the line kept the fish off balance and made it tire earlier (where'd I see this? some video about the Babine?)...hooking hot summer run steelies on the fly made me rethink a few things, because when they tore across the river you'd want your tip up in the air to reduce the drag on your line...but one constant, it seems to me, is your position on the river in relation to the fish. Don't let the fish get above you, at least not in the current. If a fish does get above you, keep your line up and out of the water to reduce the drag which is trying, essentially, to pull the hook right out of the fish's mouth.

The angler that always amuses me (and who I never fail, eventually, to meet, year to year) is the one who battles a fish while standing in ankle-deep water...and the fish won't come in that close, and he won't go out and release it or step back and beach it...they just sit there and pull on each other...yawn!

FK99, good stuff!! I'll keep this in mind. By the way where is the Babine. I saw a thread on it awhile back, and was told by a co-worker that he thought it was in B.C.?

I generally keep my rod angled up, but not too much. I drop it if the fish is going to jump because it changes the preasure on the fish and will oftentimes keep them from jumping. Other than that, it's more fun to fight them with the rod up a bit.

Am I a ditz?? (RT don't answer that!!) You are all talking about keeping your fish from jumping...I love fish that jump! Its exciting, spectacular...it gives a greater sense of battle, to me anyway...I love the thrill of the battle. I know my rod is up, down and sideways on hot fish...I don't have a code on this one...other than...hes gonna jump!!

Gil

[ 12-07-2001: Message edited by: gillraker ]

I'm with gillraker hold it high and let em fly !!!!!

Good topic. I like to have a low rod when fighting a fish. If you lay the rod down parralel to the water and create a 'C' that makes the fish fight the rod, and the drag. If you have a monster steel on, and you keep a raised tip when he heads for a log jam or the tailout...goodbye... Basically putting side pressure on keeps the hook well seated, and uses less stress on your line. When fish is spent or getting close to land, raised rod is choice for me. I think the bottom line is just keep tension with no slack.

fish on....

If you adjust your drag by pulling line at the reel,you should be aware that raising your rod tip and putting that 90 degree angle between the fish and your reel,you now have two different drag tensions.The tension between your rod tip and hook will be higher than the tension between rod tip and reel.This is not a bad thing,you just have to remember that when you want to let the fish run,the rod tip goes down.

[ 12-09-2001: Message edited by: Leadslinger ]

[ 12-09-2001: Message edited by: Leadslinger ]

Well it does add excitement, it's also when a high majority of fish spit the hook, especially with barbless.

Go ahead and keep your rod tip high if you want to risk a broken rod. Graphite rods are designed to be the strongest and exert the most pressure on a fish when held at a 45 degree angle ( between 10 and 11 O'clock). Also if you pump a fish and bring your rod tip to high you will lose ground on the fish watch someone next to you doing this and you will see this well thats all I have to say