All in a few hours.

Got out this afternoon.  Wanted to try the SK Caffein Shad as a jerk bait in the muck bottom patches along the shoreline.  

You cannot let anything get to the bottom or it loads up on the filamentous algae muck.

I usually toss spinnerbaits or chatterfrogs into those areas, and keep them from the bottom.

My two favorite baits from last year have not been good producers for me this year.  Sooooo, I needed something I could fish mid-water, at various speeds without it diving or settling into the muck.

The Caffein Shad did not disappoint.  While it did not "slay" them, it produced enough hits and landed fish to know that with some practice, and further experimentation, I'll find the technique that the fish want.

From there I moved to another area, and caught a few on a wacky rig.

Got to a rocky ridge, and tossed the ShakE2 jig with the SK finesse four inch worm, and caught a few more.

Worked close to the shore, and tossed the wacky along the edge of the hyacinth.

Something, I suspect a bass because the pickerel have been shut down for a few weeks, took the bait.  

At first I thought it was hung on a rock, so I tried to jiggle it free, and the line began to move away from me along the weed line.  

It pulled of a few yards of line, then turned and headed toward the boat.  As it neared the boat, it changed course for the open water, once again pulling line from the spool.

At first, I could not move the fish.  The rod just bent.

But after a bit, I began recovering line, and got the fish near the boat.  Then the knot joining the braid and leader showed, and it was about over.  That's what I thought.

The fish had different ideas.  It rose a little, then burrowed downward.  A huge boil on the surface resulted.  

Then, it was gone.  It had shed the hook, and gained its freedom.

It didn't move fast enough for a pickerel.

I never got a glimpse of it, but I had a great time while the hook stayed attached.

Back to the ShakE2 and finesse worm and seven more nice bass were the result.  

But the fish of the day, of the year, perhaps of my life, is out there, laughing at my futile attempts to bring her to boat.

man that sucks..

i have that happen on two big cats where they got away from a good fight.

man that sucks..

i have that happen on two big cats where they got away from a good fight.

In a way, it does suck.

But, for me anyway, it's better to hook into a large fish and lose it, than to miss it altogether.

I still had the excitement of a large fish on the business end of the line.  She would have been released anyway, so things are as they would have been, had I got her into the boat.

I would have liked a good look at it nonetheless.

man that sucks..

i have that happen on two big cats where they got away from a good fight.

In a way, it does suck.

But, for me anyway, it's better to hook into a large fish and lose it, than to miss it altogether.

I still had the excitement of a large fish on the business end of the line. She would have been released anyway, so things are as they would have been, had I got her into the boat.

I would have liked a good look at it nonetheless.

how long was you fighting it for in mater of minutes? to take the spool how to be a good time. and yea i see what you are saying but it is always nice to land them and get that pic if can. i no i learn its not easy taking photos by yourself. my avatar i took and that was the best i got. i might start using my wife  camara so i can use the timer. right now im using my phone. so no ideals or wild guess of what it might of been?

Don't feel too bad! I fished with a member on this forum Sat and lost the fish of my life! I know nobody will believe it but oh well! I was flippin' a worm to pads when i saw a GIANT bass dart out and take it on the fall(about 8' away). I reacted way too soon because i saw it! With my flippin' stick, Revo SX and 65lb braid i set the hook opposite of the fishes direction. The reel made a pop noise and the handle started spinning backwards! My wrist hurt bad after, it was like setting into a tree! The Revos that i love so much caused me to lose what was a new PB form me!!!!      

Thats to bad Rhino but at least you didn't SEE the fish..that could have led to a heartbreak  ;D

I had a similar experience two weeks ago, but I did get to see it when it tried to jump about 15' from the boat (10#-12# range). All it could do was a head shake above the surface-pulled off beside the boat as I was reaching for it. I was using a weedless wacky rigged Zoom Trick worm.