To trout set or not to Trout set
/By Makani Christensen
Strip-Set: Small Kine
Hooking bonefish isn’t easy! One of the most important techniques you can learn to improve your chances of hooking a bonefish is the strip-set.
A strip-set happens when you keep your rod tip down toward the water, in line with your fly line. As you retrieve the fly and a bonefish takes it, you pull the line straight back without lifting the rod. This motion drives the hook into the fish’s mouth.
Bonefish feed primarily along the bottom, and our flies are designed to swim hook-point up. If you lift your rod to set the hook, you risk pulling the fly right out of the fish’s mouth. The same motion you use to retrieve your fly is the motion you should use to set the hook.
Most of the time, if you’re already retrieving your line when a bonefish strikes, you’ll naturally perform a strip-set. It takes less than a second for that hook to penetrate. However, some anglers instinctively lift their rods when they feel a fish bite. This is commonly known as a trout-set, and it’s a habit you’ll want to avoid when targeting bonefish.
If your fly is sitting motionless on the bottom, waiting for a bonefish to bite, your strip-set will need to be more deliberate. Without the momentum of an active retrieve, you’ll have to pull firmly on the line to remove the slack and drive the hook home.
Remember, we’re not fishing for trout! Keep your rod tip down and use your stripping hand to set the hook. A trout-set beats no hook-set, but lifting your rod can pull the fly away before the hook has a chance to penetrate.
There will be times when a bonefish inhales your fly and spits it out almost instantly. Having a moving fly and maintaining tension on your line increases your chances of detecting the strike and setting the hook before the fish lets go.
The bottom line: Keep your rod tip down, maintain contact with your fly, and strip-set when a bonefish eats. It’s a simple technique, but mastering it can make the difference between missing a fish and watching your backing disappear into the distance.
