Which bass that got away hurt the most?

[Jepu]

sorry that was so long, I copy and pasted a story that I typed for another forum over the summer.

[cart7t]

A DD I had on at Washington County Il. lake in the late 90's. Caught it very shallow in the late fall on a Rat L Trap. I was stupidly using line and a rod way too light (at least for that lake). The fish came up and swam along boat side, Jaws style. I could see only the back treble barely skin hooked. It swam right past the boat and then headed for deep water. Despite loosening the drag nearly all the way the line finally went limp. Hook must have finally pulled through. Tuff feeling.

[J Francho]

How hard would it be for manufacturers to build a stinkin' digital scale into their reels so we could accurately tell how big that one that got away was?

[fishermantony]

Jepu - Wow, great story!  I know that kid on Christmas feeling!  My wife has observed that on nights before trips I either don't sleep at all or am up well before the alarm.

[D.Cox]

2003 fish a Southern Open in Alabama, I was in 7 place as a non boater after the 2nd day. The final day fished with Mr. J and he was fishing a jig in deep water. About 10 he made a statement that he had run out of fish. He had 2, I had 1. I told him I knew where some good fish were, but we needed wind to catch them. He asked how far,  I said about 2 miles. We went to this spot, that my 2nd day partner had showed me, he did not make the final day and told me to fish it if my boater would. He had showed me where every stump way on 300 yards of back. Mr. J finished out his limit on a jig. I had 2 by this time. I switched to a jig and caught a 2 pound spot, we went down to the best spot and  I threw in on one side of a rock pile and him the other. We both go bite on the fall, both of us had spots on between 5-6 pound. Mine came straight to the top wallowed, then straight down to some brush and broke me off. I had 12 line on and it cost me. I fished 4 and won $1700 and missed out on a $32,000 boat by 1.5 pounds. Mr J. finished 2nd  and had big fish of the day a 5-9 spot.

I can still see the image of the spot wallowing in my mind 7 years later.

Dow

[Mr Jenkins]

My wife and I had fished a small lake here in wv called Woodrum in the late 90s a few times and had terrific success with fish ranging from 2-5 lbs and lots of em. So a couple weeks later I returned with her and  my Father and Mother. We were absoulutely tearing the fish up on 300series bandit crankbaits. The lake is full of standing timber and it seemed every time you could make ruff contact with it you caught a fish. So were rounding into the mouth of the lakes only fork and I cast across to the other side of the point, I make a few cranks to get it down beside of this huge brush pile , I see the flash of a huge fish. So like I have been doin all day I horse this thing to the side of my boat, well thats where I messed up, just as Im gettin ready to bend over and pick this thing up it surfaces,shakes and spits my crankbait and hooks my shirt. Now this is what really makes me mad. This fish lays there in front of me for a good 5 secs on its side Im just standing in aw. At this point in my life Ive landed a bunch of fish from 5-8 pounds and this sucker has to be 10maybe 11. Then straightens up noses down and swims away. I think thats the only time I had ever used foul language in front of my mom or dad. The trip ended there lol I ruined everyones day we packed up and drove back home.