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Jeff.....
One reason for not using the 2 handed retrieve is that for some salt water
species the, "take" is soft, and you lose rod sensitivity (sensation of a soft
strike from the rod tip to the hand) and miss some of them.
For me, a more important reason is that you lose some control of the subtle
motion of the fly needed for other species. For example, for some
bonefishing situations, I like to carefully move the fly in direct relation to
the approaching fish. If he follows and doesn't take, I know when to begin
a long slowly accelerating strip.
Once in a while, for permit, I'll "crawl" my crab fly on the
flat.....VVVEEEEERRRRRRRRRRY SLLLLOWWWLY...the way a real crab might move.
I can't make those carefully controlled moves with the rod tucked under my
arm. Then, too, with those 2 species, I don't strike other than to raise
the rod tip.....because if I strike a large bonefish and happen to do that as he
explodes, it'll pop any tippet in a heartbeat !
With any member of the tuna/bonita family, the fish takes on the run
(unless chummed up) and he's either on or not. The run is so blistering
fast that the tension almost always sets the hook. Anything you add is
likely to break the tippet.
When fly fishing for snappers (pargo), Groupers.....and some other species,
I prefer a strong combo strike and IMMEDIATE max pressure to keep the fish from
diving for the coral or other cover. You can't do that with a 2 handed
retrieve, either.
With tarpon, you don't have to do anything in a hurry. Even the rare
critter which slams the fly and is in the air before you can think demands that
I just, "hang on" and watch the pile of line on the deck until I can come to
what's left of my sanity.......THEN strip strike (Provided he's still
there.) Billy Pate and some others, recommend a triple hard strip strike
after each jump. I don't do that.
Flip Pallot once tried a trick which I've since confirmed. He wanted
to see how long a tarpon would hold the fly if he simply allowed slack
line....practically no pressure on the fish. He got several of them to
hold for a full minute.....and one for 2 full minutes.....then was still able to
make a successful strike. That works especially well if the tarpon takes
the fly as he's in the comfort zone of his friends in a school. Under that
circumstance, sometimes you can strike him hard and apply max pressure and he
still will simply cruise along with the school.....UNTIL HE FINDS HE CAN'T KEEP
UP WITH THE REST OF THEM. Then he'll go ballistic.
When fly fishing for shark, you need a really hard strike right away...to
penetrate thick skin. Some shark species will reject the fly quickly if
you don't do that. I lose most spinner sharks (mackeral sharks and
blacktips) anyway as they leap and twist like a ballerina. They destroy
any leader I can make.
The general rule of thumb with SW fly fishing is to make your strike
depending on 2 factors. 1. The species and 2. the approach and
apparent, "attitude" of the quarry. This is just one factor which makes
salt water sight fishing so fascinating for me.
You asked about penetration. Yes, it's enough with most SW
species. With tarpon and billfish, it may not be......so, to get max
penetration, the combination of strip strike along with a sideways strong sweep
of the rod in a horizontal rod plane may well be best.
Gordy
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