Dateline: Sunday, August 16, 2009

Location: Public pond, Germantown, TN

Water: High & stained, 1' visibility

Eqipment: BCR854, Curado 200E7, PP 50/12

Lure: 1/2 oz GMAN jig, black; Rage Tail Lobster, blue

We all know about the soft bite, that weightless feeling or

a slight twitch in the line. That can be a tough bite to detect,

but there is another jig bite.

I started fishing in a small indentation located on the

northeast corner of the pond. Recent storms had pushed

a lot of tree limbs and other debris into a relatively small

pocket. Probability of getting hung-up: 100%.

What the heck...First cast is just outside visible timber.

Very slow retrieve, short pull and fall on slack line. No strike.

Second cast...hung-up on what felt like a big limb. Jiggling

the jig, the lure popped off and fell off the wood, but into

more trash.

I'm fishing to my right, so the reel is being palmed open

towards where I am working the bait. I lower my rod to

casually work through the mess. Light grip and not paying

too much attention. And then she struck!

Well now, a weak grip and out of position. Rod tip down

and slack line. Not a good combination for a hook-set.

The bass was probably just sitting in ambush, snacking

on bluegill, but when that jig fell in front of her, she

attacked!

The strike was violent as she came up out of her hideout.

She literally jerked the rod out of my left hand, I caught the

butt with my right hand and she took off.

I was in no position for a hook-set and she was pulling drag

towards the middle of the pond. After repositioning myself

and regaining my senses, I was finally able to engage the

rod and put a little heat on her. That's when she pulled a

Flipper!

Fish are always bigger in the water, especially the ones that

get away. When she jumped, I'm guessing about 22 lbs 5 oz.

The fat girl fought like a mule and when she was finally landed,

she was pregnant fat...Must have had a seven course meal

Saturday night and a full breakfast Sunday morning. This was

a big bass with a mouth the size of a salad plate.

So, great fish, but no scale or camera. I hate it when people

overestimate their catch. Some might claim double digit, I'll just

say a solid 5lbs or maybe a little better!

;D ;D ;D

Nice save and quick reactions!!

And, you got a nice fish out of it.

Great story.

Old fogies often nod off at inopportune times. ;D

But you've still got those reflexes! 8-)

 It had to be a solid 6lb at least ...

skillet

Rw, now that will keep you on your toes. Good recovery. Did you get the roof of the mouth on the eventual swing?

hookset on 3

No, the hook lodged in the joint of the jaw. I applied a great

deal of pressure fighting the fish, but never "set" the hook.

Generally, I feel a double setting or setting a hook "after the

fact" in counterproductive: High probability of pulling out.

8-)

That's cool, love the violent strike!!  Not even a crappy cell phone pic?  You are killing me!   ;D

Cameras and scales have bad karma, they tend to scare the

better fish. Ask anyone, once you start weighing bass, nearly

all your fish are smaller than the one's you are use to catching!

;D ;D:D ;D ;D

No, the hook lodged in the joint of the jaw. I applied a great

deal of pressure fighting the fish, but never "set" the hook.

Generally, I feel a double setting or setting a hook "after the

fact" in counterproductive: High probability of pulling out.

Interesting theory on the double hook set.  I've been reading some stuff by Roland Martin, apparently he's a big believer in multiple hook sets.  I had one last evening that ran on me and I never set the hook, I don't think, and she came off.  Anyway, congrats on the hog.

8-)

"Cameras and scales have bad karma, they tend to scare the

better fish. Ask anyone, once you start weighing bass, nearly

all your fish are smaller than the one's you are use to catching!"

                                                                         RW    

 Whole lot of truth to that statement ...

skillet

Hey great story!  The stories are one of the best parts about fishing.  

Good story, nice fish............I have 20" mark with masking tape on my rod, gives me a decent idea of size.

great story RW.  congrats on the nice fish