When I first started fly fishing I lost way more fish than I put to net. This was especially true when it came to fighting and landing large trout. Years of spin casting as a kid gave me a heavy handed approach to landing fish, and as I would find out, this is not a recipe for success with a fly rod in hand. Fortunately time on the river taught me some lessons and I began to figure things out. Through experience I learned the art of fighting and landing large trout on a fly rod is less about force and more about finesse. It’s a balance of pursuit and patience, an ebb and flow between fisherman and fish. It’s the expertise of knowing how and when to apply pressure and when to ease off… always being ready for that burst of power that can come out of nowhere, reminding us once again who is really in control.

The following are some key tips for fighting and landing large trout. Most of this I’ve learned from trial and error over the years, some I’ve gleaned from others more experienced than I.

Rod and Reel Setup
For starters, make sure you set up your rod and reel so that your dominant hand is your rod hand and your weaker hand is your reel hand. This may seem obvious, but I’ve seen fisherman set up their rigs so they can cast and reel with the same hand. This is bad for two reasons, one, as soon as you hook up you will have to move your rod from one hand to the other. Two, once you switch hands you will be fighting the fish with your weaker arm. Not ideal. In general it’s best if you can use your dominant hand to manage your rod (cause you will need it) and your weaker hand to reel and net the fish. It may seem awkward at first if you are accustomed to it the other way, but give it some time and it will soon become natural.

Hook Set
A solid hook set is the foundation to a successful fight with a large trout and this starts before you even cast your line. Fish with confidence and always anticipate a strike! Lazy hook sets equal lost fish.

Also, if possible, try and angle your hook set downstream. Considering trout normally face upstream this will give you the best chance to embed the hook into the corner of the trout’s jaw where it is least likely to come undone.

Line Management
Once the hook set is made your next priority is to keep a taut line on the fish. You will do this by gently pinching your line against your rod handle with one hand while stripping in any extra line with the other. This will remove any slack and keep the hook firmly embedded in the jaw of the fish. Remember the connection between your finger and line is critical at this point as it will serve as your manual drag until you get the fish onto your reel. If the trout runs just let the line slip through your fingers. If he swims toward you then strip in the extra line. The key is to not let yourself get distracted by trying to get the fish onto your reel too quickly. This usually ends in disaster. Relax, manage your line manually until you get to a place where you can effectively get the fish onto your reel. And oh yeah, try not to step on your line.

Drag
Setting your drag ahead of time is always a good idea especially when there is a high probability of hooking a large trout. I usually start off with a fairly tight setting to help buffer the initial surge of the fish. Then as I move through the course of the fight I will change it depending on the need. When the trout is in close I’ll loosen the drag a bit to help take the pressure off my line and put it onto my rod. When the fish is out further I’ll keep it tighter in anticipation of a run.

Leverage
I like to think of the three R rule when it comes to fighting large trout. If the fish isn’t Running it should be Resisting… not Resting. You create this leverage or tension by lowering your rod tip and putting slow and steady side pressure on the fish away from the direction it is facing (usually across river or perpendicular to the current). By doing this you never give the trout a chance to catch its breath. You keep it off balance and continually cause it to expend energy. Side pressure also allows you to fight the fish in the middle portion of the water column until it is time to land it. Too much upward pressure early on in the fight can coax the fish towards the surface and trigger a run or an unwanted head shake. If the fish does decide to bolt, lower your rod tip to around 45 degrees and point it toward the fish. This will reduce some of the strain on your leader as the fish is running, while still allowing the rod to absorb some of the impact. Once the trout shows signs of surrender then you can apply slow upward pressure by raising your rod tip. This will get its head up and out of the water so you can lead it into your net!

On the flip side, as much as you may be trying to gain leverage over the fish, remember, the fish is doing the same to you. Trout are pros at figuring out ways to get the upper hand, and if they can, trust me they will. One tactic they use is flattening your line. They do this by running out and away from you. The further they run the less leverage you have over them and if they are downstream from you, even worse. They not only have distance on you but the power of the current as well. If they can get your line parallel with the river there is a good chance they will spit the hook, especially if they turn and face back upstream. If you find yourself in such a predicament your best course of action is to keep your rod tip high and chase the fish down if you can. Move fast, keep a tight line and reel in whenever you feel the trout ease up, but be careful, no need to pull a Brad Pitt here.

Another thing trout are famous for is running under or around structure such as rocks and logs. If a trout can run your leader and tippet up against a hard surface they remove all your leverage over them. Once this happens your rod can no longer absorb the weight and pressure of the fish and it’s only a matter of seconds until the fight is over. Do your best to try and guide the fish away from such obstacles using slow and steady resistance.

Lastly, often times trout will jump early on in the fight as a way to try and shake the hook. Rainbow trout are notorious for this. If your fish is a jumper the best you can do is give it a bit of slack by lowering your rod tip just enough to accommodate the weight and pull of the fish.

Rhythm
This may sound strange but I liken the art of fighting and landing large trout to a game of chess. If you’ve ever played you know there is a rhythm to the game, there is a back and forth cadence between offense and defense that skilled players intrinsically find. As players methodically make moves to pursue their opponent’s king they are also adjusting their plan to protect their own. The moment they lose this dual focus they become reactive and their opponent gets the edge. The same is true when fighting a large trout. To be successful you must have both an offensive and defensive mind set. You must be looking for opportunities to tire the fish whenever possible and at the same time making moves to help mitigate the damage when the trout decides to turn and run. This balance between pursuit and patience can be a difficult one to find, but it is a rhythm that all good fly fisherman settle into with time.