A take alone doesn't hook a fish; the hookset puts steel into jaw. Match the technique to what you're fishing:
- Vertical lift — for dry flies and indicator nymphing. Smooth rod-tip-up motion, not a yank.
- Strip-set — for streamers. Pull hard on the line with the line hand while keeping the rod tip low.
- Reel-tighten and lift — for spin tackle when a fish is already running. Tighten the slack first, then lift.
A late or weak hookset is the most common reason a fish "throws the fly." Once hooked, keep the rod bent (tip up around 11 o'clock) and let the drag absorb runs.