By Greg Wagner
All of us who love to fish have a story or two about the one that got away, don’t we?
Invariably, the tale involves hooking the fish of a lifetime and losing it to unforeseen circumstances or mistakes.
Trust me, I have made my share of mistakes when it comes to large, prized game fish.
Without question, these stories, however embellished, can be devastating to those of us who have a passion for wetting lines.
For as many wild and crazy occurrences that aren’t preventable when you lose a big fish, there are many things you can control that help to ensure it doesn’t happen.
Why is this important to bring up now? That’s because the months of May and June lead all others with the issuance of Master Angler Awards for large fish in Nebraska.
Pointers for Handling Big Fish
The Equipment
- Sharpen your hooks. Come on, who really sharpens their fishing hooks? Anglers that are successful with landing big fish sharpen their hooks, that’s who! Dull hooks are one of the primary reasons as to why anglers lose fish, especially if they’re not hooked in the lip. You have two options to prevent losing fish from dull hooks, either invest in a hook sharpener (they’re very cheap and compact) or buy new hooks more often. For catch-and-release purposes with big fish, single circle or barbless hooks are the way to go. They radically decrease the rate of deep hooking and this is well documented in studies.
- Use new line. Have you replaced your old fishing line? With this modern era of “high-performance” fishing, a high number of anglers seem to be making the switch from older monofilament lines to the newer braided ones. As its name implies, braided line is a kind of aggregate of smaller lines braided together, much like a rope is. While it tends to fray and make knot-tying harder, it generally outlasts monofilaments and won’t break as easily when fighting a line-snapping giant.
- Use swivels and metal leaders. Are certain pieces of hardware required for catching large fish? Using suitable swivels and metal leaders can be the difference between a successful trip targeting big fish and one that ends up in total disappointment. Yes, swivels and metal leaders are that important, particularly for bigger specimens in the pike and catfish families, but it depends on the scenario. Swivels and metal leaders are often two of the most overlooked pieces of equipment that anglers own.
- Try a bit more flexible, longer, one-piece rod. What is the right rod to use for going after Master angler-sized fish? Fishing rods that are stiff often put more pressure than necessary on points of tension between you and the fish you’re fighting. Using a more flexible rod will allow the line some more “give,” and prevent it from snapping when a pressure overload is applied. In addition, longer, one-piece rods may be more difficult to transport, however, they provide greater leverage and don’t come apart when landing large fish.
- Adjust your drag settings. Do I really need to mess with the drag settings on my reel? Yes! Surprisingly, umpteen anglers completely ignore the drag settings on their fishing reels, and it is a catastrophe waiting to happen! Consequently, this equals lots of lost fish on the water. A light to moderate drag setting (that will not apply a force greater than the line capacity) should be employed. If the fish is making hard runs and leaping out of the water, adjust the drag to a loose setting. As the fish starts to lose energy, adjust the drag to a tighter setting. By using the drag to your advantage, it dramatically increases the chances of catching that so called “hawg,” “toad” or “megalodon of a lifetime”. The rule of thumb is to set your drag to about 1/3 to 1/4 of your line’s breaking strength. This allows the fish to run without snapping your line.
- Tie good, strong knots. Just how important are well-tied knots? Huge! The knot is the weakest point in the line. I would say just about every angler, at one point or another, has tied a knot too hastily and ended up losing a big fish because of it. At a minimum, take some time to practice the two most popular line-to-hook knots: the Palomar Knot and the Improved Clinch Knot. With time, you’ll be able to tie them quickly and confidently when you’re on the water. Maybe you’ll even learn to tie other good knots such as the Uni or Blood knots.
The Fight
- Double tap to set the hook. Fishzilla has taken your bait or snatched your lure presentation, now what?! Remind yourself that an excellent rule of thumb with setting a hook on a pez muy grande (very big fish in Spanish) is to do it twice, like what is referred to as a “double tap”. When the fish initially takes your lure or bait and you feel the tension on the line, tug sharply and repeat.
- Rod tip up, maintain pressure and change direction. Are tactics during the actual battle to land the fish that important? Once that pole bender is hooked, maintain constant pressure on it by keeping the tip of your rod vertical. Keep your rod tip at a steady 45-degree angle to keep consistent pressure. Change the direction of the pressure throughout the battle, forcing the fish to move in different directions. As the fish moves, try to bend the rod away from the direction in which the fish is swimming and slightly lower the rod to tighten up the angle. The fish will have to expend energy countering your moves.
- Keep your line tight. Is your line taut? It is crucial that you always maintain tension firmly on the line after setting the hook on that whopper of a fish! If there is slack, the fish will have a better chance of throwing the hook, and you will be left with a huge amount of disappointment. (Although you might have a good story, but it is not worth it.) Sustain pressure on the line by keeping the tip up and reeling in with a smooth, consistent motion. When you get the fish to the bank or boat, you need to continue to keep the line tight.
- Lift up, reel down, repeat. What is the proper method or motion for getting that monster to the boat or shoreline? Remember when hauling in a super lunker, you can’t just reel, reel, reel and hope to get that sucker in fast. You need to lift the tip of the rod with a smooth and firm motion, pulling the fish closer to you. When you drop the rod tip down, this is the time to reel in line. Go slow, be patient and you’ll catch more fish and have plenty of Master Angler Awards to prove it!
- Let it run, but not near structure. Can I let the big fish run or not? If you have a large fish that decides to make a run for it, the worst thing you can do is try to hold it in place. I know this from experience. By fighting its runs, all you are going to do is increase the chances that your fishing line will break and your payoff will swim away. Instead, set the drag so the fish can take out line while still tiring itself. This will wear down the fish; eventually their runs will get shorter, less aggressive, and less frequent. There is one exception though. If a fish is making a run for submerged or partially submerged structure or cover such as logs, rocks, docks, boat storage sheds, flooded trees, etc., steer it away. When fishing line is wrapped around that structure or cover in the water, a lot of strain is put on it and snapping normally ensues. If your trophy fish is heading for a snag, do whatever you can to keep it out of there.
- Follow it. Do I need to follow that fish? Following the large, powerful fish, you have hooked on foot along the bank or with a boat on the water is vital to minimize the distance between you and the fish. Being close to it gives you better control and helps maximize the pressure you put on it.
The Landing
- Use a partner. Should I go fishing with a partner? Absolutely! Use that fishing partner for assistance with the landing of that enormous fish specimen. Your partner can direct you to a shallow water landing area or help you in a boat. Having a fishing partner is safer on the water and will let you focus on effectively playing the big fish. It will also lower the risk that you will lose your memorable catch. By having a partner observing and assisting, the tendency to make mistakes and “winch,” “horse” or “beach” the fish should be reduced, too. Moreover, your partner serves as not only a “netter” but also a witness, photographer or even videographer of your catch. In addition, fishing with a partner is far more enjoyable!
- Finish with rubber netting, gloving and fish mats. What do I need to remember when finishing the catch? If you see it, it can see you. Prepare for a last-ditch escape maneuver by that whopper. If the fish dives under the boat, jab your rod tip in the water. Do not grab the line. Stay focused and keep that big fish off-balance. Use a long-handled, larger-meshed, rubber or rubber coated landing net in order to secure the fish. Be certain to lead it into the net headfirst. Rubber meshed landing nets should always be utilized because other nets that have knots or string mesh which can be quite harmful in damaging the fish’s mucus coating or protective slime. These kinds of nets are more cumbersome and prone to tangling, not allowing for swift catch-and-release. Wet rubberized gloves also work well to handle big fish and do not cause undo harm to them. European-style landing mats that are wetted are also suggested for use.
- Use pliers, lip grippers, take a quick pic/video and release. I have landed it, now what? Hook removal tools are essential. A pair of needle-nose or long nose pliers will serve you well to get the hook out of that fish’s mouth. Lip grippers can be used to assist with hook removal and handling of the fish but with extreme care! You don’t want to cause undue harm or damage to the fish’s mouth. Plan to release that big fish you’ve landed, too (and you should)! Do so as soon as possible! You may have just fought the creature for 15 minutes or more; it is now exhausted and extremely stressed. It cannot afford to stay out of the water for very long, so get a quick photo or video holding the fish horizontally, or take two quick tape measurements — overall length and greatest girth, and then release the fish back to its home. You’ll help preserve a healthy fish population and hopefully give another angler the chance to enjoy a big catch.
Daryl Bauer’s Take on Big Fish
Ask Daryl Bauer, biologist, expert angler and fisheries outreach program manager at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission about big fish and here’s what you get: “Big fish matter. Big fish aren’t hard to catch because their smart, it’s that they are so rare. There are only so many big fish that occupy a given water body or waterway.
He further emphasizes: “Big fish are always the least abundant in fish populations. When they go home with somebody, they are less abundant. Those big fish are likely to have the best genetics in the population so you want them returned to the water to live, breed and spawn. Properly release those big fish!”
Bauer adds, “Look, I tell anglers all the time that you can’t catch big fish from waters where they don’t exist. How do you know if there is potential for big fish?” In this high-tech age, anglers have access to more information than ever before. Social media platforms dedicated to fishing may yield big fish catches. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission produces an annual Fishing Forecast based on sampling done by the agency’s fisheries biologists for size and number of various fish species that will prove useful. Keep in mind our state conservation officers are excellent sources of up-to-date fishing information as well.
Avid anglers that you know and trust may be an even better source of information on large fish in a body of water because they continually target big fish. Compilations of big fish caught by anglers in contests or angler recognition programs are also great indicators of waters that have “big-fish potential.”
When it all comes together, a massive fish sucks in your lure or bait. What you do next is the difference between “ultimate glory” or just another “yeah, almost” fish story.
Have fun catching that big fish!