When I'm fishing for musky, I absolutely do not want to see the ones that come unbuttoned. I want all the lost ones to be 32"

 

Any other fish, I'm not fussed if I see them or not. I did watch one come off of the GDash this morning - would've been the best of the day, so that smarted a bit  

Most of my misses are on pike. The line almost pings on the hookset and then goes dead. So I'd rather not know about the monster I missed.

 

I've been lucky with smallies.

I had a giant bass eat a 12 inch bass I was fighting today.  I didn't really loose the big bass because she never got hooked ( angler error), and I did land the 12 inch bass so no fish was really lost, but I got a  good look at the giant bass, and all I can say is it hurts.

I look at it this way: it’s all part of the experience. Not knowing it’s simply that: not knowing. There’s simply nothing experienced  other than the “idea” of a big fish. But when you see her, and she’s thrashing all around you, and her mouth is as big and as wide as a grand canyon, that’s an experience that will last a lifetime!