Looking for a little peace of mind here because I hooked onto something big last night that broke me off in some rocks before I had a chance to see what it was.  I was dropshotting at a reservoir where the only thing that could take drag would be a carp or a donkey-sized LMB - my question is this - do donkey-sized LMB go on runs where they'll rip line?  I've hooked onto and landed carp twice before that behaved like this, and this fish did it 3-4 times, and I'm trying to sleep at night knowing it's not normal DD LMB behavior and I just lost what would have easily been a PB!

I’ve had a spotted Gar grab my grub off a bobber and it was pretty strong.  Wasn’t all that big either. And it kept doing it until I moved. 

Carp for sure unless a cat might be involved.

Could have been a largemouth. But a catfish sounds more likely than a carp.  Unless you snagged it, which is possible with a drop shot.  Could be a big drum if you have them in your waters.

Around here, there are no fish bigger than LMB or Carp. Cats 2lbs and over are very rare. I caught a few carp over the years on the dead stick (bait rod) that made a lot of long runs.

This 10lb+ grass carp with a jig in its back sure put up a great fight!!  Probably took me 10 mins to land it.  He went on about a dozen runs, took over a min before I even saw it, straight to the deep water bulldogging the whole way.

 

scott

 

Caught this fella at Clear Lake a few years ago on a wacky senko. Thought I had my PB at first but after it took a ridiculously long run under multiple docks I assumed it was 99.99% a carp. Since that .01% still existed I chased it around with the TM, but IME multiple long runs with no attempts to jump = carp or catfish.

Do you have striper?? They are crazy fast 

I believe it was your PB 11.5# LM bass that will likely never be fooled again and from this day forward, will only hunt at night. 

Probably a carp.  Every time I think I hooked a record LMB, it always turns out to be a catfish, carp, alligator gar, etc.  You can catch all kinds of fish that you wouldn't think would touch your bait.  Last year, I landed a 12lb channel cat on a top water popper in about a foot of water.  I thought for sure it was a monster bass when I hooked it, because I had caught a few smaller ones in the area already on that lure.  Plus, I'd never heard of anyone hooking a cat on a topwater.  Turns out, it happens from time to time.  

22 hours ago, Jig Man said:

Carp for sure unless a cat might be involved.

My thoughts too on the cat if not caro. 

If there is vegetation growing in those rock, I'd say a carp.

Most of the 8 pound and bigger bass I have caught have surfaced at least once during the fight. Carp and catfish tend to stay under the surface.

9 hours ago, Bankc said:

Probably a carp.  Every time I think I hooked a record LMB, it always turns out to be a catfish, carp, alligator gar, etc.  You can catch all kinds of fish that you wouldn't think would touch your bait.  Last year, I landed a 12lb channel cat on a top water popper in about a foot of water.  I thought for sure it was a monster bass when I hooked it, because I had caught a few smaller ones in the area already on that lure.  Plus, I'd never heard of anyone hooking a cat on a topwater.  Turns out, it happens from time to time.  

It's happened to me.  I once got a 3-4 lb channel cat on a hollow frog.

 

To the OP: I'd bet it was a carp or catfish.  Usually at some point a bass will surface. Catfish will often make an appearance with some thrashes at the surface. Carp really go on drag screaming runs.  I caught a decent carp this spring on a paddle tail.  They will eat an artificial bait, albeit rarely.

6 hours ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

In my are, I would give 80% cat 19.9 carp and the rest is bass. 

 

5 hours ago, roadwarrior said:

You need to find somewhere else to fish.

There’s a place like that around here. I still fish there, because there was a study done a few years back, where they electrocuted the water to catch fish and study they types and sizes. The study landed six LMB, but they were much bigger than what is average in the state. I, personally, have not caught or seen one caught there for about 23 years, but just seeing that official study, which was in the past five years, makes it impossible to not at least try to fish there every season. 

Vote for carp

I'd vote catfish also if you have any at all in the lake you were fishing. I can't remember any of even my largest bass making more than one or two short runs.