By Jim Darnell
Daily Record Columnist
May 15, 2008 10:46 am
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“That little stretch of shoreline was packed with redfish,” said Tom Ray of San Marcos. “When I threw my Gulp shrimp to them a big one came at it like an alligator”.
Tom set the hook and began to fight the powerful red from his kayak. He fought the fish for two or three minutes while his buddy in another kayak watched.
“Then the line went slack and the fish was gone,” continued Tom.
Thinking the line had broken, Tom examined his line to find that little tell-tale, twisted line “pigtail” at the line's end. His knot had come untied. Heartbreak.
Why do the big ones always seem to get away? Answer. It almost always comes down to fisherman error.
We need to remember that when you hook a big fish the odds are on his side. He's big. He's strong. And he will exploit any mistake you make to escape.
The number one reason that big fish make good their escape is improperly set drags on the reel. Reels are built not just to reel in line but to release line under pressure. When a big fish begins to run and line peels off the spool the temptation is to tighten the drag. To do so is disaster.
Adjust your drag before you begin fishing. Set it lighter than you would think necessary and let the fish run. If the fish is about to get into an oil rig, a dock, tree or other structure just apply a little extra pressure on the spool with your thumb or hand. Don't fool with the drag.
Years ago, while winter fishing in the Colorado River near Matagorda, my son Terry hooked a log. As I moved the boat toward the snag to free his lure the “log” took off with power. It was a huge bull redfish.
Seeing the size of the fish I said to Terry, “Loosen the drag a little.” He obediently began to adjust the star drag on the bait caster reel. One problem. He turned it the wrong way. Line stopped peeling off the reel, the rod bent double and the 14 pound test line sounded like the report of a .22 when it popped. Terry is still mad at me.
Another key to landing big fish is to retie your lure often. Monofilament line gets weaker with use. The stretch can get “stretched out” of it. Small nicks and abrasions, usually near the lure, weaken the line. So cut off a foot of line and retie after you catch three or four fish.
Another hint. Use a leader, especially in salt water. For years when fishing the coast I just tied my lure onto my 12 or 14 pound test line. But I noticed that the guys fishing the redfish and speckled trout tournament circuits all use leaders. I began tying about a three foot piece of 20-pound mono to my lighter line. I immediately began to lose less fish. It's that last foot of line next to the lure that gets the most abuse. A good leader will cover a multitude of sins — like forgetting to retie often.
Knots are important. To avoid what happened to Tom, pull your knot down extra tight. Use your thumbnail to compact the knot. Pull the tag end and then pull on the main line again. When you clip off the tag end leave enough for the knot to slip a little in a strong fight and still not come undone. A tag end clipped close to the knot looks nice but I would rather leave a 1/2-inch tag. It’s good insurance.
Fighting a big fish successfully requires the right procedure. When a big fish is making a power run and line is peeling off the spool, don't reel. Just hold the rod up and let him run. If you reel a spinning reel while a fish is taking line all you do is twist the line. Let him run until he stops. Then reel and lower the rod tip. Lift the fish and reel down again. Never drop the tip and give him slack. That's when he will “spit” the lure. Always reel as you lower the tip. Then lift again. The rod will whip him if you don't get in too big of a hurry.
Last week my friend Mike Bailey from Pennsylvania came down to spend a couple of fishing days with me. We were wade fishing one of my favorite holes in Corpus Christi Bay. A strong redfish slammed Mike's Gulp shrimp and began to power across the flat. Mike's eyes lit up and he began to reel like a mad man. He had never caught a big redfish.
“Don't reel. Just let him run.” I coached. When the run ended Mike worked the fish toward my net. As the fish neared the net Mike said, “I've got him now”. Then the fish turned and powered across the flat again. Then a third time. Finally, exhausted the big 30 inch red laid over on his side and I slipped the net under him.
Many big fish are lost at the net. One last surge under the boat or an inexperienced netter lunging for the fish will result in heartbreak. But this fish now belonged to Mike.
“That's the greatest fight I ever had from a fish,” exclaimed Mike. “What a day!”
This big one didn't get away and it made my day.
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