Moving boat while fighting fish?

[Fizzishin]

Keep calm and keep fishing. Throwing it into neutral or even dead slow is a recipe for a twisted disaster.

 

[Trophy 2000]

Really good thread and all comments are correct . I think with so many variables with fish on I am thinking it is based on the situation how to play fish at the time

 

[-Jim-]

Once a sizeable Spring is on, having a shipmate pull the gear and putting it into neutral allowing me to enjoy fighting the fish is my pleasure. The runs are more dramatic, and exciting. It's sport after all not a commercial harvesting technique. Now if you are in traffic, winds, etc., this isn't feasible.

We are there to have a good time, and nothing beats having a Tyee on the end of the line giving you one h3ll of a fight with nothing else in the way. (It's even better with no Flasher.) This is the ultimate fishing experience IMHO.

 

[A-a-Ron]

Into neutral, hit both downriggers. Fight fish and bring in second rod at same time. It’s a balancing act. I reel in the 2nd rod while it’s still in the rod holder. Get the second rod/line out of the water first. Then pull the downrigger balls up and onto boom hooks. Then focus on landing fish and getting the net ready. Having a good system of net stowage and retrieval is super important. I fish solo lots and even with my wife there she’s not gonna touch the gear. Her choice not mine, she gets nervous. It’s just an ugly mess waiting to happen if you don’t clear everything outta the water first. I lose the odd fish. I’d rather lose 3 fish a year than deal with lost gear and the headache of line tangles. I even do this when I have experienced fishing friends on board.

How are you gonna get a double header if you pull the other side?
Just busting you balls. Everyone’s got their own technique.
I slow down slightly, maintain course and fight the fish. When it gets close, slowly turn towards the side the fish is on.
Of course traffic, depth, structure, winds, and what the fish wants to do etc all play in as others have said.

 

[Tips Up]

As noted it depends on the situation. One key factor being if you are going with or against the tide. If you are going with the tide and fish is behind you are in good shape with boat moving away from fish. When facing into tide different situation. I get a lot more double headers these days from keeping second side in the water longer than I used to.

 

[adanac]

Depends on the fish, winters / coho etc keep it rolling , big fish with some shoulders neutral and enjoy the fight , just always stay down swell / down wind to push you off the fish in close quarters or bad things can happen .

 

[EstevanPoint]

Same get gear out of water ive seen so many people get gear stuck on other side and break off, slow it down bring fish to you ... I watch guys troll same speed and then stand on swim gird and see many a time flasher and hooks fly at mach 10 slow everything down and be calm relax its suppposed to be fun enjoy it. guys will see you have a fish on and most move ...

Thanks @wolf , this is exactly what made me think about others' tactics and possible reasons for them. I have often seen people struggling to land a fish that is barely fighting, but being dragged by the momentum of the boat while continuing to "troll" and try to land the fish, and have been curious why they don't slow down and allow the fish to come to them and the net. Slowing down will also signal to others that you've got one on, and they should ("should") give a little space if the fish starts acting erratically. As others have said, we're out there for fun, not commercial harvest.

Maybe there is another reason to keep hauling on at trolling speed, but it often seems counterproductive. (Aside from winters and coho)

Keep calm, and "slowly troll" on...

 

[banger17]

Case dependent as we all know.
However, I’ve said it before and I’ll always say it again… when no other boats are around and all stars align with logistics, there is nothing better than pulling up all the gear and shutting off everything including engines to play the fish 1:1.