loop or no loop when swinging??

[Sandspanker]

How many people use a loop when the swing for steelhead?? I;m new and have seen both ways of fishing. Just was wondering who uses what and why??

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Holding a loop to drop on the take or a 'loop to loop' connection in the line system?

[Sandspanker]

holding the loop

[thepeacockspecial]

use a loop. ive lost fish by not holding a loop, because they tend to take off after the hit. the loop gives u enough time to adjust if it takes off quickly. i don't know the real reason why, but im a self taught angler. there are no reasons to it as long as it works. its been more effective for me holding a loop.

[Mark Kranhold]

For sure a loop. This loop will allow the fish to take the fly and then turn to go back to its lie. This will allow for a good hook set in the corner of the jaw. Look at which side of the jaw its hooked in, it will genrally be in the corner of the jaw from the side of the river you are fishing from. I hold about a 2'-3' loop. Hope this helps, stick em!!

[Bruce Slightom]

I use a drop loop of about two feet when I am using a floating line with flies in the surface or just under. I never use one with weighted flies of sink tips.

[Jasonh]

Ditto what Bruce said. Very good advice!

JH

[shawn kempkes]

I do the same thing as Bruce

[Scott V]

I always use a loop no matter what I am fishing for.

[flyguy1]

For sure a loop. Letting the fish take the loop allow the fish not to feel tension on the line when it turns. Up in B.C where to fish tend to be aggressive and grabby, the guides will tell you to let the fish take the loop and some. By and some they say to let the fish pull line of the reel (lose drag) before setting the hook. I have used this technique on the american and it works.

[Rick J]

as Bruce indicated, I use a loop with a dry line but not with tips - although, I will normally raise my rod tip a bit when fishing tips as I approach the hang-down. Depending on the water I am fishing I may keep a high rod tip throughout the swing while other times I will keep the tip low - only raising it some at the end

[lynnwhite44]

I was taught to spey/swing flies by my highschool buddy and fishing guide Dave Faltings from Ketchum Idaho. For a floating line presentation I have my Hardy Marquis Salmon reel set at the lightest tension and I don't lay a finger on the line. I point the rod tip at the fly and when I feel the grab I try not to move the rod,(this was tough to learn after years of trout fishing and hook sets). I wait 2 or 3 seconds, which seem more like minutes, and then slowly raise the rod. I have never set the hook while fishing in this manner and most the time the fish is hooked in the corner of the mouth. Dave's reasoning, is that sometimes the fish may feel resistance from your finger holding the line if you don't release your grip soon enough. I may have lost a few fish over the years but it works for me.

I didn't know about the loop technique till I saw it on a video by John and Amy Hazel. how can you argue with these two legends?

While fishing tips I concur with Bruce and Rick. Besides, usually fishing with tips and a leech pattern the fish will slam the fly.

[FlyReelFisher]

If you feel one in ten grabs you are probably doing well. I've watched fish take and spit out flies with no indication to the fisherman. Loop or no loop.

If anything, a fly taken on the dangle, only weakly stuck in the top of the jaw, maybe has the chance to be dragged into the corner of the jaw, with a loop, during the fish turn....versus the fish feeling tension from no loop and spitting the fly.

A counter argument is the slack from the loop prevents a good hookset when the fish takes it with a sideswipe, and the fly can be spit.

It probably matters conditionally based on something unpredictable from the fish. Don't overthink it. Go fish.

[Don Powell]

It is good to develop discipline in handling a take in the same manner when fishing... simply said, if you react differently each and every time, you are likely to lose more fish.

An enlightening revelation by Dec Hogan divulged that by closely watching hundreds of "takes" whilst in an optimal position to do so, there were a variety of styles by which a steelhead takes a fly.

Who are we to second guess or employ ESP at the precise instant, a steelhead responds to our fly? By consistently employing the same technique, the odds favor success > failure.

I prefer to hold a small loop between my thumb and index finger- the sensitivity one can feel by connecting this way enables one to let a little more line slip while the fish "turns" or gently raise the rod tip when the sensation is that of a violent take. Be careful if you gently raise the rod tip at the end of the swing on a violent take- the tippet may break or the knot may fail... in that situation, I lower the rod tip and pray!

[WinterrunRon]

If I'm pointing the rod directly at the fly when fishing it, I use a loop. If I plan on swinging to the dangle, I use a loop. Only time I don't is when I want to have some line off the water. I'll balance the rod above the cork so the rods at a 45 degree angle or so (the lazy man's way!) and let the soft tip be my cushion against a hard strike. Mine loop is about 3' long (one big pull).

[FlyReelFisher]

I watch two "old timers" that catch a bunch of fish. One uses a loop, one dosent. They both catch way more fish than I do.

I think you are overthinking the loop. There are other more productive things to focus your discipline on.

That's my 2 cents...

Why would you be obsessive about the particular size and shape of a small loop of line, when you let the fly just swing, and end up relying on the fish to create enough pressure to hook itself it the first place? With that technique, you arn't hooking him, he hooks you.

I really dont believe the presence of a loop of thick flyline sliding through your fingers prevents the fish from feeling tension on your fly and spitting it. The instant the fly is in its mouth the current pushes the leader onto the edge of the fish's lips, thats what makes them reject a fly.

Too many gurus have to write too many books and make too many instructional videos. If they didn't obsess over this, what would they do? There are always fish that break almost any rule, right?