SPOOLED

[chuckg]

Nauset light Beach, late September '03, got a hard hit on a big eel using 50lb braid and 50lb shocker. Headed for England at about 40 knots, so I tightened the drag right down, took me to the backing, slowed dowm, got two turns on the handle and took off again, breaking the line at the shock leader. I'd say seal since there was some in the area, but the way it took 250-300 yards of powerpro off in seconds has me still puzzled... Afterward, I couldn't take the line off the drag by hand since I had it tightened to the max...

[Adrian]

Wading the reef at Christmas Island back in 1994. We were on a bonefish trip but I packed some old spin gear since I heard the locals throw big plugs for Giant Trevally when the sun goes down. I guess I should have checked my gear before I left - I always do now

Second cast the surface exploded and I'm hooked up solid. Line started peeling out towards Japan at an alrming rate and then everything jammed up solid. The line snapped like a rifle shot and next thing I got dumped on the reef by a big wave. Got back to the beach grazed, bruised and a little bit wiser.

Couple of large gin & tonics and all was well with the world.

[sokinwet]

Two tall tales... both when I was a youngster fishing with my dad. First was when I was about 10 yrs. old fishing for schoolies in Quincy Bay with my dad. I was using a "Ted Williams" Sears trout rod and reel w 6 lb. test and hooked into a fish right at Sunken Ledge. We knew it was a big fish and started following in the tin boat when the line was just about gone. I fought the fish for a "little kids lifetime" and it took us out past the gut toward Brewster Spit before I finally started gaining some line back. I worked the fish back to the boat until it was straight down under the boat. We finally saw the fish and my dad estimated it was in the 40 lb. class. No monster but to a 10 yr. old it looked as big as a car! I couldn't pump it in with the little rod even though it was just laying there half dead about 20 ft. down but gave it my best. One good swipe of the tail as I was pumping and the 6 lb. broke and off it went. I cried for an hour!
Second time it was my dad at bat down in Woods Hole fishing Hoochies on wire at night. We had been catching a lot of big fish but this one was something else. The fish took us out of the Hole towards Buzzards Bay into the darkness and took my dad down to the backing several times. (if you say fish can't strip wire you don't fish wire enough!) My dad would work it back in and off it would go again. After about the 5th big run the line went slack and my dad reeled in a hoochie with a broken bead chain. We figured it was definately a big bass from the way it fought; just like all the others... only on steriods! My dad taught me a few new vocabulary words that night...which I still use on "rare" occasions today.

[eelman]

Right down to the knot? Nope I dont think that happens, I cant imagine anyone standing there watching 200yards of line get taken right to the bottom of the spool...I think its more a term for losing a big fish or a way to relate how big a fish was etc, Sure fish will break you off after maybe a goooooood run but truly spooled? no doesnt happen in my opinion, Nor has it happened to any fisherman I have had this conversation with , we always laugh about that "being spooled" anyway, I have caught fish from 53lbs on down and was never in a situation where I thought I might be spooled and end up with no line, I have had fish I could not turn right away but those always busted me off long before the spool looked anywhere near depleted.......


Most spoolings if they do happen are most likely some other type of fish...Schoolie tuna, Sharks, etc....or a bad case of complety lose drag..........

[fishaholic18]

Spooled? No. Could have been? Yup. Won't let it happen, PP's too $$$...Gotta put the breaks on b4 she spools ya. If she breaks off..You wouldn't have got her anyway..Could have gotten spooled a few times one night..Sharks I think, cranked the drag, palmed the spool, fought the battle for a while then POP!!!!