How Many MONSTAHS Did It TAKE,,,,,,,,,,

[basswipe]

I've been at this for a long time and 26lber is the best I have to show.
I've lost count of the 30+lbers I've lost,its been so many its sickening.
Most have unhooked themselves literally right at the waterline.

Someday I keep telling myself.

[Sea Dangles]

How do you know they are monsters getting away if you have never caught one and you never get to see the fish? I have had outings where I cach fish in the 40 lb. class only to think the next one is bigger because it fights harder. When it comes time to lip it, the harder fighting fish is mid 20's.
Patience is an important attribute when fighting large fish. Let the rod and reel work for you,don't try to horse it through the guides.

[basswipe]

Originally Posted by Sea Dangles

How do you know they are monsters getting away if you have never caught one and you never get to see the fish? I have had outings where I cach fish in the 40 lb. class only to think the next one is bigger because it fights harder. When it comes time to lip it, the harder fighting fish is mid 20's.
Patience is an important attribute when fighting large fish. Let the rod and reel work for you,don't try to horse it through the guides.

In my case I've seen many of the fish,some of which I was reaching down to actually grab.

Trust some of these fish were HUGE.

[Slingah]

I am lucky...I went from dinks to cows right off the bat in the 90's...big girls were abundant to where I was taken and I stepped up as I was told and got heavy equipment....I can honestly say we landed almost every large we hooked, for years....it was sandy beaches, eels, sharp hooks and alot of time spent...it was easy.
For the past 5 years or so...things have taken a step backwards. I say due to lack of fish in those spots (seals), not fishing eels that often and not playing the fish right when hooked up in shallow rocky areas. I have had alot of heartbreakers the past few....

[steve]

Basswipe, something is radically wrong if you are losing alot of big fish at that late stage of the fight. Be more specific. Also, I agree with Seadangles, unless you see the fish, you really never know how big they are. It seems like every season I'll catch a fish and think it's alot bigger until I get it close and land it. Believe me, I been "disappointed" with 38 pound fish that fought and felt like much, much bigger bass. The scale is THE true tell.

[basswipe]

Originally Posted by steve

Basswipe, something is radically wrong if you are losing alot of big fish at that late stage of the fight. Be more specific. Also, I agree with Seadangles, unless you see the fish, you really never know how big they are. It seems like every season I'll catch a fish and think it's alot bigger until I get it close and land it. Believe me, I been "disappointed" with 38 pound fish that fought and felt like much, much bigger bass. The scale is THE true tell.

Radically wrong is an understatement.I've had reels explode,rods shatter,line snap.I've fallen on my ass or gone for an unintentional swim with fish on.I've had 6xVMCs straighten out.I'm no slouch on gear and maintenance.Everything gets checked on a regular basis.

And yet I've landed literally several dozen 18+ pound bluefish.In one particular instance several 20+(one was tipped the scale at just over 22) with no issues.I know the weights to be accurate as a majority of the 20+ fish were actually weighed.

Landing big bass just seem to elude me.

[steve]

Boy basswipe, that's too bad. You have some rotten luck!

[Raider Ronnie]

Originally Posted by basswipe

Radically wrong is an understatement.I've had reels explode,rods shatter,line snap.I've fallen on my ass or gone for an unintentional swim with fish on.I've had 6xVMCs straighten out.I'm no slouch on gear and maintenance.Everything gets checked on a regular basis.

And yet I've landed literally several dozen 18+ pound bluefish.In one particular instance several 20+(one was tipped the scale at just over 22) with no issues.I know the weights to be accurate as a majority of the 20+ fish were actually weighed.

Landing big bass just seem to elude me.

6xVMCs don't straighten out !
Anyone who uses them knows that.
The break or snap !

[BassDawg]

THANKS very much gentlemen!!

still no count from anyone,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

DZ, i am speaking of fish in the 50# and up range.
while it is true ya never know til they hit the scale,
it IS easy to tell the difference when the beast stays low and you can feel her shoulders as she peels line off as if she's not even hooked while she's trying to spool you, or hunkers down to break you off.

i seem to be doing well with the 30# to 38#+ class and have landed
several in that range in the past couple of years,,,,,,,so i have a pretty good read on how that feels. also, i've had a couple of BIGGUNS within sight, and two of them have jumped to reveal their approximate size.

i sharpen my hooks religiously, change leaders often, have learned some more about how to 'play the fish' amongst the rocks, got the strumming thing down when they hunker, and feel confident about setting the hook and having solid hook sets.

i guess for me it is the LAHHHGE ones that i remember the most,
every second, every nuance of the battle, and all my effff upps.

thanks again Chris, Dennis, and Steve. hoping for MUCH
better results in '09~~ God Willing and the Good Lord Providing.

[WESTPORTMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Raider Ronnie

6xVMCs don't straighten out !
Anyone who uses them knows that.
The break or snap !

Had one straightened this year in the Canal. The fish felt like a truck tire. Long fight but no sight of the fish.

[luds]

Originally Posted by Raider Ronnie

6xVMCs don't straighten out !
Anyone who uses them knows that.
The break or snap !

you can bend the trebles.

bass dawg,
careful with the gami octopus hooks. those will snap.

[basswipe]

Originally Posted by Raider Ronnie

6xVMCs don't straighten out !
Anyone who uses them knows that.
The break or snap !

Scuse me.Physics says they have to start straightning before they break.

Like I said I've Straightened 6X's.I ain't a %$%$%$%$ing liar.

Must be %$%$%$%$ing Winter.

[luds]

Originally Posted by Sea Dangles

How do you know they are monsters getting away if you have never caught one and you never get to see the fish? I have had outings where I cach fish in the 40 lb. class only to think the next one is bigger because it fights harder. When it comes time to lip it, the harder fighting fish is mid 20's.
Patience is an important attribute when fighting large fish. Let the rod and reel work for you,don't try to horse it through the guides.

Exactly.....It's not a monster until it's at your feet on dry land or in your hands when you're in the water.. Heavy tackle, quick reaction, smart decision making, patience, appropriate pressure, and a good hook set all play a role.