No bass, but I did catch this

[L a r r y]

Bank bashing this weekend, it was tough to get the bass to bite. So I walked back to a cove thinking I could pull something out of it. Well I did. I caught of a wiff of a smell I haven't smelled in years, and looked around, there was some catfish bait left behind by someone. So I figured what the heck, tie on a EWG #3 Gammy, and throw on some of the stanky stank and see what bites. So after soaking for about 5 minutes, I see the tip start to bounce. I reel in my other rod, set it down, pick up the other rod, set the hook, I feel WEIGHT....FISH ON!!!!! So this thing is pulling pretty good, strippin a little bit of line, I hear the drag squeal a little bit, I'm thinking this must be somethin pretty decent. We tug and pull for about 2 - 3 minutes maybe, then I get the first glimpse of its back That ain't no catfish!!! What is it?? A little more drag squeal, hold on now, you only have #12 test on this, don't horse it too much I want to get my hands on you, then I'll let you go. So then finally it lays over on its side, and I can get a good look. Well lookie here, mr good ole CARPY. I reach for my phone, snap a pic, run and grab my scale and she comes in at 11.13lbs. I should have taken measurements but I wanted to get it back in the water as fast as I could and let it go on to track along the bottom some more. I know the weight of it, but could anyone help me on measurements? Here are a couple pics I snapped before releasing it.

Ooohhhh and this was caught on my bass rig a 6'3" M Vendetta/AB Premier. If anyone has any doubts about the AB Vendetta, YOU SHOULDN'T. The rod had enough backbone to handle this thing and not even break a sweat (take it, it was only 58-60 degrees out ) But I was kind of taken back that this rod handled the bottom sucker very well IMHO And this rod I mainly use for my shallow running cranks. I'm even more impressed with these rods now

[Siebert Outdoors]

atleast it was something pullin on the line.

[paul.]

is that a carp or a buffalo?  looks more like a buffalo to me, but i sure ain't no expert on those species.  either way, nice fish and glad you got a good fight out of it.  as far as the measurements go, this is kinda doing it backward.  but for an 11 pound fish, at least based on bass measurements, you are probably looking at 25-26" long.  using the formula L X L X G / 1200 to arrive at the weight, you are probably looking at a girth of anywhere from 21 - 23".  so the measurements are probably pretty close to a 25" length and a 22" girth.  hope that helps.

[burleytog]

Looks like a buffalo.

[L a r r y]

I am no expert on buffalo nor carp, never seen one up close nor at the end of my line.  It was a pretty fun fight for whatever species of bottom dweller it is 

[basspimple]

as long as it has fins, who cares! does look a little pale to be a carp, but who knows.

[fishinfewl]

Too bad it wasn't a 11 lb bass.   :'(

[b.Lee]

I thought carp were a little more copper color?

Good catch though!

[avid]

Carp are a bronzed on the sides.  I had a similar experience one time.

It was early March.  Just after ice out on Long Island and I was crappy fishing with tiny maribou jigs.  A 24 lb carp sucked down my jig.  took me nearly 30 minutes to land it on 4lb line.  Quite the memorable day.

[Nine Miler]

is that a carp or a buffalo? looks more like a buffalo to me, but i sure ain't no expert on those species. either way, nice fish and glad you got a good fight out of it. as far as the measurements go, this is kinda doing it backward. but for an 11 pound fish, at least based on bass measurements, you are probably looking at 25-26" long. using the formula L X L X G / 1200 to arrive at the weight, you are probably looking at a girth of anywhere from 21 - 23". so the measurements are probably pretty close to a 25" length and a 22" girth. hope that helps.

I think you are right.

http://images.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&tbs=isch:1&q=smallmouth+buffalo&sa=N&start=0&ndsp=21

[L a r r y]

I did finally find out that this was a small mouth buffalo, when I made a trip to BPS and saw the species chart on the tank.  This was my first experience with a  Buffalo.  I've only heard the name, but have never saw up in person, nor at the end of my line.  It was a fun fight, and at least I didn't get skunked that day 

[Mrs. Matstone]

Congrats! ;D

[timothy_spain]

yeah, when the bite is slow, i settle for anything.  most of the time, i'll panfish just to feel the action on my rod again. 

[Beastie Bass]

YEP! Buffalo you got there! I catch these in the Ohio when jig fishing for bass! I've never heard the term small mouth buffalo, but maybe I've never caught a largemouth buffalo! ;D CONGRATS, they put up a great fight