It’s poll time here on the Deneki Blog!
One of the most debated topics at our lodges is whether or not to hold a loop of line while swinging flies for salmon and steelhead.
Some find holding a loop during the swing necessary to allow the fish ample time (with minimum resistance) to eat the fly before setting the hook. Others prefer to fish with no loop at all, using a light drag setting instead to allow the fish to turn the reel before setting the hook.
One of the best explanations we’ve heard on the matter uses both theories, depending on whether fishing dry lines or sink tips.
However, we want to hear your thoughts! Do you prefer to hold a loop when swinging flies? Why or why not?
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So, to hold a loop or not to hold a loop, THAT is the question.
I hold a loop in my line because I read every word of advice from the late great Hugh Falkus on worked on the basis that if it was good enough of him… I didn’t really know why I was doing it at first. I wasn’t troubled by any fish in the first few outings of my Atlantic salmon fishing career in Scottish rivers. When I did catch that first fish and, happily, subsequent fish, I found that the loop did indeed give the fish the time to turn on the fly and hook itself. Also, as with most of us in the UK, I had moved to salmon fishing from trout fishing: quick reactions to set a hook are not your friend when it comes to salmon. In other words, on those occasions where excitement or inattention (come on, who doesn’t daydream occasionally?) might trigger an overly quick lift of the rod, the loop buys me – and the fish -a little time to compensate for my poor technique.
That’s an excellent point Paddy. Thanks for weighing in and best of luck out there!
I hold a loop, but don’t drop it because I feel like I can tell what’s going on better with my fly if I’m holding the line. That said I’m a complete hack that is just going down the spey for steelhead rabbit hole.
I long ago proved to myself that when swinging streamers or flies for salmon or steelhead I have a successful hookup on a much higher percentage of fish if I use a loop. I prefer to pull about an 18″ to 20″ loop.
Fishing for trout or other species of fish is a different story, no loop & a quicker hook set.
Patty T…When I fished Atlantics I fish with a loop and found them to mostly turn slowly..it was easy! Not sure how I new that!
With Steelhead in Washington and Oregon I hold a loop when on the eastern side of our mountains.And, defiantly when in cold slow water. On the west side I have no loop.I learned a long time ago that that works!!
Interesting point John. We’re all on our way down the ‘rabbit hole.’Thanks for the input!
No loop … use a click & pawl reel … wait for a few clicks … pinch the line … lift the rod after the line comes tight … simple & easier to hook fish with subtle takes.
Steelhead… I hold a loop always, but let the grab tell me what to do with it. This works for tips, floaters, warm & cold water, fast or slow currents. More often than not thought, letting it slip out is the crutch I need to remind me to pause and let the fish come tight. Not a really a Zen or a zone thing, just a system I can duplicate that works for me.
I learned most of what I know about swinging for steelhead from the master, Dec Hogan, and he uses a “drip loop”, so I did too. Over the last twenty years, I have migrated to mostly fishing for summer run fish, and they tend to be much more aggressive to the fly and returning to their lie. Now, I just use a light drag setting and wait for the fish to pull line off the reel or give me a good strong pull prior to setting the hook. I may still use a loop when fishing on the Deschutes, the John Day, or when the water temperature is below 40F.
Thanks for weighing in everybody! Great stuff! Keep ’em comin!
Swinging on a tight line to a fish below you, you have to let them eat the fly and you don’t want them to feel tension that might make them drop the fly. I’ve tried the light drag setting and find that it’s easy to jump the gun and set too early. I have had the best success holding a loop between my index and middle fingers (where you can’t pinch the line too tight) and letting it slip when there is pressure. Once the loop is “gone”, sweep set in the direction of the swing.
Summer fish, always a loop!
Winter fish, a very small loop!
I won’t go into the difference between presentation.
I keep a relaxed hand and with a hit I drop my rod tip into the water, this is my reverse strike which works for me as a long term trout guy, has been very effective. Thx
I’ve been taught that the point of holding the loop is to be able to “feel and feed”. Well, I can tell you that for someone like me that spends 99% of their fish days chasing trout on drys, I’m not nearly disciplined enough to let the loop “work”. I still lock that line down with my trigger finger and jerk the crap out of it!! So that being said, if I remove my trigger finger from the line and go with no loop it seems to put me in a completely different mind set. I can actually watch line be stolen from my reel. I have noticed however, that toward the end of the day I do find myself holding a loop, which seems to come more natural (or, it may also be directly related to the ebb of my flask!). Cheers.
I confess I didn’t know this issue existed. Shame on me…. So far I’ve done reasonably well without a loop. But perhaps I should revise this. Will follow the comments with great interest. Thanks to all.
I reel with my non dominant hand, so I don’t have to change hands.
I hold always hold a loop.
Most of my reals have disc drags, so I try to keep things consistent.
I dont think it makes a lick of difference with click & pawl drags.
I just had another solid cold water grab with a fish that let go right away, even with my drag reel on an absolute minimal setting. It’s a loop or click and pawl for me moving forward. Steelhead are way to hard to come by for this to happen as often as it has for me. I’m converted. I think it cost me a fish today, though.
Bummer Matt! Thanks for sharing your experiences and if you notice a difference while holding a loop or while using a click and pawl, be sure to let us know. Have fun out there and best of luck.