Fishing is often seen as a pastime activity, yet there is more to it than meets the eye. As one famous writer once said, “it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope.”
When it comes to fishing, nothing is more frustrating than setting your bait, catching a massive arapaima, and suddenly losing it for some reason. The chances are that you aren’t an expert with some loopholes on your angling strategy. If not, it may have to do with your line, rod, hooks, drag, or knot.
Fret not, as we’ve prepared a rundown of four practical tips on how to avoid losing a big catch in this guide:
1. Switch to a newer, stronger line
Having a larger and more bountiful harvest entails having a robust line. For the uninitiated, it is simply the long, thin cord used for angling. When it comes to this, you must consider vital attributes that determine its quality, such as material, length, weight, and thickness. To level up your angling, you have to opt for a newer, stronger line—switch over from old monofilament lines to braided ones. With a new line, it won’t easily and quickly break when catching a fish, even a massive one!
2. Use a more flexible rod
A fishing rod is every fisherman’s best friend. Simply put, this rod is a simple stick or pole attached to a line ending in a hook with bait or lures to entice the fish. Keep in mind that the flexible it is, the better. Why? While stiff rods put more pressure and tension between you and the fish, flexible ones allow some more ‘give’ and stop it from snapping. You’ll be amazed at how your versatile rod makes your angling experience much easier and smoother.
3. Ensure your hooks are sharp
When it comes to angling, the rule of thumb is that your hook must be sharp. This is because a dull hook is often the leading cause of a lost fish. It won't make sense to go catching, only to realise that it doesn’t allow the fish to get stuck. Sure, most hooks are as sharp as they should be when you first purchase them. However, they’ll get dull over time with constant use and abuse, meaning that you’ll get them replaced or use a hook sharpener for them.
4. Pay particular attention to knot tying
Another important consideration is to tie your knot properly and tightly, as doing so will optimise your angling experience. Unfortunately, some fishermen tend to do this hastily because of that yearning feeling to go angling. As a result, they end up losing a massive yield of marine creatures. Whether it’s a Palomar or Clinch knot, be sure to practice tying them. Better yet, invest in a multi-functional knot tying tool that will make a huge difference in your fishing experience.
Conclusion
There’s no doubt that angling is fun and exciting, and the most fulfilling part is being able to catch a handful of massive marine creatures. However, the most frustrating part is losing them somewhere along the way that could have added to your overall yield.
If you want to avoid losing fish, be sure to use a newer, stronger line, use a more flexible rod, ensure your hooks are sharp, and pay particular attention to knot tying. By having all these in place, you’ll go home as a happy camper, with plenty of massive fish harvest!
Never lose a big catch to a faulty knot – try out our best fish knot tying tool! We provide multi-functional fishing knot tying tools in Australia to make your experience easier, safer, and more fun. For more fishing tools, shop now and register with us for free tips and tricks!