Callibaetis - deep hooking

[SteelHeadDave]

I was fishing a high elevation lake a few days ago and having good success with callibaetis nymphs using a slow hand twist retrieve. Several of the bigger fish swallowed the fly really deep. Is it normal for fish to swallow these? Would a slightly faster strip retrieve help to prevent this? I’m not used to having fish swallow my fly and would prefer to prevent it if possible. Any advice?

Thanks,
Dave

 

[iveofione]

Not sure this is good advice but I would do the following. Rod tip in the water, straight line to the fly, light tension on the line at all times to feel the slightest hit. Then a short snap set with my line hand when a bump is felt.. The set is really short, probably not even 2'', but it is almost instantaneous once the fish is felt. I see guys with their rod tips up in the air and the fly line with a big belly in it down to the water. Fly rods are waterproof, get that tip in the water. Hard to get a hook set with a slack line and plenty of time for the fish to take the fly deep.

 

[Go Fish]

I do what iveofione suggests and it does help but when the fish are on the chomp I am resigned to losing a lot of flies to save the fish.

 

[Wetswinger]

Some skinny forceps and a barbless hook with a gentle hand helps...as Iveofione says, keep tension on the line..

 

[SteelHeadDave]

Not sure this is good advice but I would do the following. Rod tip in the water, straight line to the fly, light tension on the line at all times to feel the slightest hit. Then a short snap set with my line hand when a bump is felt.. The set is really short, probably not even 2'', but it is almost instantaneous once the fish is felt. I see guys with their rod tips up in the air and the fly line with a big belly in it down to the water. Fly rods are waterproof, get that tip in the water. Hard to get a hook set with a slack line and plenty of time for the fish to take the fly deep.

Thanks Ive, I was fishing with my rod tip touching the water and keeping minimal slack in the line however there was a lot of chop on the water and the wind was swinging my line quite a bit. I’m sure it was harder to detect the strikes because of this. An intermediate line probably would have helped I’m sure vs a floater which was all I had at the time.

 

[Shad]

If the fish are literally swallowing your flies, the rest of us should be asking you for advice LOL!

It happens sometimes (ours is a blood sport), but I agree with you it seems unusual to hook them ALL deep; especially on retrieved nymphs....