big fish trouble

we have been trolling , hooking some big fish , cant seem to land them though.
i need a little advise.
should we stop the boat and real all the lines in and try to bring it in,i just need a little advise.
we use 2 downriggers and 4 dipsey setups.
we have landed a lot of fish this year , just not the one who stole my lure.

[Bob Z]

When I feel that I have a really big fish on I will slow the trolling motor as much as possible - even kick it out of gear for a few seconds. Always maintain some forward motion to keep the other lines straight and the dipseys from sinking to the bottom. This is one of the reasons I always like to troll with the wind.

You should be able to bring the fish in directly from the rear of the boat. If he is caught on a dipsey or an in-line board he should pull back behind your other lines.

This is an especially important tactic if your using braided, no stretch line. It is always a thrill to feel that big one shake his head on the no-stretch lines.

[I-Man]

Check ETT's method:

http://www.boatohio.com/forums/DCForumID14/68.html#2

I see a lot of people lose fish because they alternatly lift and drop their pole to gain leverage, while reeling. This probably results in the loss of more fish than anything I can think of. Maintain a steady pole angle while playing the fish. Let the pole do the work, bend. I usually adjust the drag, to maintain the necessary give and take, well below the pound test break point of the line. Next big loss of fish is at the boat. Get a big net. Net as deep as you can. Once you get a fish up to the boat, there is a stop point for the fish, you are not maintaining drag tension, the fish has the opportunity to shake the hook out. Try to net before this point.

[Finaddict]

FISH INFO AL IS RIGHT BY LIFTING AND DROPING THE POLE YOU WILL CREATE A BIGGER HOLE WHERE THE HOOK HAS PENETRATED GIVING YOUR CATCH A BETTER CHANCE TO SWIM AWAY.

[Tracy]

The problem with trolling dipseys and spoons is that once a fish hits your spoon he/she is hooked as good as h/she will ever be. Too many people grab the rod from the holder after a strike and yank a hook set. All this does is tear a larger hole in the fishes mouth. When you see the strike just pick up the rod and start reeling. If the dipsey did not release, don't try jerking it, just smack the rod above the reel with the open palm of your hand and it will release, or reel it up slowly.

Tracy

be sure you sharpen hooks or change originals with lazur sharp or the equivalent....i used to miss many salmon because i would use the hooks the lure came with...these are almost never sharpened...steve

thanks for all the info.