THE SMALL STUFF
Little fixes for helping ensure you don’t lose big fish
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#4 CHECK YOUR LEADER
Both the fight with a fish, and removing the hook can damage your leader. Fortunately, detecting a leader problem takes just seconds. By simply running the leader through your fingers, you can feel even the tiniest nick. Also watch for wind knots—those little overhand knots that can appear in your leader after a sloppy cast. They will tighten under the pressure of a fish, causing the monofilament to cut into itself. If you do find a nick or knot, take five minutes to cut it out and replace the bad section.
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Believe me, it beats a lifetime of wondering just how big that lost brook trout actually was.