TankBobcatWatts

What lake?

:-( The one that got away: I have caught my personal best on Lake St. Clair multiple times (keep edging the last PB by a few ounces). I have now caught 7 smallies that are over 5 and hundreds in the 4- 4.5 range. Last summer (on St Clair again) fishing the mile roads I was throwing a pointer jerk bait using the 1-2-pause-drag cadence and on the 3rd drag it felt like my jerkbait hit a house. I leaned on a hookset and settled in for a battle. After about 2 minutes I got this beast up to the surface near the boat and I saw the flash and silhouette of it. Once I realized the size of it I loosened my drag 2 clicks to prevent any more stress on my 8 lb fluoro. After the second run I got him back right next to the boat and on the surface. For a solid 2 seconds I thought all I had to do was get him and then start taking pictures/ weighing this freak of nature. Well those 2 seconds came and went and he got some kind of 2nd wind and made 1 more run on me straight away towards the bottom. I saw how thick his back was and I knew after all the 4.5- 5 lb + fish I have caught that this one would easily put them to shame. Then... It happened. From my angle it looked like his tail hit my line as he was swimming away from me and changed the bait angle in his mouth... The hook pulled out on the next bulldog shake of his head. I was deflated and ticked... If my fishing partner had the net in his hand and not continuously casting during the fight he could have easily netted it on the 2nd approach to the boat. I cant blame anyone else though, I did everything right... and got shafted. I guess that's what happens when I take a rook out on the water with me haha. I'm telling you this particular smallmouth was at least 25 inches and his back looked as thick as my wrist. I'll bet my life he would have went easily over 7 lbs. I still have nightmares about it. When the hook came out I literally dropped my rod and just stared down into the water for a solid 5 minutes. It was one of those instances where I did everything perfect I mean EVERYTHING and I just wanted to know WHY?????!!!!!!! The monster on my line that day would have dwarfed the 5.3 in my avatar pic. I sad now :-( The only thing that made the day liveable after that was that I caught a 9 pound walleye on a dropshot and added 2 smaller walleye that were delicious by the way. Out on St Clair we catch lots and lots of walleye on accident while fishing for smallmouth.

I once netted a 15" largemouth that had a 12" largemouth lodged in its throat. I wonder what the little cannibal was thinking

Happens on the Lake I have a cabin on in Northern Michigan all the time. Never really a fish where the pops happen. I don't know what it is but I'm pretty sure it isn't fish. Maybe a turtle

The BIG thing I noticed with the more expensive reel was how much smoother the drag is. You don't want a herky jerky drag system when you have a potential personal best on your line. IMHO the absolute best reels/ drags I have personally dealt with for the $ are Shimano (chronarch, curado, core) and Abu Garcia (winch, STX, Premier). Value for my dollar I would buy Revo STX all day long

I am much better with baitcasters. So much better that I stopped using spinning reels

I he is a beginner I would suggest a mono such as Stren original due to the castability of it.

I use bc for everything. Only own 1 spinning and I haven't actually caught a fish on it (because I don't use it). I prefer everything about bc's. just my opinion

I use 1 winch for cranking and another winch for heavy cover heavy braid fishing... Can't beat that power out of the heavy stuff... Plus it helps slow down my retrieve when I get antsy

I hear it is awesome but haven't used it yet

I live on Lake St Clair and fish smallies multiple times per week all year... I use only fluorocarbon. Sunline FC Sniper or Pline Halo to be exact. I also use a palomar knot on everything and I very rarely break off. I range from 8 pound to 15-16 pound test. maybe an issue with hooksets? Are you letting them have it too long? are you torquing on the bronze backs while using a drop shot when it is unnecessary? What technique are you using out there?