Luckily we are blessed with waters that hold trophy sized brown and rainbow trout. Almost every trip down the S. Holston river our guest hook up with one of these giants. Landing these fish on light line, small flies, and in limestone laden rock gardens can present a real dilemma.
But there is a way and it is all technique. First off, you have to stay on top of the fish, the more vertical the angle of your line, the better.This will keep your tippet out of the river bottom debris that will eventually break you off. Secondly, steady firm pressure is a must. If you give any slack to the fish the hook has a good chance of simply falling out of the fish's mouth. Also, try to avoid the dreaded head shake while the trout is facing you.
When the fish is facing you shaking its head, the fly is most likely to be pulled out. Simply change your rod angle and try to turn the fish sidways. Lastly don't force the fish into the net. Horsing a fish at the net only freaks the fish out and often sends them screaming away with your flies and broken tippet. Instead, try to ease the fish into the net while the fish is calm and unsuspecting. Try these tactics the next time you hook into a fish of lifetime, perhaps this time it wont get away.
This report provided courtesy of the Trophy Water Guide Service in Boone, NC.