Geezle
01-22-2011, 09:10 AM
On Thursday I was out at Wab and I caught decent fish (just over 10.5lbs) I didn't see it take the bait, so I wasn't sure of the size of it when I was bringing it up, but it felt heaaaavy but wasn't pulling a lot. Eventually I get it near the hole and suddenly I see a HUGE gob of weeds that completely clogs the 8" hole I'm fishing out of. I thought that I'd lost the fish and he hooked me in the weeds, but then I felt the weeds tugging back. I used my hand to scoop all the weeds out of the hole, and there was in fact a fish behind them. When I went to unhook him and clean off all the weeds I couldn't figure out what was going on - the weeds were *really* stuck to him - then I noticed the extra line coming from its mouth. Turns out this guy had been caught by somebody else but broke off. The line in my opinion was way too light - maybe 8lb at the most judging by how easy it was to break by hand.
Now I know that some guys like the challenge of going for big fish on lighter gear, but certain situations really do call for heavier line. Maybe that 8lb line was okay for open water fishing, but when you start dragging it across the edge of a fishing hole, it won't hold up long.
I have to wonder how long this poor pike had been cruising around with 5lbs of weeds wrapped up on him. It definitely didn't have the strength to put up the kind of fight I'd expect from a 10lb pike.
I realize that sometimes a fish will get broken off no matter what we do, but if you use the appropriate gear it should be a very rare occurrence.
Now I know that some guys like the challenge of going for big fish on lighter gear, but certain situations really do call for heavier line. Maybe that 8lb line was okay for open water fishing, but when you start dragging it across the edge of a fishing hole, it won't hold up long.
I have to wonder how long this poor pike had been cruising around with 5lbs of weeds wrapped up on him. It definitely didn't have the strength to put up the kind of fight I'd expect from a 10lb pike.
I realize that sometimes a fish will get broken off no matter what we do, but if you use the appropriate gear it should be a very rare occurrence.