Fish Chris Posted August 9, 2012 Posted August 9, 2012 Well ya' know, I have to start by saying, I totally believe I caught the biggest LMB I've ever hooked. I probably landed the biggest Sturgeon, Catfish, Red Ear Sunfish, and Bluegill I've ever hooked too. Not so with Striped bass.... especially not now On a whim, I decided to go Striper fishing last Mon. I NEVER fish for Stripers this early. Typically I start in late October. But I ended up catching one nice 9 lb'er {eating size } weather was great, and I had a great time. Enough so, that I decided to go try it again on Tues, so I could try different areas. About 15 minutes after I got setup, I had a fish eat my 12" Split Tail. Their was no messing around, or frantic Split Tail action ahead of time either... just a single, 'thunk', and then my line slowly started peeling from my bait runner. I picked up the pole, flipped the bail open, disengaged the bait runner, then, after a few seconds, I flipped the bail closed, let the fish take out the slack, and swung back on my rod. It didn't budge ! Then it starts swimming, and its tail strokes felt so long, I was thinking it "had to be" a Sturgeon > which I have caught many of on Split Tails, but never in this area. So next it starts making these big circles out in front of me. When it would come toward me, I would gain, but only because it was coming toward me. Then, when it would turn out away from me, I would start feeling those huge tail sweeps, and really felt like I had zero control..... Like a Sturgeon on my micro-light kind of feeling..... Suddenly it rushed for the surface, and although it didn't jump, it basically came up to where its back was just out of the water, and Holy $%^^$ ! ..... my best guess 48" to 52", and 45 to 55 lbs ! About that time, it just came unglued, and started exploding the water, when suddenly.... zing.... here comes my Split Tail flying at my face Deep sighhhhhh..... My only consolation is that I had not done anything wrong on my end. But just through bad luck of the draw, the hook had gotten spun back around, and was hooked into the Split Tail instead of the Striper I never had a hook in it But such is fishing, right ? I guess its kind of nice to know that there is at least one humongous monster still out there, waiting for me Maybe next week ? But if not, maybe some day down the road Oh hey, I ended up catching an 8 and a 10 lb'er, plus a couple smaller ones, and had several more hits. So LOTS of action, for Striper fishing in August Can't wait to go back next week Peace, Fish 1 Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted August 9, 2012 Super User Posted August 9, 2012 Great write-up, I felt like I was right there with you! Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted August 9, 2012 Super User Posted August 9, 2012 Great narrative and cool photo - What tackle were you using ? A-Jay Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted August 9, 2012 Global Moderator Posted August 9, 2012 Many that's tough. We fish for hybrids pretty much the same way in the winter with big live shad and my buddy had a monster hybrid eat a 7 or 8 inch shad and just burn drag on him. He fought her for probably 10 or 15 minutes and then she just came off. The hook was through the shads nostrils and back through the top of it's head with just enough hook sticking out to catch a piece of wiper but those big, powerful headshakes combined with the weight of the shad pulling on the hook finally pulled the hook out. Haven't ever had one nearly that big hooked since. Quote
Super User deaknh03 Posted August 9, 2012 Super User Posted August 9, 2012 Nice story, as usual. Quote
Super User Dwight Hottle Posted August 9, 2012 Super User Posted August 9, 2012 It's always worse when you see what you lost. I had a big lake trout do that to me so I know the feeling. At least you have a 2nd chance if she stays in that area. Good luck with her. Quote
Super User 00 mod Posted August 9, 2012 Super User Posted August 9, 2012 Sorry to hear of your bad luck, but you know where she is hiding. I expect to hear this story again, but with a picture!!! Jeff Quote
Mad Fisherman Posted August 10, 2012 Posted August 10, 2012 Sorry to hear of your bad luck, but you know where she is hiding. I expect to hear this story again, but with a picture!!! Jeff X2 and dont feel bad. I had a MONSTER bass on not that long ago that ended getting off the hook for me. Quote
Big-O Posted August 10, 2012 Posted August 10, 2012 GREAT story Chris WTG, and bet the 'hook up' goes your way on the next BIG girl Quote
hooah212002 Posted August 10, 2012 Posted August 10, 2012 Sorry to hear of your bad luck, but you know where she is hiding. I expect to hear this story again, but with a picture!!! Jeff HAHA I'll take his "bad" luck any day. You see the size of the fish in that picture? Quote
Fish Chris Posted August 10, 2012 Author Posted August 10, 2012 Much thanks for all the consolations guys I know you guys can probably all relate.... Hooah, the fish in that pic is about 9 lbs.... the one I lost had to be 45 or more... so imagine that ! Peace, Fish Quote
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