The One That Got Away! I went out fishing in one of my favorite rivers today fishing from the dock casting my homemade spinner for salmon. At high tide, I got hit by a big Chinook that...

johnlmac Loc: Salem OR

I went out fishing in one of my favorite rivers today fishing from the dock casting my homemade spinner for salmon. At high tide, I got hit by a big Chinook that went downstream and then went upstream. He was pulling line and it looked like I was about to get spooled when a guide on the dock dropping off his passengers said I needed to tighten my drag. I tightened it a little and then he came over and tightened a bit more and even pulled on my line to see if it was not too tight. The fish was still pulling the line out but I was starting to get it to come in then all of a sudden I heard a snap and then another snap and the fish was gone. My 40lb. braided line halfway snapped and then completely snapped off. It made my day really heartbreaking.

Ridleyblake2017 Loc: Honesdale Pennsylvania

That’s a horrible feeling. You may remember it more than most big fish you landed.

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

johnlmac wrote:

I went out fishing in one of my favorite rivers to... (show quote)

A tough break, for sure, John. If he would have spoiled you, he would have broken your line anyway. What did the guide say?

johnlmac Loc: Salem OR

flyguy wrote:

A tough break, for sure, John. If he would have spoiled you, he would have broken your line anyway. What did the guide say?

I don't remember what the guide said. He was busy with his people and standing back a ways. It was something like OH, you lost it. The fish was still pulling line so my drag wasn't completely tight and the fish started going under the dock next door and going under a parked boat. But I don't know how that would have helped him to get away.

Jeremy Loc: America

I bet the braid had a Nick or something. You should of been able to reel that fish in. What a bummer.

Jeremy Loc: America

johnlmac wrote:

I went out fishing in one of my favorite rivers to... (show quote)

What River were you on? I used to fish near Hamlet Junction all the time in the fall

johnlmac Loc: Salem OR

Jeremy wrote:

I bet the braid had a Nick or something. You should of been able to reel that fish in. What a bummer.

It was the Nehalem river and I just put new braided line on my reel. When the line snapped I thought my pole snapped it was so loud but then I saw the line was a bit frayed near the reel and then it snapped the rest of the way.

Gmchief Loc: New Hampshire coast

🤦💔🤷

ChuckFasst Loc: NW Oregon

Too bad. I seen a guide do something similar on the Willamette River before. Except he took the rod from the shad fisherman and snapped the line on the big Chinook. I even videotaped it. It's on YouTube. These guides are into horsing their fish in. Not everyone's gear is a stout as theirs . 🫤

johnlmac Loc: Salem OR

ChuckFasst wrote:

Too bad. I seen a guide do something similar on the Willamette River before. Except he took the rod from the shad fisherman and snapped the line on the big Chinook. I even videotaped it. It's on YouTube. These guides are into horsing their fish in. Not everyone's gear is a stout as theirs . 🫤

I like to let the fish run a bit they usually always turn around. I lost one on the Trask river that spooled me. My reel wasn't full and with 15 lb. leader, I knew it would be gone if it didn't turn. Yesterday I had a 25 lb. leader and 40 lb. braid and the braid snapped.

Washingtonfish

I think messing with somebodys gear is a bad thing. He may have had good intentions but you could have lost that fish on your own. There is a chance you would have landed it.

FishermanLeeSonoma

Well, that was one heck of a battle!!! You'll get it next time. Big fish and drag, very sensitive thing. If he spooled you, no good, too tight a drag, no good. It's a hard decision but that fish will go spawn and make some big babies!!!

Katman Loc: Kentucky

Washingtonfish wrote:

I think messing with somebodys gear is a bad thing. He may have had good intentions but you could have lost that fish on your own. There is a chance you would have landed it.

I don’t want anyone touching my line when I have a fish on. I’m with Washingtonfish on that one. I’d never think of touching anyone’s rig especially while trying to land a fish.

johnlmac Loc: Salem OR

Katman wrote:

I don’t want anyone touching my line when I have a fish on. I’m with Washingtonfish on that one. I’d never think of touching anyone’s rig especially while trying to land a fish.

Yea, me neither.

johnlmac Loc: Salem OR

FishermanLeeSonoma wrote:

Well, that was one heck of a battle!!! You'll get it next time. Big fish and drag, very sensitive thing. If he spooled you, no good, too tight a drag, no good. It's a hard decision but that fish will go spawn and make some big babies!!!

Yep, if it doesn't get caught by someone else or get my line caught on something and can't get free.