Great story. I feel your pain. I did the same thing on a huge brown trout during a trout fishing contest in upstate New York. Love those Model A's.
4 lb test mono or less , thought i might try me some 4 lb mono on my newest member of the crappie ketchn crew . 6 lb seems a bit heavy on this here 5 5 rod i just got , she is a Vigilante and right nice but seems to be rather light weight . so i thunk i mite go with a new spool of some 4 lb to be all finesse like and such ....MY BAD
there was a large crowd on the public dock and my other half says WOW lookee there is some competition for ketchn sum fish out there! Now before i get on with this fishee story i want to say it isnt B S this actually happened in front of a crowd ! kinda embarrassing to say the least but sometimes it just is what it is.
so i walk up ask if they are ketchn fish and get a resounding NO ....1 pm rather hot at 97 degrees and sunny . i set my float at about 7 foot deep and then tried to cast it ....not easy with a 5 5 but it flew well with the wind to my back and hit about where i thought they might be . 2 twitches and a 4 inch drag and KABOOM the float goes down nice ! when i set the hook the lil rod arcs hard and its like i hooked the brush pile ...dont give an inch ...so i lean into it knowing its a fish .AND the folks are smiling thinkin i just hung the brush first cast ....
well things kinda went real fast after that . the fish woke up and took off like a rocket , i though uh oh BIG bass ...then up to the surface it came with a bucket of a mouth wide open and BLEW up the water in a HUGE cartwheel !!! Cant say i ever seen a big ole 2 plus summer crappie do that ...man did she have game and all i could think is my bud is gunna be some kinda happy i just ketched the new lake record on his mighty fine hand tie ! but ya know it aint wise to count your lil chickens before they hatch
in my excitement i had her at the dock and pulled the BIGGEST rookie stunt ever and grabbed the line to toss her up on the dock
line snapped and she was gone as fast as she was there ....and to make it worse i had it happen the next 3 casts as well ....
one snapped on the hook set ... one during the fight and YET another that ran under the dock !
and the dang things was biting like FIRE ...everyone was scramblin thru their tackle boxes asking what color are ya using
anyway number 5 wasnt quite so big and i finally got to hold one and the ones later were the typical fish for this spot .
most of the folks left after watchin me lose several though ....and .....
to make me feel better .... the guy beside me was saying i dont think i ever seen a crappie as big as that first fish you "HAD"
so there you have the reason why i should never use 4 lb mono ......and for those of you that like old rides ...
it was model A day out that way as well .....pretty fun adventure and a schoolin to beat the band as well .....
hope you enjoy the read and photos ,,,,have a good day ....
Great story. I feel your pain. I did the same thing on a huge brown trout during a trout fishing contest in upstate New York. Love those Model A's.
Boh
USAF, Retired (1968 - 1992)
1st SOW Air Commando
Good post thanks for pic's.Started our crappie fish'n adventure on Lake Fork Texas.Have been to the lakes in Mississippi and they are good. Will be back to Lake Fork Soon.Switched to fluorocarbon 2 & 4 lb.Great line tougher than Mono no line stretch .We were shown Berkley Nano fill, Not Braid,Not mono,Not floro.Had a young cousin fishing with us He got his first nice crappie up to the top of the water out of range for a net.Hook Broke. Bummer. Thanks for the post enjoyed.Really enjoyed the Model A's.
John 3:16
Blessed to have as many friends as fingers on your hand is a blessing!!!
"Gone fish'n not wish'n"
In God We Trust.
Can God trust us.
Better remember to match line to waters , around brush I use 8 lb test but get that broke sometimes by Bass or Catfish
LOL What a drag or perhaps one should say lack of drag...
I see no reason to use any line for crappies heavier than 4#...
Crestliner08, brucec LIKED above post
Great story and some fine pictures of vintage automobiles! I don't think you should worry about 4# test being too light. Just set the drag appropriately and fight the fish.
"A voyage in search of knowledge need never abandon the spirit of adventure."brucec LIKED above post
Good story and nice model A's.
Good write up, bad story. 4# line, not me!!
Good post. I think at one time or the other everyone loses a big'un every now and then. I know I have lost my share anyway.
Be safe and good luck fishing