fighting a big game fish

I read somewhere that certain experienced anglers set to 'free spool'
when there is a hard run from the fish. This mystifies me because
doesn't doing this only lose your precious line?

There is a line of logic that you should reduce your drag setting as the
fish takes line, but I have never heard of free spooling. As the fish takes
line, there is more pressure put on the tippet becasue of the resistance of
the line in the water. The pressure that you set on your drag combined with
the resistance of the line moving through the water, could exceed the
strength of the tippet. The only thing that you control is the drag
setting.
Also, at least for tarpon, when the fish jumps out of the water, you are
supposed to give slack, but only for a few seconds. You do this by pointing
the rod at the fish, not free spooling.

--


---------------------------------------------------------------------
"Are you still wasting your time with spam?...
There is a solution!"

Protected by GIANT Company's Spam Inspector
The most powerful anti-spam software available.
http://mail.spaminspector.com


"Marcel" wrote in message
...
I read somewhere that certain experienced anglers set to 'free spool'
when there is a hard run from the fish. This mystifies me because
doesn't doing this only lose your precious line?

There is a line of logic that you should reduce your drag setting as the
fish takes line, but I have never heard of free spooling. As the fish takes
line, there is more pressure put on the tippet becasue of the resistance of
the line in the water. The pressure that you set on your drag combined with
the resistance of the line moving through the water, could exceed the
strength of the tippet. The only thing that you control is the drag
setting.
Also, at least for tarpon, when the fish jumps out of the water, you are
supposed to give slack, but only for a few seconds. You do this by pointing
the rod at the fish, not free spooling.

--


---------------------------------------------------------------------
"Are you still wasting your time with spam?...
There is a solution!"

Protected by GIANT Company's Spam Inspector
The most powerful anti-spam software available.
http://mail.spaminspector.com


"Marcel" wrote in message
...
I read somewhere that certain experienced anglers set to 'free spool'
when there is a hard run from the fish. This mystifies me because
doesn't doing this only lose your precious line?

Amazing, you live and learn--- I suppose reduced surface area of spectra
line would lesson this problem......


"Sierra fisher" wrote in message
...
There is a line of logic that you should reduce your drag setting as the
fish takes line, but I have never heard of free spooling. As the fish
takes
line, there is more pressure put on the tippet becasue of the resistance
of
the line in the water. The pressure that you set on your drag combined
with
the resistance of the line moving through the water, could exceed the
strength of the tippet. The only thing that you control is the drag
setting.
Also, at least for tarpon, when the fish jumps out of the water, you are
supposed to give slack, but only for a few seconds. You do this by
pointing
the rod at the fish, not free spooling.

--


---------------------------------------------------------------------
"Are you still wasting your time with spam?...
There is a solution!"

Protected by GIANT Company's Spam Inspector
The most powerful anti-spam software available.
http://mail.spaminspector.com


"Marcel" wrote in message
...
I read somewhere that certain experienced anglers set to 'free spool'
when there is a hard run from the fish. This mystifies me because
doesn't doing this only lose your precious line?

"Marcel" wrote in message ...
I read somewhere that certain experienced anglers set to 'free spool'
when there is a hard run from the fish. This mystifies me because
doesn't doing this only lose your precious line?

I would never free spool the reel when hooked up on a big fish. First
off, if you back lash the reel, the fish is gone. Second, the more
line on the spool, without over filling the spool, the more of a
mechanical advantage you have. Third, the more line out the better the
chance of breaking the line simply due to the resistance the line
itself creates as it moves through the water if the fish turns and
creates a bow in the line. Forth, the longer the fight, the better the
chances the fish will escape.

I have seen people back off on the drag, but, to me, it's a mistake if
your drag is working properly and it's set properly.

The only time I back off on the drag is when the wire man has the
leader in his hand.

On 1 Nov 2004 09:24:02 -0800, (John) wrote:

"Marcel" wrote in message ...
I read somewhere that certain experienced anglers set to 'free spool'
when there is a hard run from the fish. This mystifies me because
doesn't doing this only lose your precious line?

I would never free spool the reel when hooked up on a big fish. First
off, if you back lash the reel, the fish is gone. Second, the more
line on the spool, without over filling the spool, the more of a
mechanical advantage you have.
[snipped]

If you are using the term to describe leverage, the less full the spool the
higher the "mechanical advantage"...

On 1 Nov 2004 09:24:02 -0800, (John) wrote:

"Marcel" wrote in message ...
I read somewhere that certain experienced anglers set to 'free spool'
when there is a hard run from the fish. This mystifies me because
doesn't doing this only lose your precious line?

I would never free spool the reel when hooked up on a big fish. First
off, if you back lash the reel, the fish is gone. Second, the more
line on the spool, without over filling the spool, the more of a
mechanical advantage you have.
[snipped]

If you are using the term to describe leverage, the less full the spool the
higher the "mechanical advantage"...

daytripper wrote in message . ..
On 1 Nov 2004 09:24:02 -0800, (John) wrote:

"Marcel" wrote in message ...
I read somewhere that certain experienced anglers set to 'free spool'
when there is a hard run from the fish. This mystifies me because
doesn't doing this only lose your precious line?

I would never free spool the reel when hooked up on a big fish. First
off, if you back lash the reel, the fish is gone. Second, the more
line on the spool, without over filling the spool, the more of a
mechanical advantage you have.
[snipped]

If you are using the term to describe leverage, the less full the spool the
higher the "mechanical advantage"...

I used the wrong term here. The more line on the spool the larger the
diameter of the spool and line. Each crank of the reel will bring in
more line on a full spool, as compared to an empty one. As you pump
the rod, and reel in on the down stroke, you will gain line much
faster with a spool that has more line on it.

daytripper wrote in message . ..
On 1 Nov 2004 09:24:02 -0800, (John) wrote:

"Marcel" wrote in message ...
I read somewhere that certain experienced anglers set to 'free spool'
when there is a hard run from the fish. This mystifies me because
doesn't doing this only lose your precious line?

I would never free spool the reel when hooked up on a big fish. First
off, if you back lash the reel, the fish is gone. Second, the more
line on the spool, without over filling the spool, the more of a
mechanical advantage you have.
[snipped]

If you are using the term to describe leverage, the less full the spool the
higher the "mechanical advantage"...

I used the wrong term here. The more line on the spool the larger the
diameter of the spool and line. Each crank of the reel will bring in
more line on a full spool, as compared to an empty one. As you pump
the rod, and reel in on the down stroke, you will gain line much
faster with a spool that has more line on it.

The less line on the spool, the greater the drag. On fly rods you can
start with a spool of line 4 " in diameter and you set your drag. As the
is taken by the fish, the effective diameter of the reel decreases, and on a
fly line it can decrease to as little as one inch, depending on the arbor
size. Yet the amount of work to turn the reel remains the same, and must be
done over a shorter distance. Ergo, the drag has to increase.


---------------------------------------------------------------------
"Are you still wasting your time with spam?...
There is a solution!"

Protected by GIANT Company's Spam Inspector
The most powerful anti-spam software available.
http://mail.spaminspector.com


"John" wrote in message
om...
daytripper wrote in message
. ..
On 1 Nov 2004 09:24:02 -0800, (John) wrote:

"Marcel" wrote in message
...
I read somewhere that certain experienced anglers set to 'free spool'
when there is a hard run from the fish. This mystifies me because
doesn't doing this only lose your precious line?

I would never free spool the reel when hooked up on a big fish. First
off, if you back lash the reel, the fish is gone. Second, the more
line on the spool, without over filling the spool, the more of a
mechanical advantage you have.
[snipped]

If you are using the term to describe leverage, the less full the spool
the
higher the "mechanical advantage"...

I used the wrong term here. The more line on the spool the larger the
diameter of the spool and line. Each crank of the reel will bring in
more line on a full spool, as compared to an empty one. As you pump
the rod, and reel in on the down stroke, you will gain line much
faster with a spool that has more line on it.