Tight lining??

[Jerry Blake]

We also keep a fairly light drag but generally when we have a "Net Fish" on a 10 to 12-foot jig pole the pole will double over when we set the hook and bring the fish towards the boat, which will allow the fish to stay in the water until we can get a net under it. If the fish isn't heavy enough to stay in the water (a "Lifter") we just swing it up in the boat.

I have a lot of clients that want to set the hook by just lifting the rod tip a couple feet and then start reeling to bring the fish in. I try to get them to set the hook by just cocking their wrist and then sweep the pole in an arc by bending their arm at the elbow until the pole is up against their shoulder and the handle is pointing behind them. I also try to get them to refrain from ANY reeling until they have the pole up against their shoulder.

With this method you have much better control of the fish and you're bringing it towards the boat and away from the other lines. Plus there's very little chance you're going to get any slack in your line. With a limber jig pole and a light drag there's also little chance that you’re going to rip the hook out of their mouths unless they are just skin hooked and there's not much you can do about that. With a quick, firm hook-set your hook will be right in the middle of the top lip 99% of the time where there’s little chance of it coming out and loosing the fish.

[Mo'nBack]

I hold about a 3-5 ft loop in the line. I use flyreels mostly, but do the same thing with ultra light reels. Holding the line in front of the reel, I hold tight when I set the hook and then as I raise my pole up to get the fish to the boat, I let the line ease out. I can keep tension on it by squeezing more and let it out by lightening my grip. By the time I get the fish to the boat, it's within reach by the boat. I've tried the drag setting, but had set it too loose and lost a good fish. I guess I'm too old timey for these new fangled gagets .

[crappiefarmer]

I didn't even think about the anti-reverse. Good thing I asked.

Bill,

I do like PanMan. You could also carry you a long handle net (the same length as the pole) and as soon as the fish comes up to the top, scoop him up. Then you don't have to mess with resetting your depth. You also won't have to worry about the fish coming off while your pulling or backreeling line off the reel. CF

[BenFL01]

I drag the bigger fish towards the front of the boat and let my partner boat them. He does the same for me. Drags are set a little light as well, but the tips of most of our long poles (except the two WM Tightline specials) are pretty soft, so fish tend to bend pole more than rip drag.

[slabbandit]

There are a lot of good suggestions listed here. One thing that I have that really helps us, when we don't have a lot of line out, is a long handled small dip net that I make myself from a discarded push broom handle and a small dip net. I am really interested in looking at one of the new rubber mesh extendable nets from Ego. Here's a pic of what I use right now. 12 foot rod with 2 or 3 feet of line out is no problem to net a fish.



Sometimes though you turn around and the net is "out of commission"

[keith dodd]

I have my drag set loose in shallow water as a lot has said I also have a good net that extends. I use the ego- reach net with rubber net. Works great

[MO fisherman]

Use shorter rods. Try 5' ultra light rods. That's all I use to tight line with.

[Ranger690]

I have baitcasters on my tightline rods for that reason. Easy to adjust line out. Thumb is on the spool after tripping the button.

Dayton

[feelay]

Use a long handled net.

[Flatwater]

Bigger fish pull harder, just sweep em' around slowly to the side of the boat by extending your arm and leaning over (stand up of course). Hopefully they do not wrap any of the other lines while they run.

AND HOPE IT IS NOT JUST A BLACK FISH TAKING YOU FOR A RIDE!! which it is 99% of the time in the NW river!!