Like my message says, what is freespooling?

Also, for a very frustraed steelie fisherman, what can I do to educate myself. Should I read books, or is it all about time spent on the river?

I've always heard freespooling refered to a long lining its when you let line out to extend your drift but maintain a little resistance so you can feel whats up. I'm an o.k. steelheader but most of what I've learned and hopefully keep learning has come from books experience and also I've got some of my best tips from fellow steelheaders I've met on the river most of the guys out there will B.S. with you if your not a jerk to them. Good luck and tight lines.
Kevin
P.S. I wouldn't try long lining in the pool with a lot of other anglers its how you get people pissed off real fast.

Freespooling-is what should happen when you by a new reel-that the smartass answer. Actually, when using a level line or baitcasting reel when your drift is about at the tail and before it starts to drag on the bottom hit the clutch and let the bail run free--not without some thumb resistance. Thumb pressure will also act for setting the hook. Great way to bobber fish too. As Kevin said best done when there are no other anglers fishing the same stretch. Not a reccommended technique at Reiters. You will best learn steelheading by all the things you mentioned-reading, talking with guys at the tackle stores or on the river or here, best of all your chances increase 100% when you have a line in the water.

Looks like your first question was well answered. As to learning, try steelhead clubs or many sporting good stores have talks and seminars. Watch the other anglers around you. You can learn alot by observing. Also take a guided trip. (They didn't get to be top guides by not knowing the right stuff!!) And probably best of all get a buddy to learn with you. That way you can always laugh about trips. Worked for me. Sharp hooks!

I agree with what was told to you as far as freespooling just keep trying it. Now as far as education on fishing for steelhead it will come with the more time that you spend on the river. I found that one of the first thing i learned was how to read water. Good luck and Sharp Hooks! PS Try to learn one thing each time you go out.

Salmon, I agree that some of the best tips come from guides. They impart alot of good advise, and you have them as a captive audience for 8 hours, so pick their brains. I have also found that you can learn an awful lot by watching what the guys who are catching fish are doing. What are they using, where are they throwing (long casts or short casts) how much weight are they using, how long are their leaders. Keep your eyes and ears open and you'll learn alot. Good Luck

re: Freespooling

I've also heard it used to describe a technique to turn a fish that is tearing downstream and stripping the line off your reel and the skin off your thumb. The theory is that the fish will struggle against the pressure exerted by the hook and line...when ripping downstream, the fish has all the force of the current working in its favor. I've lost many fish this way--trying to hold 'em tight while they're Japan-bound.
So, in order to turn such a fish, you freespool--let out line as fast as possible, trying to form a u-turn of line below the fish. In order to fight the pressure of the line, the fish must now swim upstream, toward you.
This technique is particularly effective with bigger fish that are drifting slowly downstream away from you...unless you're using choker cable for line.
The problem I often have with this technique is that it's counter-intuitive. When I get a hookup I usually try to keep all the slack out of the line--to keep the hook set. But with time I've learned that risking slack is worth it (and in the case of the the more acrobatic species, inevitable anyways).
Tight (no pun intended) lines!