20 Lb Flouro-Confidence??!!

[will83]

Gear; Irod Gen II Freds Magic stick (love this rod), lews tourney pro, and 20lb sunline flourocarbon; fishing northshtar 1/2 pitch and swim, maybe the name is wrong but close enough.

 

I found this hog, has to be 6 pounds;flipped into a corner and watched my line move away, I knew I had a fish on and felt I made a solid hook set, but I wouldn't say swinging for the fences.  As soon as the fish was on shore I tried to keep tension on the line and walk down and the fish just flopped around and flew off, I was extremely surprised how active this huge fish was with the water temps probably still in the 40's; then realizing my drag was not really locked down enough to pull a fish like this up shore..

 

I go back to the same area an start flipping, make sure my drag is set tighter; Im pitching into reeds, after a warm rain the water is high and fish moved up into cover in about 1 ft- with a 3-4 ft drop off nearby.  The bite is soft, you cant even feel it, missed a 3 thinking I was caught on a reed, made the hook set too late; about 20 casts later Im hooked into this monster again, I felt a small tap tap, again I think I make a good hook set, this fish was in about 2 ft of water or less, Im probably 6 feet back off shore and I try to pull the fish over the reeds and onto shore; this thing is so big and there was a small incline I just could not get him up, reason being lacking confidence in my line!!! Normally I would be fishing 65 sunline braid, but I switched line and order a faster reel for my frog rod.

 

So the main question is can you flip a 5 plus fish in a boat or on shore with 20 lb flour with the drag locked or almost nearly locked; and how should I have my drag set??

 

Im using a Palomar knot.

 

I know this fish will be in the same spot, Im going back today; this will be the third day in a row!!

[fl_bass]

When a fish is close enough to me I grab the line and bring the fish on shore. They typically are tired enough that they don't want to fight much more. This is with 10lb mono or 12lb braid. I think your issue is the hook, not the line. Nothing broke right?

[J Francho]

If you can, "roll" them over a couple times, back and forth, then bring their head out of the water and lip 'em.  The roll over move disorients them for a few seconds, giving you time to react.

[mjseverson24]

To answer your question: can you flip a 5 lb bass up in a boat? Yes, but you use the fishes mometum to reduce stress on the rod and line. Can you flip a 5 lb bass up onto shore? yes you can, although not advised for a few reasons. on shore the fish will not have momentum and thus it will be more of a dead lift, also when you get a fish and flip her on shore you might do harm to the fish flopping around on the rocks and sticks or whatever else is on the bank. 

 

Mitch

[motodmast]

if your worried about the 20lb line breaking when flipping a 5, dont be, i would be more worried about the rod, that line shouldnt break  boat/shore flipping a 5lb bass

[will83]

Thanks, I was more worried about the line breaking; believe me if I had time to grab the line I would, as soon as pulled her up or tried to pull her up on shore to go and grab it a few shake and shimmy's and she was off.

 

J. F if I could flip this fish over I would, Im not exaggerating I think this fish is over 6!

 

If I were to continue to pull her up more, not worrying about the line I would have probably been able to land the fish.. The other issue is I am about 9-10 ft from shore bc Im casting into thin water so thats a lot of line to grab and hold onto.

 

As for the hook, Northstar makes excellent jigs and the hooks are super sharp.  

[J Francho]

You can flip it.  I'll show you sometime.  Lary Dahlberg calls it, "down and dirty" and does it to huge fish on light tackle all the time.  How do you think i landed this thing on 8# leader?

 

[will83]

Well show me then, how about Thursday; biggest fish gets a free dinner.

[J Francho]

Sure.  You have my number?  I-bay ramp by 6 PM.

[hooah212002]

Can you explain what you guys are talking about by "rolling" a fish????

[J Francho]

I'll have to try and make a video of it.  You basically figure-8 the fish a few times before raising it's head above water to lip it.

[will83]

Hmmm.. Not sure maybe not I don't think they updated the contact on fcs page.. Message me it please. Trying to do this on my phone right ot working well.