BaitMonkey1984 Posted September 8, 2015 Posted September 8, 2015 So like many of my northern anglers, this year has been extremely difficult for me. Numbers and quality of fish are down. I do not know if it is due to the harsh winter or the very dry summer, but the fish are simply not cooperating. Yesterday, got on the water early with my father. Hit up our favorite lake and on our second spot after bombing out a 6" BPS senko wacky rigged bait, I got bit as soon as the lure hit the water. Had a Medium Heavy 6'6 st croix spinning reel with 6 lb nanofil and it felt like a freight train hit my line. I use octopus hooks so really no need to set the hook but i reel set it anyhow. I tell my Father to grab the net. One minute later and I have barely moved the fish. It fought like no fish I have ever hooked. Have a 6lber and probably 40 5 lbers under my belt. This felt like a bucket of dead weight and every then so often, two twitches. He just hunkered down- I had never experienced this before. I had by then got him 5 feet away from the boat and then I make a crank of the reel thinking he is close enough to net- he fights back and runs under the boat- my line snaps and I get a fleeting glimpse of a whitish/yellowish belly on a monster fish. My buddy landed a 7lb 2 oz bass from this lake earlier this year and this thing fought harder/longer than his and looked bigger from the fleeting glance I got. Fished 1 hour more but heart wasn't in it. Sitting here at work today and still beating myself up about losing a toad. I think I am going to need to make a big TW order to get my head on back straight. 2 Quote
Preytorien Posted September 8, 2015 Posted September 8, 2015 That really bites man. I've been there and done that. Now you can wear that same T-shirt we all got for our trip to heartbreaksville and back. I agree though.....a TW order ALWAYS makes it better. You'll be back though, and you'll land her soon enough. Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted September 8, 2015 Super User Posted September 8, 2015 Bummer ~ I popped a Real Good One off myself Saturday Morning: NOTHING chaps me more than parted line. I'd be reviewing those events to learn exactly why it happened on the very bass you had hoped you'd hook. We all know there's an extensive list of "Reason" why it happens. Though we may never know for sure the exact reason or reasons, it always make me refocus myself in the attention to detail areas of my gear, terminal tackle and big fish fighting procedures. A-Jay Quote
Super User Dwight Hottle Posted September 8, 2015 Super User Posted September 8, 2015 I can feel your pain. Using 6lb nanofil for small fish might be ok but not my line of choice for a lunker. Quote
Josh Smith Posted September 8, 2015 Posted September 8, 2015 Keep telling yourself it was a spirited dink, or better yet, a carp. Josh 2 Quote
Super User *Hootie Posted September 8, 2015 Super User Posted September 8, 2015 If I lose what I know was a really big one, and don't see it, I console myself by telling myself that it was probably a catfish. Helps a little but not much. Hootie 1 Quote
Super User gardnerjigman Posted September 8, 2015 Super User Posted September 8, 2015 If I lose what I know was a really big one, and don't see it, I console myself by telling myself that it was probably a catfish. Helps a little but not much. Hootie X2... I always know I'm lying to myself though... considering no rolling head shakes and/or no slime on the line... Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted September 8, 2015 Global Moderator Posted September 8, 2015 Any muskie or pike where you were at? That's kind of what that fight sounds to me like. 1 Quote
Super User MIbassyaker Posted September 8, 2015 Super User Posted September 8, 2015 That does sound more like a big cat or Esox (Pike/musky genus), especially the hunkering down instead of acrobatics. I've had pike do a roll-over move and flash a big white belly at me as they snap the line. It's like the pike version of a middle finger. 1 Quote
BaitMonkey1984 Posted September 9, 2015 Author Posted September 9, 2015 Any muskie or pike where you were at? That's kind of what that fight sounds to me like. No, basically LMB, SMB, pickerel, white and yellow perch and very few, small horn pout. Def. did not fight like a pickerel. Quote
lo n slo Posted September 9, 2015 Posted September 9, 2015 We NEVER seem to forget the one that got away......... Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted September 9, 2015 Global Moderator Posted September 9, 2015 No, basically LMB, SMB, pickerel, white and yellow perch and very few, small horn pout. Def. did not fight like a pickerel. That's too bad. The way it let you drag it in and then shot away and broke your line sounded a lot like a move big pike and muskie seem to pull a lot when hooked on light tackle, almost like they don't even know they're hooked until they see the boat. Quote
bass_masster Posted September 28, 2015 Posted September 28, 2015 Upgrade to 10lb braid close to same diameter and worlds stronger. Quote
lecisnith Posted September 28, 2015 Posted September 28, 2015 I have lost four fish this year that I am certain were all between 5-6 pounds. Three smallmouth and one largemouth. Two came off and two broke off in laydowns because I was too feminine to tighten the drag. All would have been well over my personal best. I know how you feel. 1 Quote
Super User everythingthatswims Posted September 29, 2015 Super User Posted September 29, 2015 I had one eat a spook and wrap me up in a laydown before I could realize what was going on. She broke me off and proceeded to jump until she (Thankfully) threw the spook. 7lb fish easy. They all hurt. Same place that I had a fish of similar size come unbuttoned on a buzzbait about a month ago Quote
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