Nymphing . . Hook set

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SEIdahoguy

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New to the forum. From Southeast Idaho. Started fly fishing two years ago with a friend.

Yesterday, was on Henry’s Fork. Nymphing using a drop shot rig. Had the hardest time setting the hook and playing (large) fish. Every fish ran down stream in a fast current. Kept trying to direct into slower water near the shore. Lost fish after fish. Either got off shortly after I set. Or, when I was trying to direct into slower water. I had on a Hardy UDLA reel. Drag set low. My buddy brought fish after fish to the net. I only got 3. Lost around 10. These were good fish . High teens or bigger.

Usually don’t have so much trouble. Typically land 60 to 70%.

Any ideas? Want to go back Saturday.
 
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Did you ask what your buddy was doing? I'd start there and emulate that.
 
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A little off point, but I figure when the fish gets off it saves me the issue of release.
When fish are getting off for what seems like no reason I check my hook for sharpness.
I have never done the dropshot thing when nymphing.
I tie my nymphs weighted so I do have the extra hinge to deal with.
 
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SEIdahoguy said:
We talked extensively after. His suspicion was that I wasn’t hooking solidly. I try to set downstream. It the rig is downstream I set towards the shore.
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well, also there are just some of those days. I distinctly remember a day a number of years ago on the Deschutes. I was fishing dries all day and ended up hooking a dozen really nice redsides....I landed exactly zero that day (most just came unpinned)...I don't know if I could copy that if I tried! :LOL:
 
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I've had days when they're hitting frequently but actually very few actually making it to the net...and the few that did so were very lightly hooked on the lip, with the fly soon coming loose into the net. I think it was a matter of very light takes, lack of aggressive feeding, and being a bit too heavy-handed with the flyrod during a fight with fish that were simply poorly hooked.

Sometimes the 'tight line' can be a bit too tight, and as the LDRs mount the tendency is increase the pressure.
 
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Rods that flex more are more forgiving when fighting fish. Fast action rods are good for casting long distances but less forgiving with a fish on. Big fish way downstream can be tough; I try to get even with them or below them if I can but if you’re out in the middle sometimes you just have to hold your ground.

And, some days you’re just snakebit and can’t land fish. It happens. The odds say a day with the opposite trend will happen at some point, just to keep balance in the universe.
 
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So, hook downstream with rod horizontal, then rotate road to upstream side, again horizontal, then add a bit of bend by moving the rod tip out 5-10 degrees but keep butt end in. If I understand what Devin Olsen is suggesting . . Let the road keep the fish tight.
 
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