Rod Angle While Fighting Fish

Once you set the hook on a fish, rod angle comes next. In order to land a fish on a river, you need to be able to control the fishes head by keeping a good rod angle.

I like to keep my rod angle going in the same direction as I set the hook or in a downstream direction. By keeping the rod going downstream you will have more control over the fishes head and the hook is less likely to be pulled out of the fishes mouth. If I set the hook at a downstream angle and then all of the sudden start to change the angle upstream, you are now pulling the flies up and out of the fishes mouth, resulting in the fish coming “unbuttoned.”

By changing the direction of your rod (downstream to upstream) you are also giving the fish the opportunity to take control and start moving upstream on you. This results in longer play on the fish or breaking off and losing the fish.

So the next time you set the hook and start moving your rod around like a Sith lord holding a lightsaber, think again and try to keep the same rod angle as when you set. It will result in more fish to the net and larger fish.