This is one of those times where some really bad things happens while fishing and you've just got to pick yourself up and keep grinding and learning. 

 

I was fishing the river today and after 2 hours I finally found where some bass were holding. I got a big bite. The fish jumped and it was without a shadow of a doubt my PB SMB. A foot from landing it, it made one final jump and got off. Terrible. But wait there's more! THE VERY NEXT CAST I hook into another monster fish. It's not fighting as crazy but it's pulling hard. I see the fish, and it would have at least rivaled my PB LMB. Hard to say if it would have beat my PB LMB but it was a BIG UN. Well it shook off a couple feet from me too.

 

I had to take a good long while to process what had happened to me. It's possible that I had both both PB species on the end of my line within not even minutes of each other but absolutely nothing to show for it. Picked myself up and kept going. Had a decent day after than, at least a dozen fish, mostly SMB and a few LMB. Nice crappie too. 

 

They shook me on a squarebill. Moderate Fast rod, mono line. I was set up for the job. Just one of those things. Maybe I need to hit the confessional or something because I clearly did something bad somewhere along the way.

Naw, they were just practicing for the next time you when you pull them in. You did good.

Dang. Major Bummer. Been there, tho. A few moons back, but with

largies. I have always assumed the bass was a PB, and I swear she

laughed at me after she spit the hook inches away from the net and

dove back into the depths of safety. Still hurts...LOL.

I had what would have been a pb muskie shake off a few feet from the boat years ago and I jumped into the cold water (50 degrees) after it...

 

 

How is catching bass and hooking a pair of big bass that got away before you released them a bad day? You didn't get bit by a poisonous snake, fall and break your leg, your vehicle was still where you parked it and you learned what lure and presentation worked.

Every day on the water is a good day.

Tom

 

1 minute ago, WRB said:

How is catching bass and hooking a pair of big bass that got away before you released them a bad day? You didn't get bit by a poisonous snake, fall and break your leg, your vehicle was still where you parked it and you learned what lure and presentation worked.

Wevery day on the water is a good day.

Tom

 

I like your outlook, Tom, but there's nothing like a completed catch where you're holding your fish in your hands and getting some photos for the memories. It feels incomplete and that is a bummer.

I was expecting something truly devastating!  Losing a few fish isn't that bad!  Losing gear, damaging boats or damaging yourself is waaaay worse.  You can go back and catch those fish!  

28 minutes ago, Glaucus said:

I like your outlook, Tom, but there's nothing like a completed catch where you're holding your fish in your hands and getting some photos for the memories. It feels incomplete and that is a bummer.

Just putting things into perspective. You were disappointed loosing a pair of big bass.

Hope you never experience devastation.

Tom

Got up at 3 am.

I fished 9 hours - 

Got rained on and blown off the lake.

Never saw a fish.

Congrats on a great day.

A-Jay

 

Wait, the big one that got away? never heard that one before. 

My fuel pump went out leaving me trolling the 2 miles back to the ramp ?. 

Bass are good at spitting treble hooks! You’ll get em one of these days. 

It's better to have hooked & lost than never have hooked at all.

 

That’s fishing. 

Everyone likes catching.

Fishing is a different story..

That should only fuel you more?

Sometimes the Fishing Gods will not be in your corner. Here is a story that is true and if you can picture it happening you may get a chuckle out of it. Direct from the Fishing Gods!

 

I know of a gentleman (elementary school teacher) that is an excellent bass fisherman and he had something happen to him and his partner that was way out of the ordinary. On the level of losing a personal best but not the same.

 

While fish along the bank of a local lake, a tree came crashing down on his boat, himself and his partner.  He jumped out of the boat when he saw the tree coming down while his partner hunkered down and got hit by some dead branches.

 

Then the fun started! Ants. Thousands and thousands of ants. All over the boat, motor, and his partner. Seems the ants had eaten the tree causing it to fall at the exact moment the boat was passing by.

 

If I remember correctly, I think he had to jump overboard, too, to get rid of the ants that fell on him.

 

They finally had to get back in the boat, remove the dead tree and its branches, and run back to the ramp with all of the remaining ants on them and the boat.

 

So when the Fishing Gods are against you they can take whatever paths to get to you, be it losing your personal bests at your boat or having a dead tree full of ants fall on your boat. You can't get the Fishing Gods mad at you.

 

Be sure to let us know when you finally land that one big lady for your personal best. Good luck.

"Bass are good at spitting treble hooks!"

 

I hate those skinny little wire ones. 

 

It's 3 a.m. and time to go fishing. 

Man, sorry to hear that. I can feel that pain all the way over here. I think more of my losses of fish occur with treble lures that for one reason or another, with which I don’t manage to get a good hookset. 

 

At least you were on the dance floor twice. 

7 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Got up at 3 am.

I fished 9 hours - 

Got rained on and blown off the lake.

Never saw a fish.

Congrats on a great day.

A-Jay

 

you are human !

9 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Got up at 3 am.

I fished 9 hours - 

Got rained on and blown off the lake.

Never saw a fish.

Congrats on a great day.

A-Jay

 

Still better than being at work for sure!!!  haha

11 hours ago, WRB said:

How is catching bass and hooking a pair of big bass that got away before you released them a bad day? You didn't get bit by a poisonous snake, fall and break your leg, your vehicle was still where you parked it and you learned what lure and presentation worked.

Every day on the water is a good day.

Tom

 

Exactly. Many were working. Possibly on their 2nd job while your were fishing.

3 hours ago, clh121787 said:

you are human !

LOL - Yup.

While I can live with some fish less days, but hate when the forecast is just not even close.

Fall bites coming though . . 

A-Jay

Tough to lose them but you know where they hang out. 

Bummer.  It happens though, even sometimes when you do everything right, they still manage to flail themselves loose.  At your you got to describe your day with "went fishing in the river today", my day was "sat at my desk at work today".

 

6 hours ago, Johnbt said:

"Bass are good at spitting treble hooks!"

 

I hate those skinny little wire ones. 

 

It's 3 a.m. and time to go fishing. 

 

So I'm not the only one who wakes up a little early to read BR forums before heading out to go fishing.

18 minutes ago, Dwight Hottle said:

Tough to lose them but you know where they hang out. 

well said

Those hurt, yes, but you were fishing and doing well.  You'll live and if you happened to be getting a little bored with fishing (it happens) I bet you aren't now.