Something has been haunting me since last fall. I was fishing one of my favorite spots when a monster bass took me for a ride. When it was over I was left feeling violated and tresspassed upon.... to make the long story short, the bass straightened out all 3 1/0 VMC trebels on my plug.. I dont have much big bass experience so what do you guys think could have done this?? a 30 lber? 40 lber? or even the ever so elusive 50??
please make the nightmares stop :smash:

My largest is just under 30lbs and I've never had a problem with treble or single hooks straightening out. Must have been a lot bigger, at least 40+ to do that type of damage.... My two cents....

No way to tell, Eben. A lot depends on the way the bass is hooked and the angle of leverage it gets on the hooks. I've had teen fish bend a 4x strong Eagle Claw treble if they get it just right. Fortunately the second set of hooks held, so I was able to see just what size fish did the dirty deed. ;) 1/0 hooks, braided line, stiff rod, wouldn't take much to bend them out if they had the hooks in a bad place.

I'd put more stock in the fact that it took ya for a ride. Teen fish don't do that :eek:

I've had teen sized fish straighten similar hooks (might have been a size bigger) but the were VMC's... It's all physics and leverage.. Didnt help that plug had taken 7 other decent fish that night...
Oh well... in your case it was definetly a 50... what are ya gonna do... cry about it :D :D :D :p

You won't get closure until you get revenge.

I too am haunted by a similar incident years ago on my favorite bassy Island.

That is what keeps me going back there!

hmmm well I'm glad that it could have been a smaller fish. It would just drive me crazy knowing that i might have lost the fish of a lifetime.
You know what though... theres always this year to settle the score :D
And from now on I'm switching up a hook size on all storebought plugs.

Eben,
Hate to be the one to tell you but you has a 70+ on! :D :smash:

:af: :smash:

charley soares was saying that the 3 pronged hooks werent any good because they gave to much leverage to the fish. In your case straightning the hooks out. He said that the single hooks were best.

the wprol record BLOOOOOOOOOOOOOfish

Clammah thats you bud, We only catch Bass in 'gansett...
Yeah right... and the waitresses at crazy burger arent hot :smash: :smash:

F' the Bluefish

Eben....move on and don't lose any more sleep over it. We all have lost nice, huge, monster fish......if you have not suffered at least a little heartbreak......you ain't been fishing too much! Loss like that gives you better perspective and makes you enjoy the great fish that you "do" catch! Someday when you land that trophy striper, all the heartbreak and pain will all be worth it in the end! :uhuh: Now go out there this season and catch one for the gipper!!!:laugha: :btu:

I too lost a big one last summer off Narror r. To make things worse, she followed my eel close to the boat so I got a REAL good look at her. That is the worst feeling when you feel the line go slack.

All the hot waitresses work at Caseys;)

Eben, how fast were the runs? truly large fish usually won't make lightning runs, but more of a steady sickening run.

there is also the foul hooked scenario. i fought the next world record bass one night at c'town b'way for a good 20 minutes, only to find out it was about a 10 # blue hooked in the pooper! :smash:

When you start putting serious pressure on the fish you would be amazing the leverage that can occur esp if the fish is hooked on the outside of face on a single hook off the treble. In the old days while fishing gibbs bottle plugs the stock treble hooks did not stand a chance...Back then I had switched to hand braized stainless trebles from eagle claw. These were much stronger but it was possible to break them. But they worked well for me. Nowadays vmc makes a better all around treble. But it is still possible to bend them. My solution is don't try and stop the fish in his tracks on the first run. Let her exhaust herself...apply steady pressure. Guys that fish "locked drags" and heavy line are asking for breakoffs at the weakest link....something has got to give.

My bro droped a moster off the #^&#^&#^&#^&shoot one night on a gibbs needle fish, (pre-habs days) when he reeled it in the single tail hook was nearly straight. I mounted and framed the hook and gave it to him as a Xmas gift that year so he would not forget the trip.:laughs:

I was at the Canal a few years ago and I got a hit and set the hook!!Felt a fish fight for 1 second then it was off!! I never saw it never gained on it, it just spooled my reel and kept going like a I hooked on to a Freight Train!!
You never no what you are going to get there! Could have been anything from a Bass to a Tuna??
Cheer up there will be other days!!

Eben - take comfort in the fact that you are that one experience better because of it. Use it as a tool, a learning experience, and you'll have a bit more edge when the time comes again.

I think I've been to the dance at least once and maybe twice. I've landed fish into the high 30# range but I've also had a fish on that made those 30#ers feel small. That feeling was both exhilirating and scared me a bit into trying to approach it with more "training". Working thru the hypotheticals so you may be more prepared next time around....


All that said, if you can' talk about the one that got away, you can't be fishing :hihi:

All that said, if you can' talk about the one that got away, you can't be fishing :hihi: [/B][/QUOTE]

4 sure
I've felt the pain... and witnessed big losses...hauntings 4 life:)

i know what youre talking about eben, i've been thinking about THE fish that got away last year also. wish i could say my hooks went on me, but i hooked into a monster, you know where, that left me sleepless for a few nights after. i was throwing a gibbs casting swimmer when i felt a huge hit, set the hook and all i felt was tension. thought i snagged the bottom, but theres nothing on the bottom over there. the thing started shaking its head and before i had time to adjust the drag it was over. pure stupidity on my part not checking the drag before hand, been beating myself up over it ever since.

Originally posted by t.lapinski
Eben, how fast were the runs? truly large fish usually won't make lightning runs, but more of a steady sickening run.

This is what happened.. There was peanut bunker all over the place beaching themselves up in the rocks... bass and blues had them in tight and I was casting out over the schools and retrieving through the maylay.. I picked up a few nice keepers, let them go and after about a half hour...... WHAM and an instant zing of line paying out of my reeel.. I tightned down the drag a little bit and it still kept taking line. Not a lightning fast Albie take, but a steady peel of line.... I knew I was in trouble when I got into my mono backing and tightned the drag a bit more to slow her down.....I managed to stop her, turn her and began pulling her back twards me. I got about 3/4 of my line back when she ran agian..... and almost pulled me off of the rock I was standing on. she almost got me into the backing agian, and I stopped her and began winching her in through the blitzing fish.... I got her up into the wash and actually had a big glimpse of her and then 'pop' the plug flew straight at me, and she slowly swam out to sea..... It was hard for me to exactly tell how big she was, but she was big... This year will be the year..... then when My girl has her baby, who knows??? anyone want some plugs/..???:confused:

In my experience two good runs is 30+.. under that I can usualy stop after one run... oh well...

And yes I'll take your plugs...

"from my cold dead hands":mad:

Originally posted by Eben
"from my cold dead hands":mad:


eben... you can send you plugs here... and i will fix the problem of big fish getting off of YOUR line.


Thank you

- Billybob

:topic: :mad: I gotta leave something for my child when I go:(

:af: I hear ya Eben. Happen to me this year also, straight to the backing, 240 yds or braid, to 240 yds of backing. brought me into the backing and I turned it and got into my braid they *pop* gone.

But I've had gator blues, crush, straighten and snap trebles also.;)

I have never been spooled like that...would like to though:D

One year in the mid 80's on BI a guy at fishing sandy point with an eel hooked a big fish that he fought for quite some time, it brought him to the knot and he ran down the beach with it. Eventually it broke off. It was a long battle.
The next day a 220# Bluefin Tuna washed up on the beach with an eel and 250 yards of mono wrapped around it....you never know ...

I'm another victom of straightened hooks. I had what I think was a large bass hit my yella polaris. It was a violent hit and on the end of the cast using 25#mono. I only had'em on 6 or 7 seconds... it was all drag, after inspecting it, the first treble had one of the hooks semi straight and one on the rear was straight back. I'll never be certain but I think it was a combination of the drag being a bit to tight and one or both hooks being foul hooked. When it first happen I remember thinking the bass could have straightened the hooks against a rock but the more I thought the circumstances,, I doubt it now. Funny I can still remember my knee's shakin when that happen.

Eben,
I was going to tell you that you had hooked a 20' center console but seeing as you got a glimpse of the fish I guess I cant pass that one by you!!

I had a big fish straighten a 75# split ring this past season so I know the feeling!

For what its worth it hurts more when your fighting a big fish and have a boat come out of the fog and run right over your line and cut you off!!!

am Haunted ...........and its what makes me return every year.

to face my demons...... My fish hit a fist sized mackeral chunk,
my last piece. IT came up out of the water with its dorsal fin only sticking out of the water and made a slow and steady V -line
straight out into the cove spooling all my line and i couldnt turn it period. When the all line ran out and snapped ....i stood there amazed and totally silent staring out to sea. SINCE then (learning) i have upgraded my gear for the next time.

I have one fish that still haunts me every night. I have lost a lot of good fish over the years (all 50 lbers, of course), mostly to user error and learning inexperience (too tight drag, bad line, bad knots, trying to horse fish in.) The ONLY one that haunts me happened last year, but it truly wasn't my fault, which makes it all that bitter. We had been absolutely pounding 30LB + fish for 2 nights on both tides at this particular beach. The 2nd night, some how someone found out and the word got out. I had already landed several high 30 lb. fish this night and 1 40. My buddy had 3 +40 lbers. I hooked into a fish that I fought for over 30 minutes. I was more than half way through my spool (about 200 yds 30# Fireline) when some knuckle head runs down to the waters edge and casted right over my line while I was fighting this fish. Well, 15 minutes of Fireline Abraiding Fireline and that was the end of the story. I SWEAR that fish had to have been around 50, because I just couldn't gain much on it. I sat down and wanted to cry, of course that was following my unleashing the entire truck driver dictionary on the kid.

I was sitting on the long dock at West Chop about three-thirty one morning about ten years ago. It was blowing over my right shoulder about 30 m.p.h. and it was only 40 deegrees. I was fishing with what could only be described a very hevaey duty 5m blank 10' long rod. Big reel loaded with 40 pound test. I was floating bait off the bottom because there is a lot of kelp type stuff there. The rod bends, I grabbed it. Theirs no turning this fish. I pulled back and planted my feet the best I could. I positioned myself at about a 45 degree angle with my feet up against the piling. This fish was swimming south towards middle ground and I wasn't going to stop it. I had three hundred yards of line on this reel. It got to the end and I was allready prepared. i was holding as best I could. I am not a small or weak person. Quite the contrary. No more line the fish kept going. I cut the line. The fish just kept going. Estimate how big a fish that was for me.

Keep these stories comming! I feel the demons leaving my soul!

Bud8... one day down at the river mouth some schmuck ran over my line as I was retrieving my pencil popper... I hve never heard my drag scream like that, and I just expected to get spooled, but as he left the inlet, he launched off a wave and the engine released my popper... I reeled it back in and the popper was cracked right in half, which left it looking like a 'v':(

I think eben is leaving oua a very important part of this story. He was fishing a 1/ 2 oz jitterbug on his zebco pushbutton surf set up:laughs:

I've been spooled and broke off at the pt jude lite twice in one season and I have never fully recovered. My dad once told me that untill I catch an equivelent sized fish, I am owned by the one that got me.

He doesnt post here but my friend Mike is seriously owned by big fish. We're out at the southwest ledge, I pick up a fish 35-37 lbs, my buddy gio picks up a nice fish as well. Mike finally hooks up.

He's telling up guys, guys, guys this one is big. We're thinking yea ok Mike. We try and keep him calm, 20 minutes he's got it at the boat, we're ignoring mike and fishing the whole time. He's I got it at the boat! I tell him ok I'm gonna grab the net.

I grab the net and start walking over to him, he grabs the 20 lb leader holding the high 40 easy 50 lb fish. And proceeds to try and jerk left this beast out of the water with one hand with his rod in his other hand. This was all in one split second, what I remember the most is me screaming to him NOooooooo. You know that NOOOOooooooo when everything slows down like slow motion. Then silence....for a good 5 minutes. Its pitch black out no other boats out then i hear the loudest I'm a F8cking IDIOT! ever. Priceless. He drops some of the biggest fish, consistently, and always at his feet.

Hey, Eben, don't torture yourself, bro, stuff happens. Of course, you're still gonna be doing the 'what ifs' for a while to come. It comes with the territory.

There's a lot of very good points here from guys who have had it happen to them or witnessed the same sort of thing.

"...he grabs the 20 lb leader holding the high 40 easy 50 lb fish. And proceeds to try and jerk left this beast out of the water with one hand with his rod in his other hand. This was all in one split second, what I remember the most is me screaming to him NOooooooo. You know that NOOOOooooooo when everything slows down like slow motion. Then silence....for a good 5 minutes" - Throwing Timber

Ya gotta avoid the operator errors, but that's how ya learn, like Redlite says:

"I have lost a lot of good fish over the years (all 50 lbers, of course), mostly to user error and learning inexperience (too tight drag, bad line, bad knots, trying to horse fish in.)" - Redlite

So if you remember anything start with this:

"...I tightned down the drag a little bit... - Eben :smash::smash::smash:

Try setting your drag with a scale and then keep your hands off the drag once it's set . That's how I lost the biggest bass I never caught, so I never readjust my drag mid-battle now. That's my #1 rule (for me, anyway. Everybody has their own).

My #2 rule is never use a snell knot - that was part 2 of losing that same fish - I screwed the drag down too tight readjusting it and the snell let go.

As for the hook straightening part, I got 3/0 and 4/0 straightened VMC's on the shelf right above my workbench in my tackle bunker. Just a note to self to make sure my drag washers are new and rinsed of any salt deposits before I go out - Rules #3 and 4.

"Eben, how fast were the runs? truly large fish usually won't make lightning runs, but more of a steady sickening run. - t. lapinski."

And about the size of the one that got away, the late Roy (Leroy) Addison - who was one of the best on the island - told me years ago that a 25-30 lb. fish will almost always give you a better fight than a 40 or 50. I told Roy as soon as I got my 50 I'd let him know if that was true - he laughed his a$$ off at that. Roy was one of the greats that people outside this immediate area probably wouldn't know and Roy really knew his stuff. Wish he was still around.

t. lap hit it right on the head. The butterflies in your gut, shaking like a schoolgirl when it's over, sometimes that sickening feeling when you drop one - it's why we all keep on going back, right? :hihi:

As most of you know, I have fished Bass for over 50 years and I still remember the "Big one's that got away" and cannot begin to remember all the smaller one's that didn't get away.
Eben, all good advice for you. Don't mess with that drag, keep your rod tip up and use every advantage you can to bring her into the shallow water. She may make two or more runs but each one should be shorter as she tires out. Keep you rod tip up and a bend in the rod and she will eventually come to you. Just don't let her sulk out there and dive deep. That is when she can go into the rocks and really do some hook damage.
Remember: That fifty or better pound fish didn't get to be that size by being stupid. By the time they get that size they know a lot of tricks.
Who ever it was that said about the smaller than fifty's fighting better knows their stuff. Give me those 25 to 30 pound Green Headed Spring fish that just got here and are hungry. They smack that bait like they are pissed at the world and fight every second they are hooked. One, two, three sometimes even four runs before they come along side.
Granted, the big fish brings more glory but the small ones fight better!

hope this isnt hijacking the thread to ask this .... as it's related.
~
When you're fighting a fish that seemingly CANNOT be turned
and is essentially spooling your reel.... someone told me that you can strum the line like a guitar string and the vibration makes the fish turn. Is that true?

raven, i have heard that before but never tried it. only time i have ever seen it "work" is on tv. usually when a fish has burried itself into some structure. who knows if it really works?

i definately echo the point of not playing with your drag while fighting a fish. i lost a few good fish, not trophys though, because i was adjusting the drag as the fisht went on. if anything, i like to have my drag set just a touch too light. i can always apply a little added pressure with my fingers on the spool if it is really necessary.

Thanks for all the tips guys :D I guess I have been thinking about this one particular fish lately because the spring is aproaching and I need revenge. WEll, note to self is watch the drag, keep my cool, and alway fish from a place where I can easily land a fish without comprimising anything...I neglected to mention that I wasnt in theeasiest place to fish, but I gotta keep this place a secret for a while:D

Eben,

yes that does suck.

I was taught a lesson by a local a few years back.

Cut one of the three hooks off the treble (even if it is a VMC :eek: ) and hooks ups are easier, you have less bending, etc.

Also, take of the rear treble and use a bitching strong single :D

Losing a big fish sucks :smash:

Eben, one last word of advice, take me to the spot and i'll show you how to land a cow! :D

Originally posted by Raven
someone told me that you can strum the line like a guitar string and the vibration makes the fish turn. Is that true?

this is a tactic to use when a fish buries itself-it pisses them off immensely-I don't know if I would want to piss a big fish off that is already running away with my line.

I have a sextion in my log just for Big Fish lost. Where I was, time of day, but most importantly I always write what I think caused me to lose the fish. I lost 4 big ones last year!!! One of em felt like a fity. :smash: :smash:

Originally posted by t.lapinski
Eben, one last word of advice, take me to the spot and i'll show you how to land a cow! :D

Sure, but I'll have to have you sign a waiver of secrecy:cool:

Originally posted by Eben
Sure, but I'll have to have you sign a waiver of secrecy:cool: mail it to me with a box of plugs. :D

eben , you'll need a photographer there anyways to photograph you catching and releasing an egg laden "cow" and if weighing 50 pounds is most definately a female having around ten million bass eggs inside her. Those are the eggs you want to hatch into
healthy shorts with the genetics to grow into more bigguns.
generally the males live until 10 years and twenty two pounds.

Originally posted by t.lapinski
mail it to me with a box of plugs. :D

Sure... I'll send you the half full box after you send me the full box:D

I know where it is, its the same area that dude I told you about from Texas caught his first keeper on vacation. ;)

S'ok I'll Never tell :D

2 plugs sucka!:laughs:

I think he must have hooked on to a DIVER!!

take heart eben,we've all had it happen.i lost two of my biggest surf hooked fish only minutes apart this past fall.to make a long story short,i had one right in the wash when a wave broke ontop of her,and she spit the hook.worse part was,i got a good look at her.the rod i was using was adaquate enough,but the reel i was using was grossly under gunned for fish like that.so after i stared at the ocean with that same expression brody had on his mug after an attack just happened in jaws,i finally gained enough composure to start fishing again.replaying everything in my head.so i'm basically on auto pilot.going through the motions but not really paying attention.about 15 minutes later,wham! i'm into another big fish.rod doubled,and it's taking line in a very steady,and somewhat brisk pace.i'm watching my backing coming up quick.so i figured i'd crank the drag down hard.line is still peeling off,and now my knot on the backing is in view.i tried a half hearted attempt to turn her,and i guess it was to much pressure,and the hooks pulled free.one thing i have done since then,is i have picked up a couple of reels with a respectable amount of line capacity.i'll probably lose the next big one as well,but it shouldn't be from having to crank the drag down trying to stop it from spooling me:rolleyes:

guzz

ahhh guzz doesnt it make you want to come back for more though? That bass has payback comming to it next season:gorez:

Timber..... you betta watch it or I'll sick BA Baracus on you...:smash: