that’s a loaded question , because …
– Last Updated: Apr-10-09 12:14 AM EST –
..... of the many different species that are chased and hunted for .
I consider size/weight relevant to the species , I'm sure we all understand this pretty well ... also fairly certain we all have our favorites too .
Mine would be Stripers, Musky, Smallmouth, Jackpike, Northerns, Crappie, and I'll throw in Largemouth . Although I'm not opposed to spending some time for other species if that's what happening at the time .
Now for each given species , the biggest one that got away ... would have been the biggest fish of it's species ever recorded on record from the waters of which it was swimming , had I landed it .
What's that you say , "I'm being a bit optimistic" ?? ... yeah , you're correct , but don't tell anybody OK !!
I have a gazzillion monster stories about the one that got away , all are fondly remembered ... and many a fish has earned my respect !!
In many cases (but not all) I was outclassed by the fish . Basically that means my line wasn't heavy enough !! In general I use a light line for the species I'm after , but I get frustrated more than not when one breaks off . It's a ballancing act ya know , most of the time the line is sufficient , up to the task at hand . IMHO , light line is what makes it "sport" , the challenge !!
Too many stories to pick from but here's one anyway .
Used to spend a lot of time working this particular reservoir , one rather hot and humid day I worked hard in every nook and cranny I knew , pulled out all the stops but it just didn't pan out too well for me this day , a couple /few little ones . A lot of work with not much reward , happens ya know !!
As reservoir close time was nearing (Loch Raven) I find myself back in a cove reasonably near (10 mins.)to the launch , hiding in some shade half heartedly taking my final opportunities to cast a few more ... out in the distance I hear and see the sweeper coming over my way (this is the power boat dude who sweeps the reservoir up near closing time , chasing the irresponsibles like myself back into the launch) .
He puts on a good show , high speeds right up to ya , washes ya with his wake and politely says , "you got 10 mins. to get back in , hurry it up" !! ... then floors it out of there . (only power boat allowed on lake, lol)
So that's it , I fire up the trolling motor and set a course straight out the centerline of the cove . Hey , why not just toss on that ol deep runner this old man gave me as a tip for some window work , and troll it behind , can't hurt anything , right ??
Problem is all I've brought was light light outfit today ... do it anyway , what's the odds ??
Here I am trolling this ol Hedon out of the cove , I feel it bouncing bottom , then comes a drop off and down , down she goes . I let out more line , must of had 130' or so dragging behind , mind ya this is 6 lb. test , lol . Then it happens , I hang a snag on a deep stump ... oh my heart is broken , what a way to end this particular day , fits just perfectly !! A great ol hedon collectors lure , no time and a fat chance to recover it anyway , might as well just tighten the drag and snap off .
I unwedge the rod , and begin to tighten the drag ... hesitant to give up so quickly , I start pulling the rod into a half circle , could it possibly be giving some ?? Holding tight and pulling , I get the notion that the line seems to be moving to the right a little . No that's not possible , it's an illussion , the boat must be turning , I shut off the motor .
Seems like many minutes passed as I just held the rod up high and tight trying to dismiss the fact that something might be on there ... Man there's a lot of line out !!
Then comes the undeniable fact , it is a fish and he is coming up to the surface . My line begins to show it's length , where it enters the water is stretching out away from me "fast" !!
I hear the power boat's engine again and turn to see him burning in on me from the distance , oh great , I'm in deep s**t , in more than one way now !!
You know how you can watch your line stretching out away from you and almost tell exactly when the fish will surface and break water ?? Well that's what happened , this was a Largmoyth Bass , and when he surfaced it was like a rocket . Surely he could have jumped over a standard table top when he went airborn ... this is no joke , it was the biggest Largemouth I had ever encountered , like the ones in the magazines or stuffed on wall plagues .
In mid air , it flipped and "SNAP" !!!!
The guy in the power boat arrived seconds afterwards . I said , sorry but I got delayed by this fish you see ?? He says , don't worry about it , I saw the whole thing . I said how big was that that fish you think ?? ... he said at least 10 bs. , it was huge , just don't be tryin for another one on the way in I want to go home tonight .
Moral to the story ... don't be trolling ol deep divin collector Hedon's in reservoirs on a light rod and 6 lb. test , unless all you want to do is have a story to tell about the "big one that got away" !!
ps., ... if you read all this , you deserve to catch bunches of fish real soon , and a few monsters for the scrap book too ... best of luck !!