February 14, 2011
Patience!
by Réal Larose
If you fish, the worst thing you can do is be impatient. When you see that trophy fish at the end of your line, it's easy to star reeling faster and pulling harder to shorten the fight and bring the fish aboard. Even if your rod, line and reel are up to the task, bringing a green fish too close to the boat is heading for disaster. Instead you must use all the power of your rod and reel to tire a fish out, far from the boat. When your catch shows signs of giving up, it can be safely brought to the net. When a big fish grabs your lure, if you don't try to go too fast, you'll have a much better chance of bringing that fish of a lifetime safely into the net. The big fish are out there. Go get them!
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February 14, 2011
Check your knots
by Réal Larose
Even if your line is in perfect shape and your hooks well honed, if the knot that is the link between the two weakens and fails, you can say goodbye to your trophy fish. Yes, knots are make to be retied. You should retie your knots every thirty minute you spend fishing or every time you catch a fish. For mono, some of the best knots are the Trilene knot and the Palomar knot. If you are using braided or fused line, you must use the Palomar knot. You can find drawings illustrating how to tie these knots in most line packaging or you can go on the Internet and see how it is done. Don't forget to wet your knots before cinching them. The most important thing is not the knot you use but how you tie it.
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