So there I am on the lake last night. It's about 9pm. Cloudy, on and off drizzle and a little breezy.

I had been doing ok throwing small jigs. Got a couple of small bass and 1 crappie. Something big has jumped twice across from where I was at, so I head over there to see what's up.

I tie on a floating Rapala and start throwing it in the area where the commotion had been. Then I hooked on to it. Immediately it starts to run, the drag screaming. It was huge. I could see the water boil whenever I got him near the surface, but never got a clear look at him. I'm thinking PB for sure. Nothing has ever spooled me like this. I'm shaking by now, and some people who were walking by are now watching. After about five minutes, I get it to where I can reach down to pull it out.

It's a @*&^%%## foul hooked brown carp >

I had snagged him about 2 inches from the tail. Only one hook of the rear treble was in him. I was so ^%$%*& disappointed ! I did not have a scale with me, but he was at least 8 lbs easily.

BUT, I learned some important things:

1) I tie good knots ;D

2) Pflueger makes an awesome drag

3) Trilene XL is good line

4) Rapala uses quality hooks

Oh well, it's nice to know that everything works on the equipment side.

Yeah, it was a carp, but you have to admit it was fun being caught up in the moment.  

Same thing happened to me the other day. I was throwing a bucktail on 12lb sufix for smallies when I hooked up with somethin. Immediately I thought 8 pound smallie, then no...too big. I fought it for a minute or so until it made a run straight up to the surface, it got about 4 feet from the surface and then it turned and I saw about a 3 foot long golden flash, then I though muskie. I finally got it up and it was a 21 1/2 pound common carp. > Talk about ticked off >.

It is fun to have your adrenaline goin like that though isn't it?

Ian

It's all about the adventure Bilgerat and sounds like you had one for sure. You will be tellin' that story for years to come 'cause the fight wasn't just a fight....It was a BATTLE.  

Big O

www.ragetail.com

Yep. Had that a feeling a couple times. First was with a 9lb. drum, 2nd was a 9ish striper.

Bittersweet. The whole while, you're thinking PB, oh my god, this is huge, adrenaline, all that jazz...then, it eclipses the surface and you get that sinking feeling. But you can at least still appreciate the fight.