Too Much Belly?

[Buck]

Not talking about the results of too many Christmas cookies, but the belly that forms in your line when drifting fairly heavy water. I walked up to one of my favorite holes this evening and on the third cast got a strong strike. Unfortunately, as often has happened in the past in this hole, as I set the hook and reeled furiously, the fish was jumping out of the water showing off its chrome sides about five yards upstream and threw the hook. Any suggestions on how to cure this problem before it starts? I've tried more weight but that slows down my drift too much and creates an unnatural presentation. I can't cast any further upstream because of the angle of the main current. I have a pretty long rod and try to get my line off the water as much as possible. Bottom line is that I get a pretty good drift in this one spot for a short distance while building up a belly at the same time.

[nitrobass]

Look to change where you are standing, so the current works for you. By the sounds of it you might fish that same spot a few feet upstream from where you normally cast. Also a longer rod might help. [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img]

[Fshklr]

try downsizing the line...I was having the same problem with 15 mono and went to 10..problem solved. If you already tried that, then are you fishing a slinky, lead, rubber tube and lead, each reacts differently in different current..try changing it up with different styles or sizes to speed up or slow down as needed.

Or, are you bobber fishing? if so you just have to stay on the mending of the line. hold the rod higher, stand on higher bank, keep trying and you'll figure it out.
tight lines Dan

[ 01-11-2004, 07:48 PM: Message edited by: Fshklr ]

[Quasimodo the fish killer]

do you reel in line as it drifts down stream towards you? if not that will help to get the slack out of your line and keep the drift looking nice

when I drift fish and cast up river i always reel slowly to keep the slack out and when it gets even with me I start to feed some line to extend my drift and keep my bait near the bottom.

ok thats it I confess I am not only a hunchback I am a long liner

:grin: if ya see a corkie line and hook pop out of the water next to ya look about 3 boats back and wave at me will ya?

[greenbuttskunk]

lighter line and a longer rod can help alot.
heavier lines really creat drag in faster current.

[Fish mojo]

"Too much belly"
[img]http://rds.yahoo.com/S=96062883/K=chris+farley/v=2/l=IVI/*-http://www.iodized.net/farley.gif[/img]

[dla]

Drift with your tip no higher than eye-level. Don't drop your tip after the upward stroke of the hook set. Reel your tip down, so to speak, and then set it again. This picks up the slack and keeps light pressure on the hook until you can hammer it home. The only time this doesn't work is when the wind is blowing a big belly into your drift.

[Paddlefish]

'Most all of the above.

The lighter (actually, smaller diameter) line will help against both current and wind drag. With the diameter issue in mind, consider some of the newer braided lines with smaller diameter for equal or higher strength.

When bobber fishing, many guys choose either a floating line or a Mucilin (or similar) dressing to float their lines. Finally, if the cursed wind is the issue, I have often found a VERY low rod angle, pointed almost along the line, to work better. It gives you a better visual point of view, allowing you to see pauses and twitches even before you can feel them.

[Woody]

Fish Mojo, are you living a van down by the river??

[Miss B Haven]

Hmm... I was pretty sure this was posted by my wife. Thought for sure I'd be on a diet tonight when I got home! :grin:

[Buck]

Thanks for the great advice everyone. I think I am going to consider getting a longer drift rod to keep my line from catching in the current and creating that big belly. It's so wierd to feel a fish on the end of your line, see clearly where your line enters the water, and then seen the fish jumping out of the water a considerable distance upstream. I wonder if I ought to consider trying a reel with a faster retrieve speed so I can catch up to the fish faster.

[Snakebite]

I think the key is line diameter. I fished Shearars falls one year when I worked out of Maupin with 12 lb. test, and to the chagrin of fellow fishers there, I drifted much slower. I think that allowed available fish exposed to the terminal tackle, to locate it easier. I was able to use much lighter weight also. Much easier on you and your gear. The lighter I went, the more often the hook up occured. MUCH more sensitive! The "break off" rate increased however. What do you want? More hook ups? More chance of loss! 25 pounders on 12 lb. test is possible! I horsed off a bunch of fish on the Yaquina this last fall season because I was out of practice! DOH!

[ZaQ]

Fish Mojo, living on a steady diet of Government cheese?