Small-hook strike and set procedure 1. Angler detects fish strike by feeling it on line or by seeing it. The high tip position absorbs some of the excess energy to prevent breakoffs 3a. As the rod is lifted up and the tip rotated, allow a few inches of slack fly line to slip from your line hand. This helps prevent the tippet from snapping and keeps the hook from bending or being pulled out of the fish.
Fish is hooked and begins to tire quickly against the spring of the high rod.
This strike motion and low tip angle put much more force on the hook's point, causing the hook to move forward and penetrate a fish's mouth. Large-hook strike and set procedure 1. Angler detects strike by feeling or seeing it. As strike is detected, immediately pull line taut with line hand. Note that the rod tip is low and that the line is tight to the fish.