Playing and landing a fish

[LURE]

• If you set the hook too soon: you will pull the lure or bait out of the fishes mouth.
• If you set the hook too late: you will “gut hook” the fish, meaning the fish will swallow the hook. Generally this is bad, especially if you plan to release the fish.
• If your hook set is too light: you won’t penetrate the fish’s mouth and you’ll lose the fish.
• If your hook set is too hard: you will tear the hook right out of the fish’s mouth or tear the area around the hook and probably lose the fish.
• If you use circle hooks, your hookset should be slow and deliberate or not at all.

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• If the fish swims away from you, DO NOT REEL IN; allow the drag to do its job:
  
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  How to Pump the Fish​

1. Lift the rod tip. This pulls the fish toward you.
   
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2. Lower the rod tip. This creates slack in the line.
   
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3. Quickly reel in. This takes in the slack, its important to do this fast.
   
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4. Repeat. Pump the fish until it’s close enough to land.
   
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   . Land the Fish​

“Landing” a fish means getting it out of the water. Most fish should be landed with a net. There is a right way and a wrong way to net a fish.

1. Quickly lift the net up and out of the water, netting the fish.

*If you chase a fish around with the net, it will spook and probably make another run. The adrenaline rush will over-tire your fish and can really lower its chance of survival if you plan to release it.