Crank Biats - Losing fish

Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers wrote:

I agree with Rob Storm on this one. There's plenty of thumbs fast enough in
the world, just ask any muskie fisherman. I don't know your definition of
a really big fish, but I typically catch 8 - 10 muskies a year that strike
at the side of the boat.

It's quite simple to stick the fish with a little sideways hookset and
follow the fish down with the rod, releasing the spool with either the thumb
bar or the side mounted button. This then allows the fish to get away from
the boat and you can fight it on a longer line. It doesn't take much to
release enough pressure to allow the reel to be put into freespool.

I know some serious musky guys who hit freespool and jam their thumb
down on the spool as the lure reaches the boat on EVERY cast, just
before they dig the rod tip and figure eight the lure, which they do on
about half the casts, even when they don't see a follower.

"RichZ" wrote in message SNIP

I know some serious musky guys who hit freespool and jam their thumb down
on the spool as the lure reaches the boat on EVERY cast, just before they
dig the rod tip and figure eight the lure, which they do on about half the
casts, even when they don't see a follower.

I do that when I'm muskie fishing, but not when I'm bass fishing. It's
ironic because I caught my biggest overall muskie (48", 36 lbs.) while bass
fishing. A 3/8th oz. spinnerbait, 12 pound mono and a 6' light action
casting rod whipped this fish.

But over the years, I've caught so many muskies while bass fishing that I've
gotten really good at dropping back and hitting freespool. I lose very few
fish nowadays when they hit at the side of the boat.
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods
http://www.herefishyfishy.com

I think that's the difference. Musky fisherman expect to get bit at the
side of the boat and bass fisherman get bored and that's when it
happens. LOL