FS Digest

So there’s this pedestrian bridge over a major river in my city that it’s legal to fish on. Fishing from the shore of this river is poor, but fishing from the middle of the river is crazy good. I’ve been targeting these HUGE smallmouth buffalo and catfish all huddled around this pillar in the middle of the water, but the problem is I can’t haul anything more than 10-12lbs up the bridge! Today, I had a giant buffalo on the line that was so heavy as I was trying to pull him up that he snapped my medium heavy rod (authentic series Zebco) clean in half and then broke the brand new 25lb line I had.

Besides that, I couldn’t physically get the reel to turn anymore with deadlifting that much weight (before and after the pole snapped), so after the pole snapped, me and six other people tried to pull him up by hand and then the line snapped. I want to know what kinds of rods can support this level of stress and what reels have true cranking capacity (casting capacity not needed as much), so I can haul these monsters up to the bridge. Walking them to shore is not an option.

I am a small 5’3” woman so I need something with a lot of power to help me out.

Thanks!

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by hanSoes

FS Digest

I've seen nets on long ropes

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by HeinousEncephalon

FS Digest

Like a large dipnet jerry rigged to a rope? That sounds like a really good idea actually haha, or maybe I can lower a basket on a rope?

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by hanSoes

FS Digest

A bridge net is pretty much a basket on a rope! They come in a few sizes and the smaller one should fit your needs perfect. We also use them to lower the fish down for a nice safe release :)

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by BinaryNation

FS Digest

Search YouTube for Hawaii cliff fishing videos, the locals there use a second line attached to the fishing line and a grappling hook.

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by angry_gopher

FS Digest

Search bridge net. They work great.

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by corndogge

FS Digest

bridge net is the way to go

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by Fishing_Guide_NW

Mel Thayer Loc: Molalla, OR

We lasso sturgeon. It's a stiff rope, we hold the loop open with a big black paper clip, slip it over the rod & down to the fish. Sturgeon have stiff fins behind the gills which helps to make this work but maybe it would work on other fish too.

EasternOZ Loc: Kansas City Metro

You will also need help holding your rod and maneuvering the net, might want a friend along or just as a fellow fisherperson for assistance.

Tie the net string off to something solid.

EasternOZ Loc: Kansas City Metro

I have seen that on u-tube then the fight is back on looks like fun.

bucky buckner Loc: murrells inlet SC

a large pier net, or a large weighted treble hook as used on pier for gaffing large fish such as cobia , king mackerel, both an excellent way to haul large fish up on to bridge

EasternOZ Loc: Kansas City Metro

Sounds like from her size description she might also want to incorporate a pulley system.

yankiedoodle Loc: Shelton, Ct.

If you are going to keep the fish, attach a weighted treble hook to a heavy cord then through a pin or swivel to your line. Drop this down your line and snag the fish and haul it up.

EasternOZ Loc: Kansas City Metro

Short snagging rod with heavyduty line big baitcaster or spinning reel.

Garry Loc: Wellborn, Florida