Set the hook like there is no tomorrow. I just need another bobber down to test my theory.

Don't hold your rod straight up in the air so you actually have somewhere to go with it when you get bit, and unless you have a pretty short line to the fish, reel like hell and load the rod before setting the hook...pretty much exactly the same way you'd do it with any other rod with a float on it.

Fish on...

Todd

Pretty much what you would never consider doing with a fast action gear rod.
Pull back on the fore grip with one hand while shoving the butt of the rod in the fishes face with the other.
Then reel like hell.

This compact efficient rotation in the butt section is magnified tremendously at the tip. With moderate action rods like the GLX CP, you can actually point the butt directly at the fish you are fighting with the rod bent to a C with no adverse effect on the tip. Something most gear rods makers cringe at and call "high sticking".

If you're controlling your line properly with a CP reel, you shouldn't have to reel much before setting the hook, maybe like you would with a spinning reel, since you should be able to maintain a pretty direct connection to your float on all but the longest hero drifts.

Actually hook sets aren't near as much a problem sometimes as simply landing a fish with a long CP rod depending where you are at.

Like Todd mentioned, one of the best tips I've found when pumping a fish with a long limber rod is to keep it down low instead of up high. Turn more with your body than using your arms, ala spey.

I agree if your properly using you cp outfit there will me minimal belly and or slack so hooksets can be as easy as stoping the reel from spinning but in most cases a good lil jerk will burry the hook

And landing them isn't as hard as you'd think, just practice, and if there not much bak at your hole than wear waders and tire the fish out

I find Depends works pretty well for that too.


Yeah, I keep telling myself, if I keep at this long enough I'm bound to get the hang of it one day.

One place practice hasn't seemed to help much though is landing a fish with a long limber rod out of a drift boat. Especially in current or when solo, which I seem to do a fair amount. The only thing worse than trying to bring a fish to net with a 13'+ rod and CP (or fly) reel in a DB is trying to row to shore on your own to land and release a fish with only a clicker for drag.

I suppose bait casting reels do have some advantages after all.

Yea landing them solo outta the drift boat is a pain in the arse, it can be done but its pretty dang hard