Gangly

I was on lunch at a brand new spot fishing from the bank and really didnt expect to catch anything in the 30 minutes that I had on this new body of water. I had my favorite jig and trailer on and was slow pulling the jig across the bottom, doing small hops here and there, when it felt like i hung up on something. I applied a little tension and the rod started pulsating with the rythm of a swimming fish. I set the hook and the fight was on but i knew I set the hook bad and too late and within 2 seconds it came loose. I burned the jig back to me to cast it back out again, but when it got 5 feet from me, the water exploded and a bucket mouth attacked it. I couldnt believe it and like an amateur (which I am, haha) I sat there for a second in disbelief before setting the hook again. When I did set the hook, it didnt feel right and next thing i know the jig was flying back at me with two missing pinchers but no fish attached. I didnt bring any backup trailers because I honestly didnt think I would need them, so all i had was my other rod with a swimbait on it. I dont know how big that bass was, but it was big, and I could easily fit a softball in his mouth. I picked up my other rod with a new soft swimbait that i have been wanting to try, cast it out and start to reel it in. Nothing on the first cast, so I threw it out again. Half way back to me, I thought heck, try something new, so i decided to burn the bait like it was fleeing something and then paused to let it settle. Once I resumed after the pause, it was go-time. The fish went ballistic and took off. Stupidly, I quickly backed off the drag to let it run before I realized that i loosened it way too much to where there was almost no drag at all. Whats even worse, is that I recently put 30lb braid on it so I really didnt need to loosen the drag at all to beign with, lol. Anyways, after messing up the drag horribly, I couldnt even feel the fish on the line anymore and my string was just hanging limp. I didnt know what to do and I was so frazzled at this point that I couldnt think straight, so i started grabbing the line with my hands until i realized that all I had to do was retighten the drag, lol. I must have looked like a complete idiot standing there trying to do 3 things at once and not getting anything done. Surprisingly, the fish was still on after that little escapade of mine, and resumed a fresh fight as soon as it felt the tension between its lips. I finally landed him and he turned out to be what I think is close to my personal best. He wasnt as long, but he/she was FAT!!! I wasnt expecting to really catch anything so i didnt bring a camera or scale. I went to grab my phone out of my pocket and quickly realized that I left it in the truck as well. So i have no proof, no measurements of any kind, and nothing to backup my story, haha. Lesson Learned! That fish would have put me solidly in the tournament and I have nothing to show for it but memories. Those are whats important anyways, those never fade, they only get brighter.

Chuck7

AWESOME story man..and the reason I take 2 cameras..I plan to fish Sat. again..you got me fired up.

C7

Gangly

Man, I'm fired up! I am going out there again on lunch today but taking a camera with me this time. Gonna talk to the boss and see if I can take a longer lunch if I work late tonight. That fish revitalized my fishing desire. for sure, not that it ever lacked though. They are definately staging and in pespawn right now. I fugure once the spawing begins, they will hold tight to their nests and not chase lures like they are right now.

Chuck7

Unless it rains..or the Lord tells me no..I'm going fishin tomorrow...If it's ok I need to disagree with one minor detail ya said. { -; ..Fish bite real good on the beds..they will remove whatever invades their beds..UNLESS they see you ..then they will flee.
This has been my expereince..
C7

Gangly

hrm, i will have to be more careful about my visibility then, because i havent had any luck catching them on beds, but then again, i only have only fished for bass during one spawning season.

Chuck7

That's what makes spawning season so great ..in murky water you can get close ..BUT in clearer water folks ' Sight fish' ..they look for beds and make long cast provoking the female to take the bait..

Chuck7

Got a 5 1/2 and a 3 1/2 today..story is on the Tournament Thread..
{ -:

Gangly

Awesome Chuck, I caught two today, but my brand new scale broke. Was able to measure a length though and got that photographed. Ill post them in a bit.