Having fished for many years mainly on Farmoor reservoir, why have I never had a trout that runs and runs, I love the sound of a screaming reel as it heads for the horizon, but this only ever lasts for a few seconds, barely make it onto the backing and then they stop

I hear so many reports of this happening, fish that cant be stopped etc etc, but why not me for a change, I have had some decent fish to about 4lb and they all put up a good show, but I've got plenty of backing waiting to be tested, maybe this will be the season.

Roy tells me you WILL get this if you fish Farmoor 1, but I've seen Roy play fish and it's more like taking a small dog for a walk, so I'm not sure if that would really happen, to most people

Charlie

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Sonik Sports Team Pitsford Pirates

There's a simple explanation. You know those reports you've been hearing? Yeah, they're lying. Or they have their drags set so low it's almost free spooling. Over here this is called "milking it".

Grouse

Very true my friend, very true indeed......

when i started off fly fishing, had a fish down to backing and lost it didint realy know what to do, but i was useing an old rimfly reel which my dad used as a boy and it didnt have any drag settings on it, and it was pretty hard to get the line off it. When you pull line off it to cast with it was very noisey so you can amagine the noise as it was taken down to backing, all the anglers were watching me,then it came off

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What a tourist terms a plague of insects, the fly fisher calls a great hatch.

Reminds me of when a chum of mine hooked into an absolute screamer of a trout at Rib Valley. He was using an wee old reel and a #5 rod and thought he had hooked a bonefish!!!

burnt his fingers when he tried to palm it.

truned out to be an over-wintered 3lb'er, stunning fish and one he will remember for a long time.

Ben

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I had also heard of stuff like this...but it had never ever happened to me in 30+ years of fishing, until Sunday last week!!

I fish for Pike on the fly a fair bit and I have had hard fighting Scottish Pike to 28+ on a 9 weight and have not been taken to the backing, but sunday I was trout fishing and using a 5 weight ZG. I hooked a fish on a Klinkhammer that just tore off, a full line plus around 20 yards of backing...twice!!

When I finally got the fish to the net it was a Rainbow of around 6 pounds, but it was hooked right on top of its tail!

It just went mental!!!!

So it does happen..but maybe not legitimately

Now, if you fancy a down to the backing kind of fight, visit South Africa and use a KP or Scarborough reel.

These are big centre pin style reels that are used to fish for just about anything that swims. They are free-spool reels and require either a 'palm' which is a leather pad that straps across your hand or just your bare hand to stop a fish running.

These were the reels that the old shark fisherman on the South Pier used to use to subdue 1000lb+ great whites or Tiger Sharks in the 40's, 50's and 60's etc

People still use them today for general game-fishing for medium size king macks, dorado and even sailfish.

Just watch out for your knuckles when a big 'un takes a run

Ben

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Only happened a couple of times, one 3lb fish on Bewl from a boat, and the second a 7lb+ fish from Walthamstow reservoir!
Both fish looked like salmon, bars of silver, and long and sleek, rather than the short fat ones you see normally.

I fish Farmoor a lot, both 1 and 2, and I have to admit they do go a bit. However, I have noticed that many people are afraid to see the rod bend when they are playing a fish. They are holding the rod up at a fish-playing angle and when you look closely you can just see a slight curve in the top two feet or so.

I like to see the rod BEND. If the fish wants line off me he is going to have to work damned hard for it. Yes they will scream off, but when you crank up the drag they soon stop. Why do you want the thing to go galloping off 50 or 60 yards? You've only got to drag it all the way back again. Much better to stop it in its tracks, get it out and return it still fresh and kicking and wondering what the hell all that was about.

In case you are wondering - no I don't lose many despite what some regard as brute strength and ignorance. I generally use 5 weight rods and often scale down to 4 weights. I've only got one rod heavier than a 6 weight and that is for salt water fly fishing.

Actually I think the lighter weight gear whacks them out faster than the 7's and 8's most seem to use. This is evidenced by the guys who fly fish for pike who seem to get their fish out much faster than the chaps who anchor deadbaits on heavy rods. This has been noted by several of the Chew anglers.