Prevent the big one from getting away

Follow these 5 simple steps to prevent the big one from getting away.

No matter how well you present the fly, if your rig has a flaw, big fish will be lost.

1. Check sharpness of hooks. If you absolutely must use a certain fly and the hook is not sharp, sharpen it or use another fly. There are a variety of hook sharpeners on the market, or you can use a fine nail file. Check sharpness of hooks by pointing them directly perpendicular to your fingernail and gently sliding across. If the hook slides it is not sharp. It should grab quickly. The mouth of a trout is bone and teeth; a sharp hook is essential.
2. Wet your knots. Pulling a dry knot tight causes friction. Friction causes heat, which damages the tippet and greatly weakens its strength. Put a few drops of water from the creek or river on the knot before tightening. Tie strong knots at the fly and tippet. Clinch, Triple surgeons.
3. Check leaders for knots, they reduce the strength tremendously. If you find a knot in your leader, cut it and retie with a surgeons or blood knot. Periodically check tippet for abrasions caused by rocks and snags. Snags on the bottom, when nymphing, or snags in trees on the back cast can damage tippet reducing its strength.
4. Monitor the age of tippet. Old tippet material will get weak. Take care of tippet. Do not store in heat. Adverse heat will weaken tippet.
5. Make sure ferrules of rod are secure and check periodically while fishing. The worst experience one can ever have is losing a big fish and breaking a favorite rod.

These tips can help prevent the big one that got away.