plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

Did you ever notice that sometimes when we tell a fish tale it starts with I can’t remember what the day of the week it was, but there I was!!!!!

There i was reeling in my slack after my bite got away when all of a sudden the yak and i are being pulled across the river headed for deeper waters. A good 15 minutes went by with the reel peeling and retracting numerous times, only to finally snap the braid from the wear and tear of fighting what must of been a monster of a skate.


Who else wants to share a moment of a catch or the one that got away?

Slimshady Loc: Central Pennsylvania

That is so true Plum. I was bass fishing out of a canoe on the shanendoah river. Got hung on a log. Gave it 2 or 3 hard yanks and the fight was on. After a good 10 minute fight, I landed my log. Only thing is,it turned out to be a 21 pound carp.

bknecht Loc: Northeast pa

Good one Plumb, once on Lake Ontario maybe 2 or 3 years ago I hooked into what I thought at first was a monster smallie except it simply didn’t fight like one. Turned out that it was a pig of a sheepshead that I lost right at the boat. Had it been a monster smallie I would have been a lot more disappointed.

Rutinbuck Loc: Haysville, Kansas

Your spot on again plumbob but this one didn’t get away, I caught it 21 years ago. My biggest flathead I landed at 2 in the morning but this was not your normal catch. I’m fishing with my dads pistol grip browning boron rod and a Shimano bantam reel with 8 pound mono line that should’ve been replaced 3-4 years prior to this outing. I’ve got a little hook tied on, one you would use to catch bluegills with. On the hook is a piece of chicken liver. Why would anyone fishing for catfish use a little hook like that is beyond me! I’m fishing with my son-in-law and we haven’t had a bite all night and thinking about leaving when I get a bite that moves the tip of my rod maybe an inch and I set the hook. I’m thinking, we’ll crap it’s snagged because it’s not budging. I’m thinking about breaking it off when it starts moving. It’s taking drag and ain’t stopping, it must’ve stripped off a 100 yards. I’d get some back and it’d take off on a run again. This went on for 20 minutes before I got it up to the bank when the line snapped. That flathead just laid there so I got my feet wet, got in the water and picked it up. Remember me telling you about dad always being lucky and could catch a 10 pound bass in a Walmart parking lot? I think he was right there with me helping me reeling it in. Man what a catch that was!

Rutinbuck Loc: Haysville, Kansas

We didn’t weigh this fish but it had to of weighed 40+ pounds.

OJdidit Loc: Oak Creek Wisconsin

It must have been 1975 or so when Mom, Dad and I went to Sand Lake in Florence County. Dad and I carried our jonboat down to the beach and launched onto this beautiful, flat calm body of water. Mom stayed near the put-in and caught panfish from shore. Dad rowed me around while smoking his Salem Menthols and I peered over the side. The water was gin clear and I could see the old spawning beds in water well over 15’ deep. I chose a Hula Popper that made its way from Dad’s old tackle box to mine somehow 🤷🏼‍♂️😉 and tied it on to my Dad’s Zebco 33 combo. I can still hear the wop wop wop of the lure as it broke the flat surface of the lake and can still see the gentle, bubble filled wake as it formed on the water. I fan casted that lure for about half an hour as Dad just rowed us around taking in the scenery.
Suddenly, there was a big splash as I apparently irritated something lurking below. Not having a clue what it was as it exploded on the lure and dove straight down to the bottom. My rod was doubled over, and it was game on. Dad pulled in the oars and we just floated along with the fish. It towed us around for at least 20 minutes and we covered about an acre of the lake. I gained maybe 3’ of line on it the entire time. Dad just laughed and had another cigarette. At the end, the fish was straight below us and the rod tip straightened out and the lure just gently floated to the surface, right next to the boat. Dad just laughed and I reeled in about 30’ of line. It then dawned on me that I never set the hook. The fish caught me unprepared, grabbed the lure and headed straight for the bottom as it tried to rip the rod out of my hands. I held on, that was it. I can only guess it was a beast with a hard mouth like a big pike or a musky? It must have just clamped onto the lure and wouldn’t or couldn’t let go for a long time.
Another fishing mystery which will never be solved.
I did walk away with with a lesson or two learned…upgrade my equipment and sharpen my hooks. I have the knowledge to be able to find them…I just need to stop showing up to a gunfight with a knife 🤦🏼‍♂️
Thinking back on all my “Ones that got away” stories, it may just boil down to my LOFT 😂

OJdidit Loc: Oak Creek Wisconsin

Nice cat!

Big dog Loc: Bayshore, Long Island, New York

And many moments there were ???

Flytier Loc: Wilmington Delaware

Wasn't me that lost the fish, but my brother. We were camped at a lake on a rocky point that stuck out into the water. It was a classic hangout for largemouth, but neither of us had a clue as to what might be there. He "borrowed" my jitterbug , tied it on his rod and threw it into the water. There was a huge splash as it waddled back to shore, and his rod bent over double. About 10 seconds into the fight the 12 pound mono snapped like thread. That was the end of his monster fish and my plug. Our scout master witnesses the whole battle and his only comment was, " that fish could have swallowed my arm".

Grizzly 17 Loc: South central Pa

As far as not remembering what day of the week it was. Well I've perfected that now. Retirement tossed out much of the calendar 😂. I remember the moment 16 yrs old n driving. I could get to more trout streams. Hit a few spots nothing. Stopped at a small jump over creek. One dropoff created a hole about the size of a galvanized wash tub. I dropped the redworm in n let it drift down stream n drop into the tub. Bam lifted rod big rainbow splash bow gone. Repeat bam same thing tried to lift n swing list again. Disappointed but bullheaded I keep trying. Finally bam set the hook but this time I backed up n slid him on land. A big fat 16" rainbow. Kodak moment but my Kodak brownie was home. I couldn't wait to show it to my pap. Ended up as part of supper. 🎣🎣

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

I have never fished from a canoe, can't imagine landing a carp in one.

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

Now that would make for a good topic bk. The one that got away. Haven't we all been there?

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

Yes Rut, i do remember your Dad post about his luck. It appears he shared some of it with you on that one. The closes i came to a release and grab was a 24" trout that was within net reach of the yak. Fought me to his end all the way to within 5 feet of the yak.

Lure came flying back at my head, ducked in time and in an instant saw the trout was just resting in place. Obviously stunned himself as well as being tired out. Scoop went the net in the water and dinner headed for the oven.

With that 2am mentioning makes me recall night fishing at a dam on the Penn/ Md line a very long time ago.

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

OJ you aren't alone in the not setting the hook. One would think on a hit and run why set the hook? Well obviously you are living proof. Really good story if that helps at all.

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

Visions of sharknado Ft.