Super User Darren. Posted March 10, 2014 Super User Posted March 10, 2014 Hit Newport News Park (Lee Hall Reservoir) today for a very short jaunt. I liked the weather conditions so wanted to hit a couple spots close to the boat launch that produced for me. I also wanted to try a Cotton Cordell red spot lipless crank. I haven't caught anything on a lipless in a couple years, so why not. Threw it on a 6' M rod paired with my Daiwa Lexa. On one cast my Lexa went wonky, got grindy in the gears, but still reeled, so I kept casting. On the second cast I hit was seemed a log, but then it moved. And kept moving, pulling my and my kayak, stripping line for about 75 yards before I saw a white body boil up. Until this time I thought I foul hooked a nice largie, but now I thought I might have a huge catfish. I never once thought it could be a striper, they don't stock them here. Anyhow, it finally revealed itself at an estimated 100 yards from where we started. It didn't even fit in my net. Weighed an even 14lbs on my spring scale. The digital scale got wet and wouldn't work. 6 Quote
Super User 00 mod Posted March 10, 2014 Super User Posted March 10, 2014 That is a dandy! Bet it was fun! Congrats! Jeff Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted March 10, 2014 Super User Posted March 10, 2014 Congrats ~ Nice Striper . . . . . A-Jay 1 Quote
Super User Darren. Posted March 11, 2014 Author Super User Posted March 11, 2014 That is a dandy! Bet it was fun! Congrats! Jeff It was, for sure. Quote
Super User Darren. Posted March 11, 2014 Author Super User Posted March 11, 2014 Hey! Are those braided line cutters? The red pliers? They do have braid snips on them, work OK. They are Bass Pro version, got them at the classic 2 or 3 years back for $19. They are $29 (I think) at this year's classic. For braid I mainly use Boomerang snips. Quote
MacP Posted March 11, 2014 Posted March 11, 2014 Nice one. I foul hooked a 28" stripe last year in my Hobie. It turned me around fully 3 times before I landed it. I never saw it until it was near the kayak. I thought I had a HUGE brown trout. NOPE. There was a couple fishing from a canoe about 20 yards from me they thought I was hilarious cussin' up a storm about the dang stripe I caught. I thought for sure it was a trout! What made me even more mad was I dropped a rod in the water right after that fish. Had to go swimmin' in the tailwater. COLD! 1 Quote
Super User SirSnookalot Posted March 11, 2014 Super User Posted March 11, 2014 Nice fish on light tackle.....................what's with the reel? Quote
Super User tomustang Posted March 11, 2014 Super User Posted March 11, 2014 Sounds like it was fun, and expensive! Quote
Super User Jigfishn10 Posted March 11, 2014 Super User Posted March 11, 2014 A beauty for sure! I fish for them on the ME coast during the summer on freshwater bass tackle, quite the thrill for sure on light tackle. 1 Quote
Super User Darren. Posted March 11, 2014 Author Super User Posted March 11, 2014 Nice fish on light tackle.....................what's with the reel? I've actually had this problem a couple of times with my Lexa baitcaster. I press the spool release, keep my thumb on the spool (like I always do as I wind up for a cast), and cast. Immediately the spool release engages and my cast stops in a few feet. It has mainly been irritating (never happens on my other baitcasters).... So yesterday, I wind up and cast the mid-size rattletrap and bang, it kicks in. Next thing the gears are grinding. So I just cast it out one or two more times and suddenly the battle is on. The reel brought in the beast after a long battle, but is still grindy. And FWIW, I use 20lb yellow PP, and belief I had a 10 pound leader on the setup yesterday. 1 Quote
Super User Darren. Posted March 11, 2014 Author Super User Posted March 11, 2014 Sounds like it was fun, and expensive! I sure hope it isn't expensive. I will need to send in the reel to DVT or a local shop one of these days.... Quote
Super User SirSnookalot Posted March 11, 2014 Super User Posted March 11, 2014 I thought it was a spinner Quote
Super User buzzed bait Posted March 11, 2014 Super User Posted March 11, 2014 sleigh ride!! that's fun..... Quote
Super User Dwight Hottle Posted March 11, 2014 Super User Posted March 11, 2014 Nice one Darren. Looks like you are going to need a bigger bump board. 1 Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted March 11, 2014 Super User Posted March 11, 2014 What a surprise, eh? 1 Quote
Super User Darren. Posted March 12, 2014 Author Super User Posted March 12, 2014 Thought I'd give an update. I spoke with a Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VGDIF) biologist today about the catch. He was quite surprised but surmised that it might have passed through as a fingerling at some point from another reservoir, although he admitted it was speculation. He would loved it if I had kept it so he could determine its age via ear bones (like tree rings). So I'll have to go after it again, LOL. Tried today, nothing but one hit on a blue-bird sky day. Anyhow, I was pretty stoked at all the info he gave me, including this little tidbit for you folks who fish Harwood's Mill and Waller Mill reservoirs. In a few years, get ready for some walleye! Quote
Super User Darren. Posted March 12, 2014 Author Super User Posted March 12, 2014 Nice one Darren. Looks like you are going to need a bigger bump board. Thanks Dwight. Yeah, pretty crazy, eh? I never thought I'd catch a fish longer than my bump board. We've estimated the length at 32" to 32 1/4". I'm still in a happy fog after that exceedingly unexpected catch. Quote
Super User Darren. Posted March 12, 2014 Author Super User Posted March 12, 2014 What a surprise, eh? A surprise x10, I'd say. Spoke with fisheries biologist today, a park ranger, both were very shocked, but very stoked. Sent in pictures, getting some printed to post at the reservoir. Quote
powerduster Posted March 12, 2014 Posted March 12, 2014 14lb is a nice first striper. it can be difficult getting past that 7-9lb mark as is. Great catch Quote
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