How would you describe the proper rod position while fighting a fish and then at the edge of the boat preparing to lip or net them?

Here's one way, from a kayak. In a boat, it's about the same, just that I either get in the pit, or kneel on the deck.

I'm not sure how yall don't fall out of them thing. I think I would spend more time in the water then the kayak!

If it's big enough I can't swing it in then I like to use a net. Trying to lip a fish with a faceful of hooks can be very painful. Mainly keep pressure on the fish until you get ahold of them or get them in the net.

If it's big enough I can't swing it in then I like to use a net. Trying to lip a fish with a faceful of hooks can be very painful. Mainly keep pressure on the fish until you get ahold of them or get them in the net.

X2

This is really simple. Look at the angle the line forms with respect to the handle of the rod. DO NOT allow it to become less than 90 degrees.

Intelligent Question, by the way:

The 'landing' phase is very different from the 'fighting' phase, it's a time when all stops are pulled (a time when I often blow the gig)

During the fight, the emphasis is placed on maintaining a rod angle that's perpendicular to the line (and OF COURSE a constantly taut line).

During the landing phase however, rod angles go out the window, and the key becomes dragging the fish to within landing reach

without ending up with 'too much' or 'too little' line. For the most part, this means grasping the rod blank about midway (depending on rod length)

then pushing the rod backwards to drag the fish within reach of the landing hand.

Y'all might be wondering why J Francho fishes from a kayak. Well...if you had to foot the bill for a follow-on camera boat,

you might be fishing from a kayak too

Kidding aside, John's photos portray the classic boating maneuver better than I could describe it in words.

Roger

just keep the line tight. That's it!!

I fish from a kayak, because those are kayak only waters. I also fish from a boat, and in fact the last pic is from fluke's boat. Here's a video of me landing a steelhead in a kayak. Same principal, even with a medium light rated drop shot rod and 4# fluoro.