OWNED!!

[Back Beach]

There's a first time for everything, they say. This morning it was my turn to experience the pain. As my eel made its way into the "strike zone" I felt the unmistakable take of a fish followed by a couple head shakes and then it happened... My rod doubled over and I began paying out line.Big time. I typically fish a light drag, but began my attempt to snub the fish pretty soon after it became apparent it was no school bass, but perhaps a school bus. It was. Long story short my 250 yards of 65 power pro began to vanish from the spool. With plenty of room down tide I began a tepid walk in an attempt to catch up, several times standing pat trying to lock the fish down and I couldn't do it. Anyways, I start thinking I'm going to get spooled and flip on my head lamp only to see the backing knot buried under only a few turns of the spool. I know this is the weak link in the line system, but in six years of fishing braid and many good fish, I've never been taken even close to this deep.
Oh oh. Backing knot goes through the guides and now I'm effectively fishing with 25# mono as opposed to 65# braid. No more snubbing necessary as the line parted on the knot as expected after it came under great tension. I sat down on a large boulder and stared at the sky for a few minutes while my mind replayed the battle over and over. Looking back, I wouldn't have done anything different, but when I refill the reel tonight there may be a little less backing and a little more braid. Never had a fish take so much line without at least a temporary pause. What sucks is there is a nice fish out there with a long drail of line behind it and my fishing trip was cut short due to the fact I had no line to fish with, save for my mono backing.

Like I always say though.....catch them first and weight them after. It was a pretty good one though.....I think. Look at the pigtail on my mono. Yikes.

[piemma]

WOW Mikey!!
Doesn't sound like a Bass. Maybe a Tuna off course. If it was a Bass it was a 60+

[BigFish]

Keep extra spool in truck for such emergencies! When I lose a nice one like that....I just think like you did.....as long as I did everything right then I do not beat myself up over it! Sorry you lost her!

[TheSurfcaster]

Now that's something to remember. Do you think it was something other than a Bass? They usually turn once or twice and don't make a straight run.

What type of rod and reel where you using?

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by piemma

WOW Mikey!!
Doesn't sound like a Bass. Maybe a Tuna off course. If it was a Bass it was a 60+

The fish took off rather quickly, but I did feel a pickup and head shake. This leads me to believe it was a bass. In addition, I was taking bass prior to this one. Who knows what or how big, but it elevated my pulse up to that of a caged grey squirrel, which is what I live for....

[NIB]

Thats just plain awfull..Thats is why I fish spinning.U cannot stop the spool on a conventional reel.U will loose some major finger skin first. There are places like some elevated platforms where they have no room to run where I would fish em locked down..In most applications i don't fish locked...U can stop the spool of a spinner..
Of course u run the risk of other mishaps.Like ur rod busting or the hook pulling out.or getting yanked ofa yer perch an dragged into the abyss
At least Like Roger says..
U won't be spooled again..
Add windmill here..

[fcap60]

BackBeach:

great tale and sorry for your loss. Memories like that are tough to accept and they last in our minds forever.

Hang in there, there will be others !

[Spinfish]

That is a lot of line for a Bass to peel off, are there any Seals in the area.

I've had them grab a fish almost immediately after hook up and take off like a SBF. Still they never go that far, maybe 100 yards Max before they stop to eat the fish.

Maybe a monster Blue or ....... the Bass of a lifetime .

[vanstaal]

Its like I say It's all about the hook up!
sorry for your loss

[bart]

probably foul-hooked a bluefish....

[OLD GOAT]

Mike I know you know how to fish and you will now understand why old men smile . I just hope it wasn't a fur fish.

[macojoe]

My reel is full all the way with braid, no backing!! Been there done that! Least you had a good time for a while!

[Tagger]

Originally Posted by Back Beach

I sat down on a large boulder and stared at the sky for a few minutes while my mind replayed the battle over and over.

You'll replay it the rest of your life.. Truth is , your nailed to shore and you did everything humanly possible. great story .feel your pain .

[RIROCKHOUND]

Mike.
dropped one that still haunts me in June. 20seconds straight run (and was still going) against a tight drag (not in a current) eel had fouled on the hook. never got a good set...

Get em next time!

[Slingah]

sorry for your loss....T & P's....

[Flaptail]

Doo doo occurs. Only been spooled once, 1978 at Monomoy. My fault, saw the fish take the 7 inch weind cheater blueback Rebel in the first wave at dusk, wish it had been dark, biggest bass I ever hooked that I saw. Sharpen hooks on a plug? Wha???????

[JohnR]

Did that before Mike, still get the goosebumps on occasion thinking about it.

Real good Bass, tuna, seal, nucular bluefish, or even shark depending on the area

[gone fishin]

Total heartbreak. I know how you feel..

I lost a fish last friday. I had been fishing the ditch in the wind the day before and had a classic backlash. So bad it snapped the line at the leader. I had to dig that one out using a blunt needle. I never checked the line all the way back to the point it backlashed. When fishing on Friday, I used the same rig and had a solid hookup. A couple of shakes and the drag took off. I watched the line spinning off the reel - getting to the backing and decided to try and turn the fish by thumbing the reel lightly. All I ended up with was about half of the line back with a frayed end. It broke just about where the backlash was. Using 40 lb braid and a conventional reel.

[ThrowingTimber]

Glad someone found them all I did was rinse eels in whinergansett.

[fishaholic18]

Had that happen 5 or 6 times in one night while fishing with Canalman, we both had VS 200's and 50# braid...fish couldn't be stopped period...Definitely not Bass, they just do not run like that.. Fun dreamin' about it though..

[jim sylvester]

makes you keep mgong back for more

you'll get her next time mike

[riverrat2]

musta been a reaal big dogfish

[Back Beach]

Like I said, there was a pickup and headshake, definitely not a fur fish. Its possible the thing was foul hooked though. I fought a 20# fish a few weeks ago that was snagged in the dorsal and it went like hell at slack tide. Swore it was real big until I saw it.

Thanks for the condolences guys. It was a funny day today. I got four phone messages from my fellow surfmen and they all sounded very somber, kind of like someone died.

Fact is though its impossible to determine exactly how big it was. My four year old was funny though. He was a bit upset that my eel got stolen. He promised me we would go back out today and get that fish. Then we would take it home and throw it in the woods for the big, bad wolf to eat.

[JoeP]

Mike - I feel for ya. Had similar experiences twice & I still to this day play them over in my head...What could have been.

[ProfessorM]

Nice story. Sometimes the fish wins.

[In The Surf]

Wow!
Mike, what can you say? I'm sure you did all you could.

[5/0]

Mike,sorry to say it buuuuut,that has happened to me last year same spot & drifting eels,I tried to slow her down but there was no stoppin I know the feeling

Sorry Brotha but that is what keeps us keeps us going back.




Bob

[BaddJack]

You will think about it forever,
that's why we do it,
my best were never seen.

[keeperreaper]

Mike,
Awful way to end a night but at least you were in the game and got to play with a big girl. Many will fish their whole life for that experience only to have fate shut the door on them without ever experiencing that feeling. Rest assured your knowledge and skill level was not at fault. It is these trying times that we reflect on and learn from and become even more profienct and skilled so next time the outcome may be different.


BTW- I was down current from you and slayed a huge 65 pounder. It had an eel and 200 yards of braid trailing it. Imagine that! Thanks for tiring her out for me. (This is in jest for those that are slow).

[Bronko]

I am sure you are bumming Mike, it sounds like you lost a beast. But as Matt said, you know your stuff and are as well prepared as anyone out there. You'll be rewarded with something bigger down the line.

And then you can throw that one in the woods for the big bad wolf.