Fishing Technique
Long-Lining
This is a fishing technique that can be done from
the bank and from boat with little difference in the application. Anglers
can actually fish within feet of each other without the threat of crossing
lines.
Timothy Kusherets
These anglers exemplify the perfect representation
of Long-lining. They’re standing at the edge of a bank jetty
and fishing the current parallel to the shoreline. By feeding out
line, as the leader moves down river, the offerings look perfectly
natural garnering strong hits from any holding fish along the entire
reach of the seam created by the jetty.
Note the position of each angler. Since long-lining creates a form
of natural “mending” anglers can actually fish within
feet of each other without the threat of crossing lines.
This is one of the easiest forms of drift-fishing. It can be done from
the bank and from boat with little difference in the application. It’s
used for bodies of water that are particularly long without many good
locations to fish from next to it, beneath it, or above it. This fishing
technique is perfect for bobber-jig and drift-fishermen since they have
the most line that can pay out and still have line to battle fish that
may race even further downstream. Long lining is dependant on the offering
being near the bottom of the river with almost all the mainline at the
top in a straight line, which cannot be done with fly-fishing setups.
The best holds to long-line are tributaries, slots, drop-offs, and tail-outs.
Cast out and fish the hold in the customary fashion. At the end of the
drift, flip open the bail and let the line pay out with constant touching
the line to detect any strikes. The further downstream the line goes
the more it will swing to the side of the river it has been cast from;
it is at that point that the drift is over and the line should be reeled
in.
When fishing above tributaries and slots it’s best to fish directly
above the hold since the current will take the line straight down the
river for longer periods of time without needing to be reeled in, and
since it’s on the same side of the river detecting strikes is
very easy, no matter how much line is let out. The force of the current
keeps all long-lined lines tight and sensitive so mending is almost
never needed. Watch the depth of the spool while long-lining or risk
letting out so much line that hooked fish can easily spool the reel.
When the hookup comes it’s imperative to either jump in the boat
or race down the bank to catch up with the fish. Those fish too far
to catch should be free-spooled so they can change direction on their
own and race back upriver. Keep the rod up as the mainline is out to
keep it away from boulders and submerged logs. Even as the line is free-bailed
it’s important to keep the rod up as the fish makes its way upstream
to ensure that it doesn’t get wrapped around obstacles.
Long-lining should never be done on waters where there are anglers along
the bank since the presentation takes such an enormous amount of territory.
There is no way to escape hooking into another fisherman’s line
when long-lining, so when anglers are on the bank it’s best not
to long-line the area.
© Timothy Kusherets 2008/10 Copyrighted |
