Finally got my boat out of the shop and got a friend to sneak away from work to try it out. We started out around HBSP and picked up a mixed bag of fish. I think we pretty much had one of every species in the lake. No size to them but at least they were biting. I think we had small mouth, large mouth, crappie, white bass, yellow bass, couple of drums and even a catfish. We moved around several times and people were everywhere. Crowded for a Wednesday.
About 10am I got a bump on my jerkbait and I set the hook hard... On a stump ... Got that unhooked and on the next cast I got another bump and thought it might also be a stump. We were very shallow. But this stump was moving. I knew it was big but I told my partner I didn't think it was a bass. It was slow and heavy... It made a slow and steady run for deep water and I couldn't do anything with it. I said out loud that it must be a big cat or striper. I never had one pull like that. Tom insisted it was a bass. I thought it was going to break off so I loosened the drag only to see it run too fast. Tightened it back up a bit and hung on. It finally started around the other side of the boat. I was all around the boat trying to keep pressure on it. Still had not seen it.
I told Tommy to get the net but he replied. There ain't a bass in this lake I can't lip at the boat. Then it came up and we got a look. Tommy started digging for the net. It was the biggest LM I had ever caught. No wonder it felt different.
We got it in the net and it only had one treble barely hooked. Amazed it stayed on. Just my day I guess.
My digital scales weighed it at 11lb - 4ozs. My PB by a long ways. Back in 88 i caught a 9-9.
A few minutes later I caught a 5-4 that looked tiny beside it. Then a 3plus fish after that was all we managed for the day. In all we probably caught 20 plus fish. Most were short.
Fun day on the lake with a friend. The PB was just a big bonus. We took some measurements before it was released. 25-1/2 long and 21-3/4 girth.
Considering a replica mount. After seeing a few I am certain that is what I will do.
About 10am I got a bump on my jerkbait and I set the hook hard... On a stump ... Got that unhooked and on the next cast I got another bump and thought it might also be a stump. We were very shallow. But this stump was moving. I knew it was big but I told my partner I didn't think it was a bass. It was slow and heavy... It made a slow and steady run for deep water and I couldn't do anything with it. I said out loud that it must be a big cat or striper. I never had one pull like that. Tom insisted it was a bass. I thought it was going to break off so I loosened the drag only to see it run too fast. Tightened it back up a bit and hung on. It finally started around the other side of the boat. I was all around the boat trying to keep pressure on it. Still had not seen it.
I told Tommy to get the net but he replied. There ain't a bass in this lake I can't lip at the boat. Then it came up and we got a look. Tommy started digging for the net. It was the biggest LM I had ever caught. No wonder it felt different.
We got it in the net and it only had one treble barely hooked. Amazed it stayed on. Just my day I guess.
My digital scales weighed it at 11lb - 4ozs. My PB by a long ways. Back in 88 i caught a 9-9.
A few minutes later I caught a 5-4 that looked tiny beside it. Then a 3plus fish after that was all we managed for the day. In all we probably caught 20 plus fish. Most were short.
Fun day on the lake with a friend. The PB was just a big bonus. We took some measurements before it was released. 25-1/2 long and 21-3/4 girth.
Considering a replica mount. After seeing a few I am certain that is what I will do.
