I'm with Smilesforu on this one. The best technique I've seen is to back way off the pressure when the fish starts to run hard out of the pool. I guess it's kind of a 'modified free spool' though you still have pressure on the fish so the hook doesn't fall out or the line end up wrapped on the bottom.

I know this advice is counter to every voice in your head (if you're not hearing voices when you're steelheading, you will soon) which is screaming "Do something! Do something! He's going over!!! Turn the fish! Run after it!!" . (Prayer follows, then foul language when Some Bad Thing happens.)

Time and again I've seen good fishermen -- both gear and fly -- use the Gentle Touch successfully. They start out the fight with lighter drags than most use, and then if the first run is looking like trouble they back off on the thumb till the line is just tight to the fish. The fish's run peters out, then stops and, as Smilesforu said, they then hold in the current and catch their breath (so to speak).

Then the miracle happens: this same (hot) fish, who isn't tired at all since you haven't really done a whole lot to him, is then coaxed back up stream under a little more pressure than before -- kind of like leading an eager dog that's straining at a leash (but not lunging). If the fish starts to go berzerk, back off then tighten up when it calms down.

When the fish gets back up parallel to you, start tightening down on the thumb/ drag and working the fish against the current by holding the rod low to the water and forcing the fish to fight the current. (This is tougher on the fish than holding the rod high over your head.)

I've done this enough myself to know it works, too, but it takes real self-control during the initial 10 seconds of the fight. One glorious day, my buddy Slick and I had a double going. Both fish were 50-75 yards downstream in heavy water. We didn't fancy a big sprint and then trying to wade back up to reclaim our glorious 50 feet of holding water (two boats were in view above us and this was not a well-mannered river). We stood our ground and coached each other to ease up and not hurry the job.

As we gently, gently moved our fish back up towards us one of the drift boats floated by. The obligatory 'How are ya doin'?' got asked of us. (How do you think we are doing?! We've got two fish on. We're in heaven!!) Being a bit of a wise guy, I said 'Lousy! We've been trolling for otters all day and don't even have a bite yet.' (Well, we eventually landed those fish and kept our choice spot, but the looks from those guys in the other boat told us that they had us pegged for Grade A, #1 a**holes. I don't necessarily recommend THAT particular reply, but the Gentle Touch does work.)


[This message has been edited by Snagly (edited 12-10-1999).]