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

[SimonSays]

Ahh that sucks! You'll get em next time....did your line fray or something?

[JCrzy4Bass]

I don't think it frayed but there were a few casts where I pulled it from some sticks and one hangup but I kept checking the knot.  More than likely just not enough tag end and too much slippage.  Only explanation I can come up with.  Should have spent the extra 15 bucks and got me High Performance... that stuff never lets me down.  But I'm not gonna second guess myself.  Like I said, I pretty much blanked out everything around me when that fish was on and immediately started thinking of everything I have learned about playing a bass and put it to work.  It just wasn't meant to be.

Thanks for the additional comments fellas.  I'm saving this thread.  You guys really have a way of relating and making a guy feel alot better about situations like this and help us manage to fins the best in them.  I'm lucky to be part of such a great forum and such an awesome part of not only fishermen, but friends.

[A.Do?]

That sucks No worries, you know where she lives so just get back out there and just remember to bring a net!

I had a similar experience with a big bass, nothing close to double digits but definitely would have been my new PV, but it hurt just as bad. Buddy of mine, who'd never caught a bass over 2lbs, went to lip the bass and grabs my 6lb test line to hoist her up > this caused her to jump up and wrap a pipe next to us and snap the line :'( I was mad but at the same time happy as hell I got to fight it. My hands shook for a good hour after this from the excitement and I was grinning from ear to ear. I totally agree with hawg caller about it being better to hook into a monster and losing it than to have never hooking into one at all.

Use this as motivation! That's what I do. I guess you're no longer the captain of the dink ship?

[Big-O]

Hey Crzy, your story is perfection. The stories told about the one that got away are much more impressive, memorable, fun to tell and fun to hear than the one that we caught. When we catch THE fish, the adventure is over because our story goes like this, Man I caught a giant, LOOK! And only the picture is remembered. Then the next time you get back to your favorite fishing hole you wonder "maybe I caught the biggest fish in this lake and what do I have to look forward to" or "I'll never catch another fish like that" so the excitement is fading away..........................

Don't ever let this happen, Stay on the quest. Be happy that you got a chance at a true giant and have a real chance at that true giant again! This story and adventure has only just begun. Will you catch catch that giant or another one like her, YES. But don't get in a hurry or obsessed with the challenge, relax and fish..... It'll happen.    

Big O

[tyrius.]

Should have spent the extra 15 bucks and got me High Performance... that stuff never lets me down.

One thing to remember with braid is that it has issues with "shock"  strength.  With only a few feet of line out the fish's shakes are felt much more strongly.  It is possible that the fish was able to shake back and forth with enough force to exceed the shock strength of the braided line.  Mono with its stretch provides a little more room for error, but when the fish is right there even it probably won't have enough stretch to act as a shock absorber versus the fish's head shake.

The net issue brings up a scenario from a Lake MI fishing trip that I went on Sunday morning.  We caught a HUGE brown trout and right when we got it to the boat and as the guide was getting ready to net it the fish threw the hook.  The guide was still able to net the fish and it turned out to be a 16 lb brownie!  Scary how close we came to losing it though.

The story makes me jealous though as my PB is probably only around 4lbs.   :-[

[Pigsticker]

Should have spent the extra 15 bucks and got me High Performance... that stuff never lets me down.

Naw that isnt the problem you could have just gotten heavier Spiderwire I have 65lb power pro on one of my spinning rods just for that same reason.

You could go back there with lighter line and a beetle spin though and try to finesse that fish

It's rough but you still got a lot of fishing left in ya ;D

[Mepps]

Should have spent the extra 15 bucks and got me High Performance... that stuff never lets me down.

Naw that isnt the problem you could have just gotten heavier Spiderwire I have 65lb power pro on one of my spinning rods just for that same reason.

You could go back there with lighter line and a Mepps#4 though and try to finesse that fish

It's rough but you still got a lot of fishing left in ya ;D

cough...cough...Hahah, jk. Ya never know though!

[A.Do?]

Should have spent the extra 15 bucks and got me High Performance... that stuff never lets me down.

Naw that isnt the problem you could have just gotten heavier Spiderwire I have 65lb power pro on one of my spinning rods just for that same reason.

You could go back there with lighter line and a Mepps#4 though and try to finesse that fish

It's rough but you still got a lot of fishing left in ya ;D

cough...cough...Hahah, jk. Ya never know though!

[christopherjake]

Great story.  Sorry for your loss.   :'(

[deepsessions]

I love reading fish stories like that! why? because it's happened to me! LOL I had a monster hit me at my feet and break off brand new 25lb Izorline. I remember like it was yesterday and ended up sitting on that spot for about four weekends in a row for 40+ hours! I did end up getting a nice fish on that spot but it wasn't her.

The spot you speak of sounds like a great spot to deadstick a floating swimbait,big jig,or anything else that imparts action while sitting still. The more you cast to that spot the more you will educate her peel some line off and stay out of site. Also think exactly what time of day she hit,moon phase,when exactly on the outgoing tide did she hit,how big was the tide..etc.. it's good to take notes

good luck!

[MattStrykul]

Yeah, the state record is 16lbs.....But isn't the tidal record 11-09?

So you had the tidal record bass on the line.Craaazy

[Pigsticker]

man You had the  TIDAL RECORD on your line!!!!! Thats gotta be worth a couple thousand dollars in sponsorship money :o

I couldnt take that sitting down or even with a priest

[AnglerNFuego]

Excellent story Jay!  Well, at least you got some experience fighting that beast.  Keep on truckn'!  

[SPEEDBEAD.]

That was an awesome story man....but you know what sticks out in my mind the most? LOL

Rondef is your dad? I had no idea.....Now that ya mention it there are some striking resemblances...

Did anyone else know this?  LOL   ;D

[The Rooster]

I read this and picked up on two distinct differences.  Your dad said the line snapped well above the knot, but you say you think it might not have had enough tag end.......implying that the knot came untied (that's how I took it anyway).  Have you guys figured out which one it was for sure??  

I'd definitely want to know before going back in again.  If it's knot failure you can work on it, and if it's line breakage, the only thing I see you could have done is checked the line several feet up after every cast.  

Of course I ain't in no position to be giving any advice on something this big.  My PB is probably only 15 inches or maybe a little over, from a pond.  Largest one I've ever used a tape to measure and KNOW was 15 inches is in my avatar.   :  

But I was just curious cause that seems like a pretty important detail in knowing what happened.  Good luck next time, and like leftcoast said, the more you throw to that spot, the more education that bass is gonna gain.  Stuff to think about anyway.