When do you set the hook on a dry fly take?

[Skunked]

As soon as you see the take? or do you wait a split second?

Lately I've found better success when I wait for the fish to drop for a half second. Just curious what other people do.

[Kevin2023]

I set the hook as soon as I see the take

[D3smartie]

depends how big the fish are. it doesnt take long for a 12 inch fish to grab the fly and turn. It can take a VERY LONG TIME for a big salmon or steelhead to turn.

[sothereiwas]

Depends on if they are actually grabbing it or rolling on it. The fish up at Merrill lake rarely take a hex dry off the surface. They roll on the fly and cripple it then come back and grab it. When we were fishing for cutts in Yellowstone the takes were very subtle and slow and you really had to wait a second or two.

Wait to feel the weight.

[kigercreek]

For me it also depends on if the take is upstream or downstream of where I'm standing. There's and old "rule" amongst guides in New Zealand fisheries which states that when you see the rise for the fly, say "God save the queen" before you set the hook.

After messing around with this same question in mind the last 30+ years I've found there to be several variables...water speed, size of fly, even the kind of take, as a mild "slurp" can be different than a violent out-of-the-water rise. Nonetheless, it's always fun to ponder and mess around with on the stream!

[DesChutesDrifter]

Depends on the situation:

Trout in a river fishing upstream to straight out and stillwaters: don't need to set the hook as it is very sharp and a fine wire. Once I see the boil or my fly disappears I simply lift the rod to take out the slack and the fish will do the rest.


Steelhead skated fly: after I have released the 2-6 ft of line in my line hand and see the reel peeling line.

[dpok]

I read a fishing book that said the British will say "God Save the Queen" when they see the strike, then they set the hook.

[TrophyTaker]

I've found that waiting that half a second usually pays off, but I've had situations where you can set the hook as soon as you see the rise and also when you have to wait longer for them to properly take the fly.

the fish are a little different in every body of water. you just have to adjust to the fish, because they aren't going to adjust to you.

[Seansquatch]

It always takes me a few strikes to zero in when to strike in different bodys of water.

[MarlinMark]

I like to set the hook just before they spit it out. :wink:

[Old Coot]

The first few fish of every spring I usually set the hook just about one full second before 35 feet of flyline and leader arcs gracefully out of the sky and piles up on my head and shoulders.

[BigHook]

I always end up making the mistake of setting it too early.
I try to at least wait 2-3 full seconds before setting the hook.

[Trout]

The first few fish of every spring I usually set the hook just about one full second before 35 feet of flyline and leader arcs gracefully out of the sky and piles up on my head and shoulders.


:applause: That's pretty good!