Skip to main content

Line Tip: Slip and Grab

Line Tip: Slip and Grab

You're trying to land a large trout but you don't have a net, and you don't want to injure the fish by beaching it. If you "high-stick" the rod while under tension, you may break the tip, so how do you land the fish? With the trout exhausted and about a rod length away, pinch the line tightly under the index finger of your rod hand and strip about 10 feet of slack line from the reel. Quickly raise the rod high, and allow the slack line to slip under your index finger, taking all the pressure off the tip. The quick combination of pulling the rod high and allowing the line to slip under your finger will cause the tip of the fly line or the leader butt to slap you in the chest. Grab the line or leader with your opposite hand and carefully handline the fish toward you until you can tail it or support it under the belly to remove the fly. For a video demonstration of the technique see: flyfisherman.com/slip-grab

Ross Purnell

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

Mending the Line represents the reality of thousands of people who have suffered in their lives, and found that fly fish...
How-To/Techniques

How to Tie the Harrop Ant

Mending the Line represents the reality of thousands of people who have suffered in their lives, and found that fly fish...
Destinations/Species

Rio Dorado

Mending the Line represents the reality of thousands of people who have suffered in their lives, and found that fly fish...
How-To/Techniques

Building the Perfect Fly Rod with Mud Hole Components From Blank to Casting

Mending the Line represents the reality of thousands of people who have suffered in their lives, and found that fly fish...
Destinations/Species

South Platte River Flooding, July 31, 2023

Mending the Line represents the reality of thousands of people who have suffered in their lives, and found that fly fish...
Gear

Simms Wader Makers

Mending the Line represents the reality of thousands of people who have suffered in their lives, and found that fly fish...
News

FF Mag Promo Aug-Sep 2023

Mending the Line represents the reality of thousands of people who have suffered in their lives, and found that fly fish...
How-To/Techniques

How to Tie the Ol' Mr. Wiggly

Mending the Line represents the reality of thousands of people who have suffered in their lives, and found that fly fish...
News

Mending the Line Panel Discussion

Mending the Line represents the reality of thousands of people who have suffered in their lives, and found that fly fish...
How-To/Techniques

George Daniel's Hauling Tuck Cast

Mending the Line represents the reality of thousands of people who have suffered in their lives, and found that fly fish...
How-To/Techniques

How to Tie the Useful Speed Blood Knot

Mending the Line represents the reality of thousands of people who have suffered in their lives, and found that fly fish...
News

A Celebration of Life for the Incomparable Dave Whitlock

Mending the Line represents the reality of thousands of people who have suffered in their lives, and found that fly fish...
News

Mending the Line Trailer

Fly Fisherman Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Buy Single Digital Issue on the Fly Fisherman App

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top Fly Fisherman stories delivered right to your inbox.

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All Fly Fisherman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now