Well,I finally got back out in the lake for a couple hours yesterday.Decided to start a short distance down from my property and fish the whole west shoreline,not just the hot spots.I had a nice fish pick up my watermelon red fluke but he came off at the hook set,which rarely happens to me.Next fish I had seen a good sized swirl and through into the area and felt the tap.The line broke when I set it!? 

Which almost never happens to me anymore.It was then I noticed my   (Shimano stradic) was reeling kind of rough.Needing oil. So not wanting to ruin the gears,I retired it for the day.

So I pick up my spare plastics rod, which has a reel with a slower gear speed.

Next fish, another good one,he runs straight at me into some eel grass.Im reeling frantically to keep up and HE comes off.Now I'm getting frustrated.Miss another fish.

T hen I stick a 2 pounder,and as I pull him out of the water,the line breaks! I nearly went home at that point.

But I kept on and caught 3 before dark.One of them, a 2 pounder,  was caught where I caught my PB many years ago.And the other 2 were caught with baby brush Hogs in Ruby red by the Island out of wood.Even with the setbacks,it was a beautiful evening on the water.Owls hooting,geese calling,dogs baying way off.

Lessons learned: Time to change line.

Time to oil reels.( Should have done these sooner) and time to sharpen hooks!Things I know,but I have a lazy streak I guess.

And not to get frustrated when things don't go my way.I could be in a 3rd world country just fishing and whatever else to just have something to eat! Very thankful!

Mike

 

Definitely not your best day, but probably not your worst.  You still beat the skunk & learned some self imposed lessons.  Better luck is ahead next time.