So, you’re fishing well. Your sleek, tempting steelhead fly is dancing through the river, and you can’t help but think that the bite is coming any second, but are you truly prepared for that moment? When the fish finally takes, will you hook it, or will the fish slip away into the river’s depths?
If you’ve spent time swinging flies for steelhead, you’ve likely heard the advice: Don’t set the hook right away. It’s not like dry fly fishing for trout. And that’s absolutely true. Historically, the best hookup success comes when you allow the fish to take the fly, turn with it, and only then apply pressure to the line. Letting the fish turn gives the hook a better chance of catching in the fleshy corner of its mouth. The angle at which the fish moves, away from the line, helps the hook seat more securely. I often tell my clients to think of it like a steak dinner—let the fish “chew” on it for a bit.
But how exactly do you do this? How do you ensure you give the fish enough time to run with the fly before setting the hook? There are several ways to approach this, and not every steelhead angler agrees on the best method. In fact, many will simply say, "Do what works best for you," and I completely agree with that sentiment. Here are some strategies to consider:
1. Carry a Loop
After casting and making your initial mend, but before the fly starts swinging across the current, pull some line back through the rod tip and pinch it with your finger against the cork or the rod butt. This creates a loop of slack, with the line hanging from the reel and then up to your finger. The length of this loop determines how much line the fish can take before it hits the reel’s tension. A typical loop length for dry line fishing is between 2-3 feet, though this varies based on the water conditions. In faster water or ideal temperatures, you might lengthen the loop, while in deeper or colder water, you might shorten it. Some anglers fishing with sink tips prefer a very small loop, or none at all.
It's important not to pinch the line too tightly. You want just enough tension so the fish can take the line easily. The idea is to "feed" the fish—give them some slack. Once the fish takes the fly and turns, the loop is gone, and the tension on the reel will begin to build. That’s your signal to set the hook. If the take is aggressive, a gentle lift of the rod (at a 45-80 degree angle from the river surface) toward your shoreline is all it takes. For a more subtle take, you may need a bit more force to seat the hook. Remember, if the fish is moving away from you, setting too hard could break off the fly or pull the hook free.
2. Fish with a High Rod Tip
The idea behind this method is to let the line slack, or sag, from the rod tip to the water, giving the fish more give when it grabs the fly. However, if you lower your rod tip too early, you add more slack, which can decrease sensitivity. Some anglers prefer this method, but I’ve found a few issues with it. First, lowering the rod tip can reduce the tension on the line during the presentation, making it harder to detect subtle takes. Secondly, it takes away some control over the fly’s movement. I prefer gradually lowering my rod tip as the swing progresses, using the current to help steer the fly toward shore. At times, a downstream belly in the drift will ensure the fly finishes strong on the inside. By the end of the swing, my rod tip is typically near the water, with deep tension in the line leading to the reel.
3. Fish a Light Drag
In this approach, you fish the line tight to the reel with no loop, allowing you to control the rod tip at any height you choose. The key is setting a light drag on your reel—just enough to allow the line to run freely when the fish takes. It should not be so tight that it resists the fish, but not so loose that the line spools out uncontrollably. Finding the right drag tension may take a bit of experimentation, but the goal is to allow the line to peel off the reel when the fish grabs the fly. This is especially useful for those fish that lazily follow and sip the fly, as the line needs to run smoothly behind the hook.
Once the fish has taken the fly and turned with it, let the line run off the reel for a moment before tightening up. A good rule of thumb is to count “One thousand one, one thousand two...” or say, “God save the queen” before you start to apply tension. This gives the fish time to move and secure the hook. Once you feel steady pressure while the line is still slipping through your fingers, you can begin to apply more force to set the hook. The timing varies depending on the take. Some fish hit hard and fast, while others are more subtle. The key is to give the fish time and gradually apply pressure when you feel solid tension.
Which Technique is Best?
Ultimately, it all comes down to personal preference. I used to rely heavily on the loop technique, but in recent years, I’ve gravitated toward fishing tight to the reel with a light drag. I particularly like the steady, reliable click-pawl drag design for steelhead fishing, as it offers a consistent, light drag setting. If you have a disc-drag reel that holds up at light settings, that will work fine too.
I prefer fishing tight to the reel because I find that the loop method creates too much slack after the fish makes contact with the fly. There’s too much room for the fish to spit the hook or move in ways that loosen the connection. With the line tight to the reel, I get better sensitivity and can detect subtle takes more easily. I also think this helps avoid losing fish that are barely interested, but not quite hooked yet.
However, fishing with a light drag means you need to manage the reel during the fight—either by using your palm or fingers to slow down the spool, or by tightening the drag as needed. If you’d rather not fiddle with the drag mid-fight, the loop technique or high rod tip method might be a better fit for you.
In the end, all of these techniques can be effective. It’s up to you to experiment and find what works best for your style. For many anglers new to steelheading, fishing directly to the reel is often the simplest approach, offering fewer variables to consider when the fish first strikes.
- SHB