Thanks guys for the help understanding tide/current in the ditch. Like I said, its my favorite place in the world but I live 2.5 hours away and only make one or two weekends a year. The advice was greatly appreciated. I fished Sat/Sun and landed a few nice fish in the small keeper range, with a couple schoolies too. Friday night I lost the biggest fish of my life when the hook on my jig failed. Ive been in mourning since, but as I talked to some of the regulars I realize everyone has a "one that got away" story or twelve at the canal. Thanks again

dang! good work thunder. yeap that'll happen. retire that one to the wall of fame!

You can straighten that our lol. Glad you had fun
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I feel your pain

:eek:

at least you got to dance, but that is one that will haunt you

That place will do that to you for sure..heres the remnants from a leader from last wednesday, I got her close after a nice battle. She hammered a large eel. I saw her roll about ten yards out and knew she was a sweetheart, large white belly..then she nosed down for her last run and rubbed the leader off. Heartbreak for sure..but thats the last time I fish mono leaders with eels in there. Switched all canal eel rigs to flouro, maybe that would have made the difference,maybe not. She was THE ONE..

Thanks guys for the help understanding tide/current in the ditch. Like I said, its my favorite place in the world but I live 2.5 hours away and only make one or two weekends a year. The advice was greatly appreciated. I fished Sat/Sun and landed a few nice fish in the small keeper range, with a couple schoolies too. Friday night I lost the biggest fish of my life when the hook on my jig failed. Ive been in mourning since, but as I talked to some of the regulars I realize everyone has a "one that got away" story or twelve at the canal. Thanks again

Damn, that's a pretty messed up hook!

I look at it this way, if we won all the time fishing would be boring. You gotta give the fish the win on that one, you'll be twice as ready when the next one comes along.

Beyond that you already did everything right. You picked the right time to go, you picked the right spot, you fished the right lure the right way, you obviously made a solid connection between you and the fish. You did it all correctly, your instincts and research were more than valid. All that kind of adds up to its own kind of victory.

More fuel for your next trip.

Catching them is best but the excitement of the fight makes an experience like yours worth almost as much.

Next time....!! :)

Not catching that big one will make sure you come back to catch an even bigger one next time.... now in your mind's eye you can see that 50 lb fish that got away this time... Glad you had fun..

After looking at that bent up hook I bet the 2 1/2 hr. drive will feel a lot shorter now!

I have a saying about the Canal. "The more I learn, the less I understand." It can be humbling at times. My first few years were zeros. Now I'm at least around 60 to 70% for catching decent. That still translates to 2 out of every 5 trips I get skunked.

I stood next to a Canal sharpie the other night while he caught a 35#, a 32# and several 20+, I got ZERO!!! Both throwing eels on conventionals. It's got to do with knowing and understanding the drift on a certain current, in a specific place with a specific wind.

I find it extremely challenging. To be consistent at the Canal takes knowledge and perseverance. I love the challenge of figuring it out.

After looking at that bent up hook I bet the 2 1/2 hr. drive will feel a lot shorter now!

X2 there's a reason I make the three hour round trip prior to work and look to bid work in the area around spring summer fall.
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