Hookless Flies & Hooking Trout

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You’ve got to understand that Jake (our gear guy) does things in his own way. He clearly marches to the tune of his own drummer. Recently, during some good Salmonfly fishing, he decided maybe that business of landing the fish was interfering with his fishing time. Jake only gets to go out after everything in Camp is ready – maybe a couple of hours a day. For him the hooking is the fun and the landing is secondary so why waste time with fish on the line? Hence the idea, hookless flies.

It wasn’t long ‘till the reports started coming back. They were certainly interesting. When the fish were allowed to take the fly with no interference they would commonly carry it some distance back underwater before they spit it and sent it back. Some trout would take it so hard and so far they would actually bark the reel and strip some line before they would let go. One fish actually broke off and took the fly. Now Jake does admit the leader wasn’t in very good shape for that fish. He didn’t think it needed to be. Still for a fish to break off a hookless fly – that’s pretty remarkable.

Jake’s experiment makes a suggestion to us all. Maybe were trying too hard to hook those fish. Maybe all that business of trying to sharpen our reactions, be lightning quick, be on the fish the split second he touch the fly isn’t what we need after all. Fish feed in a very different way from us. They open their mouths and flair their gills thus creating a flow that washes the food back into their throat. They do not actually close their mouths until some time well after they have taken the fly. A hook set that is too quick may actually take the fly from the fish before he gets a chance to shut his mouth.

I’ve certainly found over the years that being more deliberate works better me. When I slow down a little my hooking percentage goes up. In England they have a tradition; after the fish takes the fly you’re supposed to say “God save the Queen” then set. The delay gives the fish time to close its mouth.

Next time you get into that spot where the fish seem to be flipping at your fly and you can’t hook them no matter how hard and fast you set why don’t you think of Jake and relax you hook set a little. Give the fish a chance to actually close his mouth around your fly. I’ll bet you success will go up.