Who Caught A Pb This Year?

[Fish Chris]

I did I caught that 90", 220 lb (chart weight) Sturgeon on my micro-light. Not my biggest all time Sturgy (2nd biggest) but the biggest for that gear... and of course, it was the biggest of any species of fish I've ever caught on that gear.

Aside from this ^ the closest I got to any other PB's, was with a 3.05 lb Redear Sunfish, edging up towards my PB of 3.2 lbs....

Worst year for trophy bass ever ! Oh well. Maybe 2013 ?

Peace,

Fish

[jignfule]

I did I caught that 90", 220 lb (chart weight) Sturgeon on my micro-light. Not my biggest all time Sturgy (2nd biggest) but the biggest for that gear... and of course, it was the biggest of any species of fish I've ever caught on that gear.

Aside from this ^ the closest I got to any other PB's, was with a 3.05 lb Redear Sunfish, edging up towards my PB of 3.2 lbs....

Worst year for trophy bass ever ! Oh well. Maybe 2013 ?

Peace,

Fish

What tackle were you using when you caught the sturgeon?

[Fish Chris]

Well, the rod is a G-Loomis SR720 rated for 1-4 lb mono. It's a 6ft, 1 piece, true micro-light. LOVE these rods. Of course I use nothing but braid {real fishing line } so my main line is 2/10 micro braid. Looks like sewing thread Works great on a 1000 series reel, as its so thin, you can put close to 200 yards on...... not that I ever need that much, as I always use my t-motor, or gas motor, to chase down big fish anyway.

BTW, for people who don't use braid, please don't try to compare 10 lb braid, straight across to 10 lb mono. It's just apples and oranges. With zero stretch, 10 lb braid is much less forgiving than 10 lb mono. If one were to put 10 lb braid on a medium weight rod, and treat it like 10 lb mono, they would likely break fish off on hooksets and such. I probably put about as much pressure on a fish with 2/10 braid, as I might, with say 6 lb mono ? But that's enough anyway. You don't wear the fish out. The fish wears itself out. It's not about being stronger than the fisah. Its about being smarter

Peace,

Fish

[J Francho]

I probably put about as much pressure on a fish with 2/10 braid, as I might, with say 6 lb mono ?

That's pretty accurate. I've played around with 10# braid and my salmon/steelhead. Actually, inspired by your success. It's a system that works, provided you have light gear.

[SirSnookalot]

Line doesn't break when the fish is pulling drag out or you're chasing it down, it breaks when the drag is too tight. A larger reel set with a light drag is going to reduce the pressure on the fish too. I don't think a few pounds of drag will slow a 200# fish, I've been spooled on fish way smaller using heavier gear with 20# of drag, not being able to run it down.

[jignfule]

Well, the rod is a G-Loomis SR720 rated for 1-4 lb mono. It's a 6ft, 1 piece, true micro-light. LOVE these rods. Of course I use nothing but braid {real fishing line } so my main line is 2/10 micro braid. Looks like sewing thread Works great on a 1000 series reel, as its so thin, you can put close to 200 yards on...... not that I ever need that much, as I always use my t-motor, or gas motor, to chase down big fish anyway.

BTW, for people who don't use braid, please don't try to compare 10 lb braid, straight across to 10 lb mono. It's just apples and oranges. With zero stretch, 10 lb braid is much less forgiving than 10 lb mono. If one were to put 10 lb braid on a medium weight rod, and treat it like 10 lb mono, they would likely break fish off on hooksets and such. I probably put about as much pressure on a fish with 2/10 braid, as I might, with say 6 lb mono ? But that's enough anyway. You don't wear the fish out. The fish wears itself out. It's not about being stronger than the fisah. Its about being smarter

Peace,

Fish

I'm impressed, congratulations

[ww2farmer]

<------------------ I tied mine. 6 lb's 10 oz's. Caught in a weeknight 3 hour, aluminum boat only, 3 fish limit tournament. Thats fish earned us (WNYbassman was my partner that night) lunker, and was ,obviously, the kicker in our three fish limit of 13.64 lbs. It tied my previous PB, caught in october of 2011, also a 6-10.

[Fish Chris]

Thank you JF and Boca.

Boca, exactly. It's kind of funny, most guys around here use much heavier gear than I do for Sturgies, typically 50-80 lb braid, and because of this, they can land "most" of the big ones they hook, without pulling the anchor, and chasing the fish.... But the key word there is "most". This gives the anglers a false sense of security, then, when they finally hook that monster of a lifetime, they get spooled, because they were not ready to pull the anchor, and get after the fish with motor power.

Even when I fish heavier gear, I still have my float attached to the spare anchor line, and only held onto a cleat with one half hitch. Super easy to cut loose from... with one hand

Be prepared, or be sorry, right ?

[Fish Chris]

<------------------ I tied mine. 6 lb's 10 oz's. Caught in a weeknight 3 hour, aluminum boat only, 3 fish limit tournament. Thats fish earned us (WNYbassman was my partner that night) lunker, and was ,obviously, the kicker in our three fish limit of 13.64 lbs. It tied my previous PB, caught in october of 2011, also a 6-10.

I'm sorry ww2, didn't mean to hijack the thread.

That's a nice fish you have there ! Keep after' em...

Fish

[retiredbosn]

I got a pb largemouth this spring. I also got the privilege of netting a few pb's for fishing buddies this year. All in all it was a pretty good year.

Dwight

You are the man!! You make us mere fishing mortals green and brown with ***! I bet you also catch your share of monster steelheads.

[jhoffman]

I lost my PB at the boat on a Single Fish Wed Night Lunker Tournament. Caught the fish on a jig off a rock point in 15' of water. Took a stab at it with the net and he spit the jig, rookie move. For sure wouldve been the winner that night as the bass that won was 7lbs and this fish dwarfed it.

[Goose52]

I did I caught that 90", 220 lb (chart weight) Sturgeon on my micro-light........

Good grief Chris - even chasing it down, how long did it take to get that thing to the boat!

If I had hooked that fish in my little 138" long canoe...I would have had a Jaws moment................I think I need a bigger boat!!

Congrats. Hope you get the big bass next year.

[Fish Chris]

Good grief Chris - even chasing it down, how long did it take to get that thing to the boat!

If I had hooked that fish in my little 138" long canoe...I would have had a Jaws moment................I think I need a bigger boat!!

Congrats. Hope you get the big bass next year.

Thank you Goose But quite honestly, anyone could do it. Its really not such a big deal, once you have done it a few X's, and you realize that its so doable. The drag system, along with the fact that in the water, even a huge fish weighs practically zero, is really the whole deal in a nutshell

Peace,

Fish

[WRB]

I am not an expert on sturgeon, they appear to be a fish that would not wear down too easily, unlike fast swimmers like big tuna or marlin that will fight until they die of heart failure. The rule of thumb being dead weight in the water is about 1/6 the live weight with fish that don't have a swim ladder. I have had both big tuna and marlin die and it takes far longer to get them up to the boat than live fish. Any 200 lb fish on 10 lb line, 1power rod is an incredible catch...congratulation Chris!

Tom

PS what is the line class WR for sturgeon?

[Dwight Hottle]

Chris just knows how to get it done. I have two of that same rod in imx and I can tell you it is a mag light 6" stick. WTG Chris.

[wisconsin heat]

I tied my PB early this spring at 3lb 9oz. not bad, looking for a 4 or 5 pounder next year

[A-Jay]

PS what is the line class WR for sturgeon?

I was thinking the same thing - also Chris, please consider capturing one of these epic battles on video -

I, for one, could definitely stand to learn how it's done.

A-Jay

[J Francho]

Thank you Goose But quite honestly, anyone could do it. Its really not such a big deal, once you have done it a few X's, and you realize that its so doable. The drag system, along with the fact that in the water, even a huge fish weighs practically zero, is really the whole deal in a nutshell

Peace,

Fish

"Drag" is a major concept I talk about in my kayak fishing seminars. We joke about "Nantucket sleigh rides," but there is some truth to it. In a kayak, you really only need to lock down to about 6# of resistance, and the fish will drag you. This is obviously, an open water technique. You're putting just enough pressure on the fish, but not letting it gain line on you, or beyond the doable 50 yards or so. Very similar to you releasing from anchor, and chasing the fish. It's a big part of my success with kayak fishing, and one I've applied to bass fishing from a boat as well. I use the trolling motor once I hook a fish as part of the "system" to landing big fish. Get them in the open water, and let them tire themselves out.

Here's a northern I caught on 8# line - no leader:

Here I am being "dragged" by another:

[Fish Chris]

Those big Northerns are SOOO cool ! I'm envious !

Fish

[SirSnookalot]

When using light gear the fish species has a lot to do with success and failure. They all don't fight the same, swim at different speeds, pound for pound have different strengths, some dive deep and others go more horizontal, also some are acrobatic and others not. Take a 30# muskie, strong and powerful but short on stamina, this fish will tire and can be landed on lighter gear and line. Let's look at a 30# wahoo, a fish that swims upwards of 45-50 mph, strong with stamina, drags less than 10# won't even phase it, bit tough to run it down as a good chance it's swimming faster than the boat your in. Chances are pretty slim in landing that fish unless you have the right rod and reel, 50-80 line and plenty of it. Could I land a 30# tarpon on light tackle, done it a bunch of times, simple because the nature of the fish. By the same token I've had to chase 30# jacks down, they don't swim at near the speed of the wahoo, but have stamina and strenght

A 200# sturgeon on light gear is a remarkable feat.

[retiredbosn]

Thank you Goose But quite honestly, anyone could do it. Its really not such a big deal, once you have done it a few X's, and you realize that its so doable. The drag system, along with the fact that in the water, even a huge fish weighs practically zero, is really the whole deal in a nutshell

Peace,

Fish

Not only are you a light tackle wizard, but modest too. A real class act.

[mnbassman23]

I got my PB this year, 22". Got it pitching under an overhanging tree with a Northstar Black Series jig.

[greyleg33]

Far from my pb but got a 4-14 smallie this year which was pb smallie.

[tbassfd]

I did caught a 6 lb small mouth below the Guntersville Dam on Wheeler Lake.

[ambassadeur23435]

I just really got into bass fishing this year thanks to a friend and he took me to a local neighborhood pond and I caught a personal best of about 2.25 pounds not a monster but a milestone for me.