The one that got away....

[Branuss04]

Lets hear your stories about that one instance where you wish you could pull out your mulligan card and do-over.  Mine happended this year and it still feels like an opened wound.  I know I shouldn't dwell on it, but it still plays over in slow motion in my mind and haunts me   :'(

Here's mine:

About a month ago fourbizz and I both took our dads into this tiny remote lake that is known for football brookies and good size Lahonton Cutthroat trout. We were float tubing and within the first hour both dads had caught their first LHC and we had lost just as many as we had caught.  After finding the apparent "HotSpot" where fish were stacked, I was talking to some guys on the shore that were asking about what I was using and WHAM, fish on.  Both the brookies and LHC's have their own "fighting styles" and right away I could tell this was a BIG LHC.  It was pulling line like it wasn't even hooked.  It wasn't shaking and thrashing, it was actually pulling me in my float tube around the lake and in circles.  After about 5 minutes of me getting dragged around and a slight "Audience" growing on the shore, it appeared that the fish was getting a little tired and I was able to gain some distance on it.  Finally I was able to see the fish and it was BIG... a definite new PB LHC.  Soon as it saw me it flipped out and started turning me in circles.  I was holding on for dear life, and I knew I needed to net this fish ASAP.  

On a side note, my net was purchased just for this lake and it's long and big fish.  After the first trip I took to this lake, it was apparent that these fish did not fit in a normal backpacking net.  So I purchased a net that measure 21" in length, 8.5in wide, and is 10in deep.  The net itself is coated to ensure safety of the slim coat.  I've netted many fish up to 20" with this net and NEVER had an issue.  This net was made for big fish... or so I thought  :-[

With that said, I finally got a small window of opportunity to net the fish.  It was now or never.  I did my normal routine of dipping the net into the water and "guiding" the fish headfirst into the net.  I was able to get it's head into the net... this is when I noticed how gigantic this fish actually was.  The fish's head was at the bottom of one end of the net, and even with a 21" net, the fish still had a good 6 inches of tail sticking out of the other end.   .  I couldn't believe my eyes.  While I was in aww of my "new PB"  the fish started to roll and managed to free itself of the hook and eventually rolled out of my net and into the lake.   :'( .  I couldn't believe it.... I have never threw such a Bit@1 fit before.  I went to kicked to the shore, slept, ate, fished for another 4 hours without a bite and finally called it a day.  If it weren't' for  my dad catching his first LHC and seeing his eyes light up, it would have been a HORRIBLE trip.  

Looking back on that fish, I beleive I rushed the netting process a bit.  I don't think it was ready to quit fighting.  Not only was this fish long, but was built like a tank.  Could have easily been a 6#+ fish.  Oh well, I'll be back there this fall to catch here again.  This time i'm bringing my bass net  ;D

[fourbizz]

I lost the first fish over 10lbs that I ever hooked.

I had a 9+lb smallmouth blow up on a topwater and knock it 6ft into the air.

Last year I missed a 13+ largemouth because I was too lazy to re-rig a stinger that had broken off.

I spent 8 hours working a bed fish that was 14+ and never got her to eat.

I lost a 65+ King Salmon while bouncing roe from the bank in Glenallen Alaska.

I lost a 7+ lb smallmouth at the boat on a Wake Jr.

I had something come off on a Huddleston that when I described it to really good swimbait fishermen, they all said it sounded like a giant by the way that it fought. At 20ft down, when she shook her head, my rod tip went side to side pretty dramatically.

[Branuss04]

I lost the first fish over 10lbs that I ever hooked.

I had a 9+lb smallmouth blow up on a topwater and knock it 6ft into the air.

Last year I missed a 13+ largemouth because I was too lazy to re-rig a stinger that had broken off.

I spent 8 hours working a bed fish that was 14+ and never got her to eat.

I lost a 65+ King Salmon while bouncing roe from the bank in Glenallen Alaska.

I lost a 7+ lb smallmouth at the boat on a Wake Jr.

I had something come off on a Huddleston that when I described it to really good swimbait fishermen, they all said it sounded like a giant by the way that it fought. At 20ft down, when she shook her head, my rod tip went side to side pretty dramatically.

Don't forget about that double you lost on your bait because of me  :. Remember... I wasn't there to net it  ;D

[SammyLee]

Odd you should mention this as mine was yesterday just before noon.  I had found LMB's churning the surface killing baitfish and was casting a lipless shad to them with a bc, 17# and MD rod.  I had caught maybe 4 or 5 when I hooked one that was way above all the rest.  I kept you guys advice in mind as I kept her coming my way with the rod tip down to prevent jumps.  I got her to the bank and started to lift.  She looked to be in the 5# range, a PB for me.

Halfway out of the water, she flung the lure into the grass and was gone.  I too, pitched a fit using language I am trying hard to avoid.  I swear, it felt like when I was a teen and some pretty girl broke up with me.  It really hurt.

I caught a few more after that but none like that one.  I kept thinking, "There's another one like her just waiting!" but alas, no.

[bassman31783]

Last fall my dad & I went up to Lake Fork for a day of fishing. We had already been the day before and locked into a solid pattern. Throwing a silver swim-senko, or a chartreuse buzz bait, over the pads & bringing it back was just killing them. Nothing too significant, the largest going just over 6lbs. Well that changed real quick that evening with about an hour left.

It got real calm & I was chunking the buzz bait about 30'-40' into the pads. All of a sudden I could see it coming through the pads like a freight train. I quickly yelled out to dad "look look look". It came up to the surface & was creating a huge wake behind the bait. When i say that thing opened up it's mouth to inhale the bait I'm not kidding at all. That thing had the biggest mouth I had ever seen. Well she took the bait & when I felt the line get heavy I did a celebrity hook set to make sure that girl was on. The problem was that it was so far back into the pads that I never really stood a chance to begin with. She snapped the 20# braid like it was nothing 10 sec into the fight. & that's all she wrote. I was sick, heart broken & seriously ticked.

My dad said sorry to me then laughed cuz his legs were shaking. He was with his best friend years ago when his best friend caught his PB on Fork weighing 13 1/2lbs. My dad said he had no doubt that this one was bigger.

[burleytog]

Fishing a night tournament alone on a small TVA lake.  Tournament hours were 7PM-7AM.  I fish from 7 till around 3:30AM without a bite.

Move to a little underwater hump that a friend  had told me about and started working a spinnerbait around the hump.  Got the bait hung on a rock, when I shook it loose, it felt like I had hooked a freight train.

Set the hook and the fight was on.  The fish would pull and I would pull.  It felt like a five minute fight, but was probably closer to a minute.  I finally get the fish to the surface and it's a whopper.  I step off the front deck and grab my net and get ready to land the fish.

Get the net in the water and start to pull the fish towards the boat.  I get her on top and get a good look at her.  Probably around 6-7 lbs.

Almost have her head in the net when she looks at me in the glow of theh blacklight, shakes her head one time and throws the spinnerbait back into the boat and swims away.

That cost me $80.   :'(

[cart7t]

The only double digit fish I've ever had on came around 10 years ago.  I was throwing a Rat L trap.  The problem was I was throwing it on a ML outfit, about 8lb line.  I had no business using that rod at that lake.  Washington county lake is off colored all the time and loaded with plenty of wood.  I just couldn't turn the fish.  It did one of those Jaws swim along the side of the boat deals.  My son is yelling get him in Dad!  Get him in!  I had nothing, not even a net.   That rod was doubled over and he started pulling towards the buck brush along shore.

Wish I'd used at least a medium with 14 lb test.  

[DINK WHISPERER]

Mine came yesterday actually! It happened on the lake where i have been catching 7-8lbers lately! I was exhausted and trolling my way to the dock at around 1:30pm. I had the trolling motor on auto pilot at top speed. I deciding to throw my 12" black worm out and drag it along side me just playing around really!

I felt it get hung up on something and when i looked it seemed to be a lily pad! I pulled and it pulled back and ran away! I set the hook and it was indeed a bass! I immediately horsed it to the boat and it looked to be 11lb EASILY! At the boat it did a dive and caught my 25lb fluoro on the trolling motor(which is still running on auto) blade and cut the line!

I almost jumped in after it guys! Big ones always hit when i am not paying attention or being stupid! I was just playing around and didn't really think anything was going to hit the worm moving that fast! Nore did i think to stop the motor!!!!!!!!!!    >

[bilgerat]

About twenty years ago I was fishing a deep sand pit. It's about 2:00 am on a hot July night. I had just threw a Jitterbug out and got maybe one crank in when it got crushed. Back then, I didn't know the Golden Rule of topwater, which is to hold off until you feel the weight of the fish.

I set the hook (or so I thought) and the fight was on. It was a full moon, so when I got it close enough, I got a glimpse of it. You could have thrown a baseball down it's throat with room to spare. One violent head shake later, the Jitterbug whizzed by my ear about 100 MPH. That fish haunts me to this day.

What's worse is that sand pit no longer exists. It's been filled in and developed over :'(

[bass wrangler569]

It happened a few years ago, during the proceeding two weeks I had caught a 7lber and my PB, which was a hair over 8lbs. Anyway, I was fishing with a senko and I made a long arching cast; the lure had no more than hit the water when a bass crushed it. It was fighting like crazy but I managed to get it close enough to get a look at it. That bass could have eaten the 8lber I had caught the week before! It was definitely #10, there's not a doubt in my mind, the thing was an absolute tank. Well, shortly after I got a good look at her, she buried herself in the weeds and snapped my 8lb line like it was sewing thread (which, being 8lb line, it basically was). I was devastated, 10lb bass don't come around often up here! Oh, and a side note, a sink hole opened up in that pond the next summer, dropping the water level to around a foot and killing all of the bass over 4lbs.  :'( :'( :'(

[Sam]

Two years ago on Lake Gaston, at the mouth of Popular Creek, something took my crankbait off the grass point and headed north.

I could not turn her and she just ran until my line popped.

Buddy caught a 7 pound plus lady about a half hour later in the same area, so I know they large ladies were there.

Second time that has happened to me on Lake Gaston.

I tell myself they were catfish, but I know they both were LMB.  Neither went deep or starrted tugging on the line.

I now use 17 pound mono when throwing crankbaits and a heavier leader for my C-rigs on Lake Gaston.  ;D

[DMac]

Reading all these lost fish stories makes me feel happy that I landed my PB largemouth, but sad for you guys.

I do however have story, though its saltwater. I was fishing in a little tidal creek down near St. Simons Island off the coast of Georgia. I was using a medium light spinning rod with 6# braid fishing a killie fish. The fishing was going great with me catching tons of big seatrout. I then get a bite that feels like another big seatrout, as I'm fighting the fish I keep thinking to myself, this is huge! this is huge! I got a record on the line! As the fish comes closer to the bank I see a 40 pound red drum barely pulling on my rod, but my rod is completely doubled over! As soon as the drum sees me it makes one little head shake and... SNAP! theres goes  one of the biggest fish I have ever seen :'(

[Black Water Basstard]

Throwing an 8inch bluegill through a culvert after a heavy rain and on about the third drift my bobber doesn't just go under it explodes like a grenade just went off I though it was a big bowfin set the hook and fight it for about a minute and a half through weeds and everything other obstacle you could think of I get her to the bank to see a bass with eyes the size of a cow but at this time shes in two inches of water and mud I tell me friend to pick it up so I can keep tension on the line instead of lipping her he tries to pull her by grabbing the line snap and their goes the biggest bass of my life was easily 16.5-17 pounds because I caught a 15 pounder that I have mounted and it made that one look small my friend never touches my fish any more  :'( I still fish that culvert after every heavy rain

[fourbizz]

Throwing an 8inch bluegill through a culvert after a heavy rain and on about the third drift my bobber doesn't just go under it explodes like a grenade just went off I though it was a big bowfin set the hook and fight it for about a minute and a half through weeds and everything other obstacle you could think of I get her to the bank to see a bass with eyes the size of a cow but at this time shes in two inches of water and mud I tell me friend to pick it up so I can keep tension on the line instead of lipping her he tries to pull her by grabbing the line snap and their goes the biggest bass of my life was easily 16.5-17 pounds because I caught a 15 pounder that I have mounted and it made that one look small my friend never touches my fish any more :'( I still fish that culvert after every heavy rain

I want to see a picture of your 15!

[grizzly1654]

I was fishing pickwick lake from the bank when i was 15. I was useing a rebel super pop R when a huge bass (about 4 1/2 5 lbs easily my pb at the time) came out of nowhere and hit so hard it came out of the water and landed on the bank. The bass floped a couple times and was back in the water and gone before i could get to it never to be seen again! I was so happy, stuff like that only happens on tv.

[skunked_again]

Throwing an 8inch bluegill through a culvert after a heavy rain and on about the third drift my bobber doesn't just go under it explodes like a grenade just went off I though it was a big bowfin set the hook and fight it for about a minute and a half through weeds and everything other obstacle you could think of I get her to the bank to see a bass with eyes the size of a cow but at this time shes in two inches of water and mud I tell me friend to pick it up so I can keep tension on the line instead of lipping her he tries to pull her by grabbing the line snap and their goes the biggest bass of my life was easily 16.5-17 pounds because I caught a 15 pounder that I have mounted and it made that one look small my friend never touches my fish any more :'( I still fish that culvert after every heavy rain

I want to see a picture of your 15!

a 15 lbs anything is a big fish. id like to see that too.

[farmpond1]

What might have been my personal best was about 3 weeks ago.  Sam Parr in East Central Illinois is a very stained lake and after as much rain as it had received, it was especially coffee colored.  I had never been there before and hadn't done any good (up to this point) with any other technique so I thought that since it was a bright sunny day the bass might be buried in the thick stuff.  So I tied on a Rat bait and tossed it into the mess.  Just when it had cleared the weeds, I watched a humongous bass swim up and take it in.  He didn't really smash it.  Just sort of casually sucked it in.  Anyway, I whomped him hard with a pretty good hook set (or so I thought) and tried to keep him out of the weeds.  The drag on my Abu Garcia reel doesn't really crank down all that tight but I managed to get him closer to the boat.  That's when the angle of the line changed and it just sort "pitooeyed" out of it's mouth (these kinds of baits are notorious for coming unhooked).  Anyway, I watched the bass as he casually swam away-seemingly unfazed by the experience.  I, on the other hand, was very fazed and very heart broken.  My brother had to listen to me lament my loss for the rest of the trip.

[Black Water Basstard]

Here is the picture of the 15 that I caught earlier this year its not photo shopped because i already know someone is going to say it is its a crappy camera phone that i have I have a picture of it frozen but I have to find it  here it is