Tailing Fish
Method for Landing Fish without
a Net
"Tailing" is the ability to land a fish
by literally grabbing it by the tail while it is still in the water.
Timothy Kusherets
In these photographs are three examples of tailing fish. All
of them were landed successfully without the aid of a net, beaching,
or the aid of another fisherman. Using the right line, rod, and
application there's no reason even a novice fishermen shouldn't
be able to land fish the exact same way. This is one of the most
truly artistic methods of fishing and as such it is probable to
lose fish in the beginning. However, tailing a fish has the innate
reward of being able to release fish without harming it with minimal
to no stress on the fish.
It should be noted that the bigger the species of fish
is the easier it is to tail it; conversely, the smaller a fish is
the more difficult it becomes: The definition of "tailing"
is the ability to land a fish by literally grabbing it by the tail
while it is still in the water. Ordinarily this is done while a fish
is fighting hook and line, but it can also be done without using anything
more than an open fist in the water. I’ve landed tens of thousands
of fish and by far love “tailing” them the most. It is
the single most difficult way to land fish but is easily the most
fulfilling. The methods for tailing are as artistic as the entire
experience of fishing marine and freshwater environments. Boaters,
surfcasters, and bank fishermen can all “tail” fish to
land them, but have a high risk of losing them if they don’t
know exactly what to do. The scientific premise of tailing is largely
based on how fish swim in the water, even as they come close to being
landed. The philanthropic reason for it is based on the kindness of
keeping a fish’s head submerged the entire time ensuring that
it continues to breathe even as the hook is removed while it remains
beneath the surface. Scales of every species of fish remain largely
intact making the catch all the more beautiful to photograph, which
can be done with only seconds out of the water and back it goes. In
all the time I've been tailing fish I've only lost two of them. Almost
ninety-nine percent of the fish I catch go right back into the drink;
that’s how many fish I catch. Want to know how to "tail"
a fish? The definition of "tailing" is the ability to land
a fish by literally grabbing it by the tail while it is still in the
water. Ordinarily this is done while a fish is fighting hook and line,
but it can also be done without using anything more than an open fist
in the water.
I’ve landed tens of thousands of fish and by far love “tailing”
them the most. It is the single most difficult way to land fish but
is easily the most fulfilling. The methods for tailing are as artistic
as the entire experience of fishing marine and freshwater environments.
Boaters, surfcasters, and bank fishermen can all “tail”
fish to land them, but have a high risk of losing them if they don’t
know exactly what to do. The scientific premise of tailing is largely
based on how fish swim in the water, even as they come close to being
landed. The philanthropic reason for it is based on the kindness of
keeping a fish’s head submerged the entire time ensuring that
it continues to breathe even as the hook is removed while it remains
beneath the surface. Scales of every species of fish remain largely
intact making the catch all the more beautiful to photograph, which
can be done with only seconds out of the water and back it goes. In
all the time I've been tailing fish I've only lost two of them. Almost
ninety-nine percent of the fish I catch go right back into the drink;
that’s how many fish I catch.
© Timothy Kusherets 2007/09
