Interesting Night Surprise

[Montanaro]

So I went to my small local lake tonight (just got back!) to see what I could do there at night.  It was a warm day and evening so I was confident fish would be stirring.  Saw a couple jump, but couldn't get any hits.  I wasn't having any luck with multiple set ups.  I was walking back to my truck while fishing with a pop'n image over grassy riprap, when near the shore before pulling it back in, I got shwacked!

 

I wasn't even prepared for it, but whatever had a hold of my lure was trying to get to deeper water, and like mad.  I was for sure I had got a hold of a medium sized muskie as the largemouth in that lake don't fight like this!  I half heartedly lift this fish out of the water hoping the muskie would pop off and save me the hassle.

 

Well, turns out it was a bass...not just any bass, a large smallie (there was no indication that smallies were in there!).  I panic a bit and she still has a lot of fight in her and is thrashing in the air with two sets of trebles in her mouth.  Well she pops off and lands on the ground and I put both hands on her (really sloppy and I'm ashamed of such a landing).

 

My estimate (which are fairly accurate) is that she was a 4 pounder and about 20 inch.  Unfortunately, my camera phone freaked out from the bass mucus and water, and it wouldn't let me take a picture.  While admiring her, I noticed that from her anus, protruded a swivel!  Just above that was a small cut (may have been from rip rap).  I've never seen such a thing before.

 

So I ended my night on that catch!

[K_Mac]

A topwater fish at night, esp a good size fish, is as exciting as it gets in bass fishing. A 4 lb fish on top feels and sounds like a monster. Well done.

[Preytorien]

Sounds like fun! Hope your removal of the swivel did her some good!

[MarkH024]

pics or didn't happen.  j/k congrats on a nice fish! Good stuff!

[Montanaro]

i left swivel in. didnt want to risk hurting her. ill let nature take its course