Is It Better To Hooked And Lost Or Never Hooked At All?

["BRB"]

We all got the story of the one that got away. I'm no different. Today i hunged a be bass on a crankbait I saw the flash of it side. And it looked like and felt the biggest bass I ever had on the other end of my line!! Then with a shake of the head he was gone. I was speechless. Part of me was mad for losing it and part of me was glad for just hanging it. But I do know one thing I well be back and try to get her in the boat!!

[WookieeJedi]

I would rather hook one and lose it. That way I know exactly where to find her again.

[tomustang]

No hook = no fish

Lost = there are fish

[Mattlures]

It is much better to loose on then to never have it. You can learn alot from your mistakes. If you can figure out why you lost that fish you will be better prepaired the next time a similar situation ocures. You said you lost it on a crankbait? Maybe you were putting too much preasure on it and pulled the hooks? maybe your drag was a little to tight. There are many little things we do when we fight fish.We make alot of mistakes and we probably still land most of the fish. Try and figure out why the fish got off and adjust.

[Sam]

Hooked and lost.

Drives you crazy but at least you know she is there and hopefully with her friends.

[SirSnookalot]

Hooked and lost, would be my choice. I've been spooled I think 5 times so far this year, I mean 200-300 yds of line gone quicker than it takes to type this post. That's a thrill that comes close to actually landing the fish. If I lose a fish that I practice catch and release, I've really almost accomplished what I wanted to do. Hooked it and fought it, I'm was going to release it anyway.

[tomustang]

Hooked and lost, would be my choice. I've been spooled I think 5 times so far this year, I mean 200-300 yds of line gone quicker than it takes to type this post. That's a thrill that comes close to actually landing the fish. If I lose a fish that I practice catch and release, I've really almost accomplished what I wanted to do. Hooked it and fought it, I'm was going to release it anyway.

Wonder what happens to that 300 yards when it leaves your reel, talk about an overgrown hair tormenting a fish

[SirSnookalot]

Wonder what happens to that 300 yards when it leaves your reel, talk about an overgrown hair tormenting a fish

I know I'm not the first......lol. Put a fresh 300 of 30# mono on this morning and going out, I'd really like to land a nice one today. Here different things about the length of time it takes the hook to rust out, I don't really know.

[Catt]

It is better to have hooked & lost

Having hooked & lost I can be confident that I was in the right place, at right time, throwing the right lure, using the right retrieve.

[shady oaks]

hooked and lost means you've located them and doing something right. Never hooking into one means your still trying to figure everything out. And seriously, everybody enjoys telling a fish story with a fish in it (at least for a minute!).

[J Francho]

Hook and lost is what probably got 99% here in the first place.

[K_Mac]

Hooked and lost! I lost a monster last Monday as my wife tried to net it (on a Bandit 100 crank). My wife was more upset than me. Knowing there are big girls in the area is good information. I also learned I probably should have been using a softer rod. It's all good, and is all part of what makes fishing great IMO.

EDIT: I am now using a softer rod

["BRB"]

I feel the same way, but my dad made a comment that sometime he wish he never hooked at all because its so heart breaking!

[.Paxamus.]

Hooked and lost- you know fish are there and you can break down what went wrong and how to make it better

[buzzfrog]

i have seen 3 hooks go all the way through in my life, thank God my hand wasnt part of it, so call me paranoid but if i fishing a crank or treble lure, if i swing em in the boat or at least get close so i had a fight, I am a bit releived. yea ya call me a wuss.

[bigbill]

I lost many topnockers with bigger bass in the weeds. She hit so hard and fast then went down and buried herself deep in the weeds. Fishing from shore this isn't good.

[Marty]

Hooked and lost, no doubt about that. My number might be off, but hooking that fish is 90% of catching it. It means you were in the right place at the right time and using the right lure and presentation. You don't hook anything, you couldn't locate a fish and that's a bummer, to say the least. I despise:

[Bankbeater]

Hooked and lost.

Sharpen your hooks and keep throwing that same bait.

[SirSnookalot]

Hooked and lost.

Sharpen your hooks and keep throwing that same bait.

Many really large fish pretty much hook themselves with their weight, power and speed, I'd pay more attention to how well the hooks are attached, bad split ring or bad knot. Not saying hooks should not be in good condition but a fish striking at 30 mph will get hooked with a substandard hook.

IMO most fish that are lost are due to just a few things:

1.weak spot in the line chain

2: rod or line not heavy enough to horse out of thick cover.

3: the unusual larger fish than expected or other species fish, gear just too light.

4: user error, not understanding how to play a fish, not using the reel drag correctly, panic and

being too excitable.

[craww]

Depends on HOW big. Honestly if I lost a 20lbr, despite the info gained, it would haunt me lol.

[Mattlures]

Craw I lost one I believe was 20+ about 5 years ago and it still haunts me. However I do realize what I did wrong and I dont plan on making the same mistake again.

[radtech]

hooked and lost is definately a heartache. I lost what i think was a 7 lb smallie 2 years ago. It still hurts my soul. Fought him for a good min or so and just couldn't do anything with him. He was peeling line off like crazy and jumped when he wanted and went deep when he wanted. I was just along for the ride. Had him about 15 feet from the boat when he leapt out of the water and gave me my fluke back!

[Sunnydays]

I try to keep a positive attitude about fish that get away. Just having had it on means you were doing most things right, and we all lose fish from time to time. It was fun while it lasted and It's still a good memory in my book.

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