Big time mistake..........stupid stupid stupid

[Davis]

Title says it all. Temps were back up in the high 70s here in Western NY. So I got home from work and starting sifting through my tackle to choose what I was going to take to my favorite spot. Decided to fish a GYCB Hula Double Tail Grub in a watermeleon red for the first time ever. Teamed it up with a 1/4 BPS XPS football weedless jighead. I was going to be targeting some rocky structure that was deep so I thought this would work well. But the eye is tucked into the jighead so I wasn't sure if I would be able to tie my Palomar knot in there. So I went with an improved clinch knot (never tied it before).

Moving ahead to the fishing spot.......third cast......bouncing it off the bottom in small spurts.....about 14 foot down.....something just nailed it. There are some big brown trout in there but I'm assuming that there not going to hit that bass setup (who knows though). Thing was just bending my ST. Croix Avid like crazy. Started to come to the top and I was prepared for a jump.......but instead I never saw him. Instead of jumping the sucker took a monster lunge back out towards the middle of the lake. The drag screamed for a bit and I made the mistake of horsing him in while the drag was screaming. Well the next thing I know........I felt nothing and reeled up nothing but line. The darn knot gave. Talk about doing something so totally stupid. Tying a knot that I have never tied before. Having almost crap for luck in this fishing spot I thought I may get some dinks. But instead I lost what definately would have been a personal best and he is swimming around with a jig in his mouth. No questions asked he was huge. Never felt a bass that big on my line before. Never saw him so I don't even want to guess on how big he is. Still beating myself up over it. The sad thing is I tried to tie a Palomar knot with a new football jighead after that lost fish and it worked just fine. Caught two more dinks all the while that monster fish that got away was still in my mind. All because I was lazy and stupid. > :'(

The only positive is that I found that I got a nice fish on the first time using a football jighead. So confidence was built there on another bait. But confidence lost in my ability to tie a improved clinch.

But man.......a PB Largemouth lost because of me....not my setup.

So people!!!! Never go out fishing with a knot tied on that you have never tied before. Always go with what works.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

or practice the other knots before hand

It's not a total failure though, at least you learned something from the experience.  

[Davis]

or practice the other knots before hand

It's not a total failure though, at least you learned something from the experience.

I have such confidence in the Palomar though. First breakoff of the year. Never had trouble with breakoffs in my life. That's why I said it was just stupid and lazy because I never even tried to tie the Palomar on......until after I lost that fish.

;D That's all I can do is laugh. ;D THAT FISH WAS HUGE!!!! I'm going to be sick lol.

Hopefully I can get him to bite again.

[32251]

You know he is there. Wait a few and go back and try again.  

[slomoe]

sorry bout the loss Davis, I lost a PB this year too and it has been haunting me. The best cure I guess is to not give up and catch one of equal size. ;D

......then I'll be able to sleep......

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

or practice the other knots before hand

It's not a total failure though, at least you learned something from the experience.  

I have such confidence in the Palomar though. First breakoff of the year. Never had trouble with breakoffs in my life. That's why I said it was just stupid and lazy because I never even tried to tie the Palomar on......until after I lost that fish.

;D That's all I can do is laugh.  ;D  THAT FISH WAS HUGE!!!! I'm going to be sick lol.

Hopefully I can get him to bite again.

I hear ya.  Last year, if I didn't dump 8-10 fish over 5 lbs, I didn't dump one.  It was just my year to be "that guy"

Reading where RW constantly tell folks to re-tie and to inspect your line ....all that stuff has been pounded in to me from reading it all the time.  Knots were good, line had integrity, sometimes crap happens.  Of course a few were my own fault, letting them run so I could get the camera rolling, etc, I deserve to lose those but at least 1/2 of them,....No excuse.  

[Davis]

You know he is there. Wait a few and go back and try again.

Yeah but I doubt he is going to be hitting anything anytime soon with that setup in his jaw.

IMO unless I get lucky I doubt I will be able to find that sucker again.

[Davis]

sorry bout the loss Davis, I lost a PB this year too and it has been haunting me. The best cure I guess is to not give up and catch one of equal size. ;D

......then I'll be able to sleep......

Been thinking about it all last night and all this morning. I even had a quick dream about it.

We don't get that many HUGE bass up here in NY. I know without a doubt this guy was a big 'un.

Not too many times I'm going to get a fish like that on.......and I screw it up.  

Life goes on. At least my wife and kid still love me ha ha ha.  ;D

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Keeps you hungry man...

[roadwarrior]

Knots:

"If it ain't perfect, it ain't good enough"

[surfer]

You know he is there. Wait a few and go back and try again.

Yeah but I doubt he is going to be hitting anything anytime soon with that setup in his jaw.

IMO unless I get lucky I doubt I will be able to find that sucker again.

Lets look at it another way.  With the jig in his jaw he now has problems eating his regular lively forage and will start loosing weight. He will get hungrier than normal and have to eat what he is presented with.   If this spot is his normal range where he hangs out he will make mistakes this time not you.

Maybe just a daydream, but I like it.

[jaystraw]

and the jig may just fall out.  

I was fishing with senkos earlier in the summer and I had a nice smallmouth on.  My knot gave and I was kicking myself the next 30 min even while catching fish.

Then, my buddy pulls up a smallmouth with my senko and hook still in his mouth even while going for my friends exact same setup.

So, it's possible!

[Davis]

Knots:

"If it ain't perfect, it ain't good enough"

Yep.....why the heck I decided to use a knot that I have never tied before?

Only the Good Lord knows..........

From now on I'm sticking with my Palomar Knot. Never had a breakoff with that knot yet.

[Davis]

Question:

I want to learn from this experience as much as possible. Never have I had a fish pull drag like that before. Not even a smallie. Usually I can horse them in with no problem. But this guy had it screaming away from me. Did I make a mistake in reeling in while he was taking out drag away from me? Should I just let him run? The knot was going to break anyway I'm assuming but can I further the risk of breaking off (never have on my palomar tie) with horsing him in while he is taking drag?

[Panamoka_Bassin]

Question:

I want to learn from this experience as much as possible. Never have I had a fish pull drag like that before. Not even a smallie. Usually I can horse them in with no problem. But this guy had it screaming away from me. Did I make a mistake in reeling in while he was taking out drag away from me? Should I just let him run? The knot was going to break anyway I'm assuming but can I further the risk of breaking off (never have on my palomar tie) with horsing him in while he is taking drag?

Generally speaking, I never "horse" a fish that's taking line.  Chances are you'll tear a larger hole in his mouth and its that much easier for the fish to spit the hook.  Keep the rod tip up, tighten your drag, and wait for him to tire out a bit.  Get's 'em in the boat every time...well, usually...

[Del from philly]

Question:

I want to learn from this experience as much as possible. Never have I had a fish pull drag like that before. Not even a smallie. Usually I can horse them in with no problem. But this guy had it screaming away from me. Did I make a mistake in reeling in while he was taking out drag away from me? Should I just let him run? The knot was going to break anyway I'm assuming but can I further the risk of breaking off (never have on my palomar tie) with horsing him in while he is taking drag?

i feel your pain......iv lost a smallie that felt over 3 or 4 lbs about 3 days this week!!! IT IS THE WORST!!

My problem is the big ones know how to hide under brush and get stuck on logs and rocks....i actually got a 2lber in 2 days ago while he was still tangled onto a big 4 ft log......i just got it all out of the water

to answer your question: (and you shouldnt listen to me because i miss more fish than anyone)

I never use drag unless im fighting a sailfish in salt water (never have).....

i have my drag very tight, but these smallies have been pulling it out anyway....i just keep reeling in as tough as i can....i think that will work nine times out of ten

i have a very light setup and some of these smallies are really pushing the boundries of my set up,......my rod goes into a circle when i hook one over 2 lbs,.....

as for knots, i use a double clench every time and it does fine, im curiouse aotu that knot you said, you think its better than a double clinch

[rondef]

Sorry to hear about your bad luck, it happens to all of us at some point in time.  So long as you learned something from the experience it was not a total loss.

[roadwarrior]

Set your drag properly, initially WITH A SCALE. Check your drag occasionally and EVERYTIME when you start your day, but NEVER when fighting a fish.

When fighting a fish you should ALWAYS be moving the fish to you unless the fish is running. NEVER reel when your drag is releasing and NEVER adjust your drag! Maintain pressure at all times and if the fish is moving into timber or cover, apply more pressure by lifting your rod tip higher. Force the fish to fight the rod.

Reel when you can, let the fish run when it wants to. Don't get in a hurry, this is what you came for!

[jwo1124]

I always use a clinch knot, and have since the day I started fishing. I can;t remember ever losing a fish due to knot breakage except when I tried the junk they call Berkley Vanish Fluoro. I could have been a toothy critter that frayed the line. Or maybe rocks, timber, etc. Like you said it could have a been a large trout, who knows. Sorry that it happened though. Loosing a fish is a horrible feeling, but you'll catch plenty more.

[Davis]

Set your drag properly, initially WITH A SCALE. Check your drag occasionally and EVERYTIME when you start your day, but NEVER when fighting a fish.

When fighting a fish you should ALWAYS be moving the fish to you unless the fish is running. NEVER reel when your drag is releasing and NEVER adjust your drag! Maintain pressure at all times and if the fish is moving into timber or cover, apply more pressure by lifting your rod tip higher. Force the fish to fight the rod.

Reel when you can, let the fish run when it wants to. Don't get in a hurry, this is what you came for!

My drag is set properly and thankfully because the fish did pull it smoothly . Thanks for answering my question RW. That is what I wanted to know. Next time I will just let em take me for a ride. There was no brush so he could have gone where he wanted without getting me into trouble.

Sorry Johnny don't agree with a super tight drag. Mine is set just right.....I just never had a fish take it out SO FAST like this one did.

Yes I think the palomar is a better knot than the clinch but that is just in my experience obviously. I have never had a fish break off of my Palomar knot so I trust it and my tying it 100%.

Why I tried to tie a cilinch when the Palomar has been my bread and butter is beyond me. Fate I guess.

I'm not saying that the improved clinch knot is a bad knot......but me not having experience of tying one up cost me this time. Next time I will go back to my Palomar, even if it is hard to get it the loop through the eye. Not going to make the same mistake twice.

[Del from philly]

Set your drag properly, initially WITH A SCALE. Check your drag occasionally and EVERYTIME when you start your day, but NEVER when fighting a fish.

When fighting a fish you should ALWAYS be moving the fish to you unless the fish is running. NEVER reel when your drag is releasing and NEVER adjust your drag! Maintain pressure at all times and if the fish is moving into timber or cover, apply more pressure by lifting your rod tip higher. Force the fish to fight the rod.

Reel when you can, let the fish run when it wants to. Don't get in a hurry, this is what you came for!

My drag is set properly and thankfully because the fish did pull it smoothly . Thanks for answering my question RW. That is what I wanted to know. Next time I will just let em take me for a ride. There was no brush so he could have gone where he wanted without getting me into trouble.

Sorry Johnny don't agree with a super tight drag. Mine is set just right.....I just never had a fish take it out SO FAST like this one did.

Yes I think the palomar is a better knot than the clinch but that is just in my experience obviously. I have never had a fish break off of my Palomar knot so I trust it and my tying it 100%.

Why I tried to tie a cilinch when the Palomar has been my bread and butter is beyond me. Fate I guess.

I'm not saying that the improved clinch knot is a bad knot......but me not having experience of tying one up cost me this time. Next time I will go back to my Palomar, even if it is hard to get it the loop through the eye. Not going to make the same mistake twice.

i waas thikning about messing with my drag.......but i have a lot of obstacles that he could run into and mess everything up

is an improved clench the same as the double clench?

[roadwarrior]

Regarding knots:

I tie a Palomar Knot about 99% of the time, but I enjoy tying knots and will use others occasionally. If you want to learn a new knot, use a small diameter cotton rope so you can see EXACTLY what you are doing. Once you "see it" being tied, you will find it much easier and probably will not forget how to properly tie it next time.

Suggestions: Uni Knot, Trilene Knot, Improved Clinch Knot and San Diego Jam.

http://www.animatedknots.com/knotlist.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com

San Diego Jam Knot:  http://www.proknot.com/Fishing_Knots/San_Diego_Jam_Knot/san_diego_jam_knot.html

[tyrius.]

Next time I will go back to my Palomar, even if it is hard to get it the loop through the eye. Not going to make the same mistake twice.

Some really great advice that I read here regarding the palomar knot is to put the end of the line through the eye and then put it back through the eye to create your loop.  This way you don't have to force the folded line through a small eye.

I never used the palomar before that because I hated trying to get the loop started.  After reading that simple piece of advice the palomar is MUCH easier now.

[Davis]

Next time I will go back to my Palomar, even if it is hard to get it the loop through the eye. Not going to make the same mistake twice.

Some really great advice that I read here regarding the palomar knot is to put the end of the line through the eye and then put it back through the eye to create your loop. This way you don't have to force the folded line through a small eye.

I never used the palomar before that because I hated trying to get the loop started. After reading that simple piece of advice the palomar is MUCH easier now.

Lol after last night I'm hesitant on trying to try it any other way lol. I think you can understand why.

Usually I have no trouble starting the loop through. It just didn't look easy this time so I tried something different. The thing that ticks me off is that after I lost that fish, I tried to tie my palomar on another jighead and it went through just fine.

[slomoe]

thats a really cool website. Thanks for the link RW.