Sticky Hands - Pin Reels

[NADO]

Well I was out at Caledonia and had a pretty slow day. Had one on early in the day prretty small maybe 3 or 4lbs and lost it on the first jump. Late in the day around 5:30 I had a huge fish on, well over 10 lbs. If I wasnt fishing a river without salmon I wouldnt have been sure if it was actually a steelhead or if it was a really fresh salmon it was that big. I ended up losing it because as it went to go for a big run a couple of minutes into the fight my hands were sticky and I wasnt able to apply the drag smoothly which resulted in me breaking the fish off which was devastating.

Is this a common problem for float fisherman? And what do you guys do to avoid having this happen?

 

[Blair]

Well I was out at Caledonia and had a pretty slow day. Had one on early in the day prretty small maybe 3 or 4lbs and lost it on the first jump. Late in the day around 5:30 I had a huge fish on, well over 10 lbs. If I wasnt fishing a river without salmon I wouldnt have been sure if it was actually a steelhead or if it was a really fresh salmon it was that big. I ended up losing it because as it went to go for a big run a couple of minutes into the fight my hands were sticky and I wasnt able to apply the drag smoothly which resulted in me breaking the fish off which was devastating.

Is this a common problem for float fisherman? And what do you guys do to avoid having this happen?

Where were your hands ... moments before this? and what exactly what were you thinking?
Wink wink... nudge nudge

*SMILES* Sorry ... couldnt resist!

Since I dont Pin, cant relate 100% ... however, when i'm not being "as attentive" - top of my game.... happens to me.
I always have a wipe towel to keep my fingers clean. (using it is a different story)

Roe, Fish Slime.... can all cause "Slippage" when one needs grip.

Sorry too hear you lost em.
Sounds like you learned some new areas... and had some adventures.

Since I was Home all Day, I was waiting to hear your results.

 

[dsukh]

Well I was out at Caledonia and had a pretty slow day. Had one on early in the day prretty small maybe 3 or 4lbs and lost it on the first jump. Late in the day around 5:30 I had a huge fish on, well over 10 lbs. If I wasnt fishing a river without salmon I wouldnt have been sure if it was actually a steelhead or if it was a really fresh salmon it was that big. I ended up losing it because as it went to go for a big run a couple of minutes into the fight my hands were sticky and I wasnt able to apply the drag smoothly which resulted in me breaking the fish off which was devastating.

Is this a common problem for float fisherman? And what do you guys do to avoid having this happen?

Happened to me before on my first day using a pin. But I had a bandage the finger I used for drag. I took off the bandage but the sticky residue had the same effect :-x . I'm guessing a wet pin or fingers (sweat maybe?) can increase the friction between your hand and the reel too, resulting in a lost fish. If that is the case, then wiping your hand and/or reel once in a while might help.

 

[float^drifter]

I always carry a little towel with me so when my hands get wet or sticky from roe I clean them or dry them off. Helps a lot

 

[NADO]

I definately love getting out to new water, Its almost the same distance to me as Bronte so im going to have to get out there a few more times for sure. Its big water so more challenging than Bronte and standing in that current all day balancing on the precarious rocks wasnt easy either.

It seemed like what happened was after the first couple of runs the fish went on my hands got heated up by the pin creating friction. The same thing happened earlier this year while salmon fishing. Do some reels work better for applying drag than others? Im sure they do as they all have slightly different designs. I'm still pretty new on the pin so I guess it would have been against the odds for me to land a bow that big fighting that hard on the pin. Wish I would have landed the first one though, only 3-4lbs and would have made good table fare, after I missed the hookset on that one I switched from #14's to 10's and it seemed to have the desired effect on the big steelie. Oh well...theres always next weekend.

 

[LICENSETOPIN]

when you drive do you always just stomp the brakes? its all about applying the right amount of pressure... oh and maybe you shud wash the roe juice off your hands next time :wink:

 

[m_van]

I always carry a little towel with me so when my hands get wet or sticky from roe I clean them or dry them off. Helps a lot

I recommend this method.. I tied the towel on the backpack strap (I'd rather look funny than risk of losing a good catch).

 

[NADO]

I recommend this method.. I tied the towel on the backpack strap (I'd rather look funny than risk of losing a good catch).

Ya its just that my hands werent sticky when I started fighting the fish. Halfway through they all of a sudden got sticky and when I tried to lightly apply pressure the reel would stick to my finger and abruptly stop. Maybe I should have just bent down and dipped my hand in the water or someting. I was just wondering if other people have this happen too.

 

[float^drifter]

never had this happen to me and i use lotta sticky stuff lol. Make sure u clean your reel especially where u palm it maybee some sticky roe on it as well. You'll get em next time :smile:

 

[NADO]

Are you supposed to palm it? I use a combination of palming as well as using the finger that I use to control the drift. When it broke off I was using that finger so maybe thats why?

Another interesting note is that I hooked into this one at the end of the day on a quarter siized roe bag. Decided to go with a large roe bag at the end of the day after using small bags all day and it paid off.

 

[float^drifter]

What ever works best for u. U can palm or use one finger to apply the pressure.

 

[RiverNinja]

^+1
You prob just need more time with the Pin. As others have noted, it's always a good idea to have a hand towel with you. It can be used to clean both hands and gear, :smile:

 

[NADO]

Definately need more time on the pin. Its much more difficult fighting big fish on the pin, I cant wait until the drag is just second nature for me and I dont even need to think about it.

 

[Garfield the cat]

I wear THIN COTTON GLOVES all the time. No matter what temperature it is. I lost three fish the first day an landed one. Since then I never fish without it. Also when I cast the line, if my hand is wet, it gets caught in my fingers an shortens my cast.

 

[RiverNinja]

Definately need more time on the pin. Its much more difficult fighting big fish on the pin, I cant wait until the drag is just second nature for me and I dont even need to think about it.

The bolded statement speaks true!!!
-It is a challenge to land a large fish, especially one with the Rainbows habit of blistering runs & wild leaps...I think it really is apart of the allure of Pin fishing.

Soon it will become second nature! :mrgreen:

 

[piju]

:neutral:

 

[NADO]

that exists?? It seems possible, maybe something like a baitcaster where you engage the drag. But as RiverNinja said, there is a certain allure to fighting a fish on a pin reel applying the drag yourself.

 

[piju]

:neutral:

 

[skinginboy]

I'm pretty sure remembering in a fish mag reading about a reel called Sheffield Sarata. Has a star drag. Hope this helps.

 

[Garfield the cat]

I dont think I would ever spend $600 plus for any fishing reel. Unless I won the lotto or was fishing for a living. Lol
Or $1000 rods. I once seen a float reel for $1100. Insain people