When a Good Day Goes Bad

[Miabucman]

Headed out early Sunday morning for some alone time at our lake cabin.  Boat fired up on the first try and the lake was quiet.  All of the jet skiers, wake boat skiers/surfers and pontoon boat mafia were still asleep.  After getting to my area, I started working some laydowns with a buzzbait but no takers. I switched to my new (new to me) custom Rainshadow crankbait rod and the action heated up.

 

After releasing several decent LMB, I trolled over a bit closer to some riprap and BAM. After the hookset, I was confused.  There was weight on the end of the line but it didn't feel like a bass. Well, it turned out it was two! A LMB and a SMB.

 

 

I continued down the riprap and the catching continued.  The last bass of the day was a feisty one pounder and wanted to pay me back, I guess.  Not sure how it all went down but I was trying to release him and this pound of fury slipped out of my hand.  The trail hook buried itself into my knuckle and the bass was still on the lead hook and bouncing around like he had four cans of Red Bull. Here I am, pleading with this hellcat to stay still, trying to find my pliers, and trying to keep the boat out of the rocks. After a few minutes, I got the aquatic version of Mike Tyson off of the hook and released.

 

Then the pondering stage begins.  What the heck am I supposed to do?  I am in the middle of nowhere and it is still early.  Now the quiet is deafening.  Being a somewhat new property owner, my options were limited.  I call two of the guys that I know and voicemails. I begin thinking that waking the wife up might not be that bad of an option when my phone rings! The marina owner (and pro fisherman) asks what's up and I tell him the short version and ask for help. He told me to grab some braid line and meet him at the marina.

 

After making the long drive back to my place, docking the boat (I really need to fix the lift), and driving to the marina, the rest was easy.  Snipping the split ring was the biggest pain (no pun intended) but the actual removal went smoothly. Many thanks to good people.  Greg and his wife are awesome.  After bandaging up, I headed back to the house to clean up and enjoy the sunshine and a cold brew at noon. 

 

BTW, I am now known as Captain Hook to my wife and kids. 

 

 

[huZZah]

53 minutes ago, Miabucman said:

BTW, I am now known as Captain Hook to my wife and kids. 

Best part of the whole story ?

Glad you’re ok. That’s amazing with the two fish lol. 

[Bird]

Entertaining read and glad your ok.

[PhishLI]

6 hours ago, Miabucman said:

The trail hook buried itself into my knuckle and the bass was still on the lead hook

Pick up a few different sizes of plastic fish grippers and never look back. Just about every time I'm too lazy to use them when fishing trebles I kick myself. Even if I don't get a hook in me, it's often a close one.

[islandbass]

Sorry you had to go through that. I have been straddling the fence on going full barbless for such cases. The line method does worked. I performed it on someone, but I don’t know how you can do this solo. 
 

You may want to consider having them change your name to captain treble, lol. I think I’d sounds better. ??

[Miabucman]

3 hours ago, PhishLI said:

Pick up a few different sizes of plastic fish grippers and never look back. Just about every time I'm too lazy to use them when fishing trebles I kick myself. Even if I don't get a hook in me, it's often a close one.

Thanks. Just put two in my cart now. I have been fishing mostly plastics and spinners the last couple of years and wanted to branch out and focus on other techniques. The Rainshadow rod is just a pleasure to use. 
 

Just need to make it through the work week and be back at em Sat morning. 

[Bankbeater]

Glad you're ok.  That looked awful close to the finger joint.