Big One Got Away

[avid]

Nothing unusual about a fish story featuring the "big one that got away" except that this was a REALLY big one and it was caught with a miniscule bait.

SteveP and I were on his boat yesterday at stickmarsh/farm13. Just about the most pleasant day you can imagine. Nice mix of sun and clouds with temps in the low 70's and a nice breeze that gusted up now and then.

The fishing was spotty. We did get into a bunch in the South end but they were mostly pretty short. I switched to a Rick Clunn RC 0.5 crankbait on my spinning outfit and the little bass loved it. Steve was fishing a spinnerbait and caught fewer fish than I did but they were larger with one going up to about 4.5 lbs.

We didn't run into many people because even though the parking lot was pretty crowded with trucks and trailers, the bass action lately has been in the back lot of the farm.

After the action on the little guys slowed we cranked up and went to the back lot. Here it was a different story. This is a smaller area and there were more boats. Most folks were pretty curtious. We even saw three guys in kayaks who were REAL glad Steve came down off plane to idle past them.

Again the fishing was spotty, but they were averaging 2-3 pounds. I switched back to RC 0.5 because it was fun catching the little bass on my light spinning outfit. I did catch a couple small ones and was content but then I got a solid hit and knew immediately that this was a bigger fish. Just as Steve asked "you got one"? the bass jumped. OMG!!! this was not just a big fish but a really big fish. I know the estimate game is silly when it comes to bass jumping at 30 feet from the boat, but there was no way that this was a 5 or 6 pounder. Just how much bigger than that I'm not going to guess. (But you know what i want to say right?) Any way, he sounded and was taking line, then reversed course, still keeping down and was pulling on the line like it was tied to a truck bumper, then a little shake shake pull and .....................................gone!

It was quite a ride, a real thrill in fact...I don't know if it was those little hooks in the tiny bait that just couldn't hold this big a fish, or if my drag was too tight, which maybe it was, or if it was just 'one of those things', but he got away and all i have is yet another 'the big one that got away' story. But it was memorable enough that I thought i would share it with y'all.. thanks to Steve P. for a memorable day on the water, and happy bassin' y'all.

[00 mod]

Nice story! Sorry it got away, but at least you know you were doing the right thing! Keep at em, and maybe she wil bite again!

Jeff

[roadwarrior]

Great post!

Now you know where she lives.

[Goose52]

Exciting and disappointing at the same time! I know that feeling when the line goes slack you know she's gone....

At least you saw her jump and know that it wasn't a big mudfish...

[Dwight Hottle]

Great story. Sometimes the losses are more memorable than the wins.

[birdy]

Great read, thanks for the post. Good luck hunting her down.

[bman310]

The nice thing about losing a big one is you know you'll get another big one sooner or later.

[K_Mac]

Good story Avid. As Dwight said, some of my most vivid memories are of the ones that got away. There is always next time...

[Big-O]

Great story! Makes me look back at so many similar experiences... And Smile ; )

Big O

www.ragetail.com

[South FLA]

That's what keeps me coming back to spots, time after time, BERTHA lives and you saw her!

[Redlinerobert]

Losing big ones is what dreams are made of.

[Mrs. Matstone]

Great post! Sounds like you guys had a great time and I am sure you'll get the fish next time.

[bassman31783]

Loosing big fish is one of the biggest reasons that I keep coming back to fish time and time again. If I caught every big fish that I ever hooked then fishing wouldn't be a challenge and therefor wouldn't be near as fun or rewarding.

Great story! Conjures up many memories of the one that got away. You'll get her next time....hopefully