I can't think of a single season I've fished where I haven't gone through such a period. Every time I land 5 in a row and think I'm the man of steel(head), I lose 5 and look to take Steelheading 101. Some observations:

- Landing fish and losing fish seem to come in bunches for me, so it may be a period where the fish are being very agressive--traveling a few feet to pick something up and traveling back, practically hooking themselves, vs. periods where the fish just mouth something that swings past them, so the entire impetus to hook the fish is on you. Not a whole lot you can do but be especially alert.

- My hook to land is about 80 percent under floats and more like 50 percent drift fishing. Under floats you hook the fish in the top jaw where its harder to shake. I tend to switch over and fish float water when I'm in a slump.

- I have found that my hook to land ratio increased by going to a smaller hook. In most circumstances now I use a size 2. I don't have a whistling hook set so I don't think I was getting good hook penetration with a size 1 or 1/0.

- With the amount of float fishing I do as well as using smaller hooks, I've gravitated toward longer rods (9.5-10')that seem to lessen the impact of head shakes and runs. Also allows you to pick up more line when setting the hook.

Best thing to do is consider it all a part of the game. There isn't a better feeling than to land one (and the preceding fight) after you've lost your last several.