I once caught a goose on a popiel pocket fisherman at a State Park, the Game Warden nor my Grandfather seemed to like my new kite nearly as much as the small crowd that had gathered to watch me try and reel it in.   In the end, I won the battle with the goose, and the hook was removed from its beak.

 

So I guess you are smarter than me, at least you caught a fish, not a water fowl.

I did catch a domestic goose once while fishing for carp, probably on of the best catches of my life, had fun on the water and on the ground, man, what a fight !

Not knowing the exact terrain you were fishing from I don't know if this method is possible.  I first learned this beach fishing but I've done it countless times bass fishing, that is just walking backwards and pulling the fish up.  It's surprising how big a fish can be handled this way, lifting them up with the rod not only do you risk the line breaking but your rod breaking too.

There is a time and place to not land a fish but break it off.  Having a fish on the line 20 or 30 minutes that you may not be able to lift up anyway (in some cases that may be illegal), sometimes it's best not to over stress that fish, you've had your fun.

Sucks. Happens every now and then.

I did the same thing with my first catfish and probably all time best at a public lake. I brought it all the way to shore, (didn't bring a net so look who's smarter now) and at some point the line snapped and off it went with a texas-rigged 6" purple roboworm and a gamakatsu 3/0 offset hook. I pretty much died on the inside because of how dissapointed I was.      P.S. I was expecting a bass on the other end of the line. Wasn't even fishing for catfish.

We've got a decent sized group in my area that fish over the backside of the dam, I've always wondered what the plan of attack will be when they hook a big pike or musky.  Sure small walleye, bluegill, and bass may be hoistable, but those 40+" toothy critters?  I suppose I'll have to ask one of those dam dwellers about it someday.

 

I fish the dams around here, usually a good 15' drop to the water. Swinging fish up works good until you get a 20"+ walleye or a big drum. Then we have pier nets that we can lower to net the fish. Almost everyone has one in their truck. 

I fish the dams around here, usually a good 15' drop to the water. Swinging fish up works good until you get a 20"+ walleye or a big drum. Then we have pier nets that we can lower to net the fish. Almost everyone has one in their truck. 

 

AHA!!!!  Thanks for sharing, I bet thats the part I've never seen.  When people fish the dam they aren't too far from the parking area so this is probably what they do.