bulldog1935 wrote:
Most rod breakage relates to strain rate - how fast is the rod is being overloaded,
in simpler terms, how hard did you jerk (which is a physical measurement - time derivative of acceleration and force, 2nd time derivative of velocity)
Another given in rod breakage is torsion - how much twist in the rod confined to how small length of the rod.
They are all wrong. This guy is correct.
TX PE No. 75665
High sticking concentrates the strain in a short length of the rod. Most people who high stick are trying to show off the bend in the rod.
Fishing under crowded conditions, had a guide tell me to high stick the rod so the other guide boats could see that we were catching the big fish (not with my rod).
Low rod during a fight is using more reel.
High rod during a fight is using more rod - the flex in the rod protects tippet and small hooks in soft mouths.
(of course you can't hold the camera and thumb the spool at the same time)
This is when you have no choice but to high stick - landing a fish on the long rod.
Everything should be gentle here, with no reason to twist and jerk.
Landing big fish on light tackle has its own behavioral science - back to that jerk thing.
The guys you see running down the bank of the San Juan with their 3-wts used jerk to "announce their presence with authority"
(the Bull Durham rookie allusion is part of the point).
Setting the hook is a solid pull that should never use jerk - with a fly rod, you should mostly be pulling the line.
Early in the fight, use just enough pressure to keep the fish confused and away from places you don't want them to go, and they will nose upstream and tire themselves against the current.
Keep your stealth up.
When their confusion turns to fear is when they turn down river, and if you have them tired enough then, they won't tax either themselves or your rod.