The fish is already hooked. The key is get the rod in your hands so you can get the slack up if he runs at the boat. I will give a couple big strokes on the oars, and try and work to the bank. We fish barbless over here, and anyplace else for that matter. so its slack that will get ya. I really love the total blow up that happens every time. I seldom am in front so I get to watch all the fun. Want to see a guy get pissed ??? just see what happenes when one "expert" starts telling the other "expert" how to fight the fish, they can't help it. One second they are sitting there getting along O.K- Then a fish hits and after about 30 seconds they are wanting to kick each others asses