Don't understand this feeling... losing a double digit... :(

[JCrzy4Bass]

I'm between heartbreak and... something else.  I can't describe how it feels.  I almost cried this morning when this happend I was so upset.  I was beside myself for hours thinking of all the "what if" scenarios in playing the fish.

For starters let's begin with the bait, the line, the rod, and style of the fight.

I was using my Bass Pro Shops MH Graphite IMG Series Rod lined with 30lb Spiderwire Braid on a Abu Garcia Cardinal Reel (matched for 20 -40lb line).  I had my drag set perfectly as I checked it this morning two times before I put the bait out.

I was on a local river doing some shore fishing.  I had NO IDEA that a chance at this size of a fish existed here as I have NEVER heard of ANYONE hooking into something this large and the average fish here is about a lb and a half to two lbs with an occassional four mixed in.

I was standing casting parallel to the shore.  There was a lot of submerged hydrilla and it was an outgoing tide so there wasn't much room to run any bait over top other than topwater and or spinnerbaits (burning).  So I tied on my go to spinnerbait (a Terminator 1/4oz with a white/gray skirt w/ red specs, dual colorado blade).  

There was the definition of a "perfect" lay down in front of me.  It started at the shore and is a tree that had fallen a long time ago as I've seen this spot for years.  It went out about 30-35 feet from shore and stopped at about a water depth of 6-7 feet (at this time during the outgoing tide).  I made two very accurate casts and on one of them had a fish short strike my lure.  Well I made about 5-7 more presentations hitting every spot on the lay down.  Sometimes burning my bait others letting it sink.  On the ninth cast or so I let my bait drop about half way down the laydown for 3 - 4 seconds and reeled two times.  That's when she struck...

I had a SOLID hookset.  Perfect, couldn't have done any better on it.  She's SOLIDLY hooked.  Fought for about 30-35 seconds.  The ENTIRE time my drag on my reel is screaming and she's pulling me back and forth, back and forth.  She darts down two times at the end, gives a few head shakes and surfaces...

My dad is on his knees at the shoreline going to lip the bass and yells "Jay, it's MASSIVE", "it's your new PB"!!!  I see the bass' mouth gap open wide as he begins one last final head shake.  My dads fist was practically engulfed in his mouth and had room for at least another half of a fist!  I was holding my rod tip up firm and high keeping pressure as he went for the lip.  Just as my dad started to cup his fingers around the bass' mouth... my bait slips off my line and goes down with the bass into the abyss.  

I have seen 3 lb bass, I have seen 4 lb bass, I have seen 7lb bass in person... this bass topped them all BY FAR.  It was VERY long and it's mouth was insanely huge... I know it's just a fish story now... but myself and most importantly my father were both there to witness it all enfold.  

I had no clue bass could get that big around here, especially in this part of the river.  The one explanation I can come up with is that this spot sits across from a marina and the channel swings right next to the shore as the river bends out to the left.  Access to deeper water is RIGHT there.  I know bass are territorial and I'm sure that one will be at least "close by" in the near future.  

The question is do you think it will eventually throw the bait, and or hit a similar bait again?  Fish this big aren't dumb, they've seen alot and are conditioned (at least from what I've read).  I doubt I have a chance to get her again... but man... my arms were sore and she was a beauty... It's a morning I will surely, never, ever forget.  This is a fish story that will be told for generations.

Thanks for reading guys... sorry I couldn't provide the picture... just a memory.  Hope you guys enjoyed the story and could get a good mental image of the happenings.

[rondef]

Jay,

This is an experience that I will remember for the rest of my life, and a story I will pass down to my grandchildren. This is a thrill I may never experience again, who knows. To see the sheer joy on your face when you hooked into the biggest bass I have ever seen. This was bigger than the ones I saw up close in the Baltimore, MD and Foxboro, MA Bass Pro Shop tanks. This bass had to be an easy 12lbs+, the mouth was big enough to insert a small bowling ball in it. She was beautiful!!! Then my worst fear happened right as I was getting ready to lip her I watched her make one last effort to break free when she saw my hand reaching for her and then I heard the snap, I wanted to cry. This bass made my PB look like it was a dink!! This was a much better thrill and I thank the lord that I was there to share this thrill with you.

I know there will be those that may not believe this story but it is true, I was there and shared this memory with you.

Great job Jay!!!

[Mepps]

J, so sorry to hear about that bro. Makes me upset just thinking about it. > Sounds like that thing was a real monster. You'll just have to go and find her again. She'll take something else I'm sure.

[senko_77]

What a bummer man.  Sorry to hear she got off.  Stay sharp though....the next time she hits is when you will be least expecting it.  You'll get her next time.

[32251]

When you say your bait "slipped off", did the line break at the knot, or did the knot fail and come undone?

If there was enough lure weight there, the bass is going to shake his head and the flesh around the hook will wallow out a hole. The hook can come out pretty easily with any slack.

Sounded like a good fight anyway. You now know that there is some serious bass potential there and that will give you some added incentive.

[rondef]

The bass was hooked solid, I saw the hook of the spinnerbait protruding just above the top lip. The line snapped above the knot, I saw and heard it break since my face was only inches away from the fish when it happened. The knot did not fail, the bass somehow got enough momentum to actually break the braid. It must have had just enough slack line when it surfaced to get that momentum. My only regret is not having a net with us today so Jason could have landed her.

[fisher of bass]

great story, sorry to hear you lost her though, looks like i know what doing this summer, sounds like you are on a mission.  ps would that have been a state record??

[Mepps]

Ron, why didnt you jump in after her?  ;D

Sorry, just trying to make some light of the otherwise sad story!

[rondef]

Trust me the thought crossed my mind since I have done that once in the past.  I don't think I could have been fast enough to catch her as she took off real fast when the line snapped.  

FYI: I had to jump in a lake after my PB when the line snapped at the shore.   This seems to be a bad family tradition that we need to stop from happening again.

[JCrzy4Bass]

Fisher, state record is 16lbs 4ozs or so out of Connor Lake back in 85' I think. I don't think it was nearly that big. Like my dad said 12+, probably honestly between 11-13 in my opinion just based off pictures after looking through this site, seeing large fish before at Bass Pro, seeing some friends and or people at lakes we have been at caught, so forth. I honestly believe that this bass was that large. State record, no. Double digit, more than likely. Big fish... you betcha. And oh yea... this summer... this spot is going to become my home. I am aiming at catching her again. I will cover every spot of that area for hours on end. I'm on a mission.

Mepps, I would have jumped in but I had to be at work in less than 2 hours, would not have time to change.  I can't miss time now, we are in the heat of summer and fall registration at our community college (nova) and I have thousands of students coming in a week to take placement exams.  I HAVE to be here.  Especially since we are already short staffed.  If I was off, I would have been in the drink.  GUARANTEED!!!  

[fishfordollars]

Sorry you did not catch her. Episodes like this makes the fires burn hotter. You are hooked for life and the story will be told over and over.

[paul.]

i know this will sound pretty hollow right now, but i guess it's better to have fought a monster and lost then never to have fought one at all.  truth be told, even having a fish of this caliber on is something many, many great anglers will never experience.  losing 'em sometimes is all part of the game man.  it happens to all of us.  like any other sport there is the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.  as you see, sometimes these extremes can come within seconds of one another.  my advice is USE THIS!!!!  let it light the fire in ya and motivate you like never before.  before this experience, you probably never thought a fish like this was within reach.  now you know she is, or another one like her.    time, intelligence, desire, and technology are all on your side.  at least you got to share this moment with your dad.  that's worth a lot right there.  sounds like y'all did everything you could.  the only thing i'd throw out there in terms of a suggestion is to consider bringing a net next time.  i know it's inconvenient for bank fishin', but sometimes it can make all the difference in the world.  sorry for your pain buddy.  

[JCrzy4Bass]

Hawg, thanks for the comment man, that definately actually puts some things into perspective for me.  It's been eating away at me all day and that right there, what you wrote gives me some hope and confidence to get back out there.

The first thing my dad said is "I wish I wouldn't have left the net in the boat".  So true... Lol.

[daviscw]

That's why they call it "fishin" and not "catchin" Jcrzy!  ;D Keep at it. Anyone who hasn't had an experience like that is probably lying. To hear the way the guys that catch huuuge fish out in Cali talk, landing it is just half the fight. Anyway, keep your head up even though that feeling in your stomach sucks!

[JShrock07]

Dang J, That freaking sucks dude!

What body of water were you fishing??

How has fishing been for ya'll other then this last story?

I've been out alot lately and I have been having a terrible time getting a bass in the boat.!!!

Have you ever fished the Arkendale Flats? I went out there the other day trying to do something different but I couldn't catch anything out their!!!

[JCrzy4Bass]

Hey Nitro, other than that it's been good man. My dad and I found a new spot on Saturday that seems to produce some nice fish. Give me a shout over pm and I'll let you know. Gonna need a smaller non motored boat to get to it though bud. Check my blog... it has the outings report of how we cleaned up. Also has the story of this post as well.

http://another sitereport.blogspot.com/

Thanks to everyone for the kind words over my post today. It put a lot of stuff into perspective for me and helped me get through the day. It was easy when we were busy at work earlier today. But now that it is dead and it's getting close to closing time I can't help but think of it. But I just keep rereading some of your posts and they make me feel much better.

It hurts though... I'm not gonna lie. It's like heartbreak and a gut wrenching, stomach dropping feeling all at once.

[VekolBass]

Fisher, state record is 16lbs 4ozs or so out of Connor Lake back in 85' I think. I don't think it was nearly that big. Like my dad said 12+, probably honestly between 11-13 in my opinion just based off pictures after looking through this site, seeing large fish before at Bass Pro, seeing some friends and or people at lakes we have been at caught, so forth. I honestly believe that this bass was that large. State record, no. Double digit, more than likely. Big fish... you betcha. And oh yea... this summer... this spot is going to become my home. I am aiming at catching her again. I will cover every spot of that area for hours on end. I'm on a mission.

Mepps, I would have jumped in but I had to be at work in less than 2 hours, would not have time to change. I can't miss time now, we are in the heat of summer and fall registration at our community college (nova) and I have thousands of students coming in a week to take placement exams. I HAVE to be here. Especially since we are already short staffed. If I was off, I would have been in the drink. GUARANTEED!!!

JR,  Don't get too depressed. You got all the sport out of the fish--the only thing you really missed out on was the getting a pic to impress the rest of us. But I think we're all impressed anyhow, so the picture in your mind of that fish is what really matters.

The line probably got damaged during or prior to the fight from a sharp rock, barnacle, or some underwater junk. I've lost a couple of big catfish just before pulling them out of the water the same way.

I talked to a guy on Sunday who said he caught an 8 1/2 lb fish. Last winter someone pulled out an 11+ lb fish--so they seem to be getting larger. It's all a numbers game, and with the time you and your dad put in on the water I think you've got a real good chance of catching another monster.

[btcprince]

it sucks to lose a big fish, and it sucks to see someone lose what you know would be their PB. i have seen my dad lose 2 fish that would have easily been his PB. one around 8 and one maybe 12 that pulled the canoe pretty good, and if we would have had a net, i might have been able to get her. i can only guess the size based on my PB, but i think the estimates are good, and i hated to see him miss them.

is your line good and fresh? you think it might get brittle if its old? whatever the cause was, i feel for ya

[JCrzy4Bass]

BTC,

I relined my rod two days ago. Lol. How convenient right?!?!?!? Haha. New 30lb braid from Spiderwire as I don't have enough money to be buying High Performance Suffix with a baby on the way due in September.

At least you got to be with you dad when he hooked into those fish, just like my situation. It's a joint memory... that's definately the main thing that makes me smile about the whole episode. That and all of your comments.

Thanks Vekol. You definately said it right... it's about the memory. And I think as days go by I'm gonna realize that more and more.

[Dan:]

That SUCKS Jason! I would have loved to see a picture of that. I hope you can catch her later on. At least you know she's there, now you just need to fool her again.

PS, If the offer still stands, I'd really like to get out on the boat with you and Ron sometime this summer.  ;D

[skillet]

Would like to echo what hawg caller said. What a rush hooking, fighting AND seeing her. Great tales and memories are made of this stuff. Would also like to say keep trying, I caught and landed a 7lb 14oz PB let her go and then caught her a week later (had gained an oz, 7lb 15oz) on same bait not 20 yds from where I caught her the first time. Know without a doubt it was same fish ...

                             As Ever,

                              skillet

[fishinfiend]

I am so sorry to hear that, but don't let this bother you too much. I lost a real nice one today that got wrapped up and all I could see is his side flash in the water. I remeber your post recently about catching dinks. Look how far you have come in that short period. Obviosly, you are doing something right.

 I know it sucks right now but the best you can do is learn from this experience and bust your dad's balls every chance you get. The big one will come. Keep up the good work and do not let this discourage you.

[roadwarrior]

;D ;D ;D  

Great post! You and dad got it goin'...

8-)

[Grey Wolf]

Now that's a great fish story!!!!!!!!!!!  Sorry she beat you.

[ba7ss3in]

Don't have the words but great story.