HaHa HaHa:  0
Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 25

Thread: The stories are true

  1. #1
    skeetbum's Avatar
    skeetbum is offline Crappie.com Legend - Moderator Jig Tying Forum * Crappie.com Supporter
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    22,857
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default The stories are true


    We all hear about epic battles with a fish from time to time. I’m here to publicly state that I will never doubt what I hear about a fight that a fish has given. I’m going to keep it as short as I can. After a good day yesterday and no nap, I promptly fell asleep in my recliner at about 6:30 and woke up at midnight to go to the bed. I live on a screwy sleep schedule anyway, always up before everyone. 4:15 this morning my eyes popped open, not to close again. Instead of bugging Joan and keeping on making noise and waking her up repeatedly, I did what any self respecting fisherman would do. Left the house by 4:45 and went to Dunkin (I know I know) and got her a coffee and a couple of donuts and me something and dropped them off and went down the street to be the first one at the ramp. A few fish were found before the sun and I wasn’t keeping today since yesterday’s fillets were in the fridge. I was using a 5’6” Shakespeare micro, Shimano Sienna 1000 loaded with Stren Crappie 2lb mono and one of my tiny jigs with just a hint of floro green maribou. To cut to the chase, I pitched it into a place that I knew I shouldn’t have and felt what I thought was a mushy kind of take, not a thump mind you. I lifted the rod and it came tight and the fish was still moving along like I didn’t exist. A little more pressure and he reacted in a big way. This was no Crappie and it was a brute. No, not a catfish either. Drag sang a lot, I recovered line, and then he started going back where he came from, and I couldn’t have that. With the rod tip high, I grabbed the spool and fought him with the bend of the rod. He surged no less than a dozen times and had me going to the other end of the boat. All this time I’m trying to get a hand on my net. If it was on video it would have been a hilarious Chinese fire drill! Took at least five tries to get him in the net but he had other ideas. I finally got the timing right and got his nose coming towards me at the same time I had the net ready and I had him
    Name:  F6FD1747-5222-4AF8-942C-F892A3DD0133.jpg
Views: 507
Size:  77.1 KB
    Disbelief was my reaction. Now I know why people go to Arizona for possible world record shellcracker and gills. This thing was huge compared to any other panfish I’ve ever caught. Then I put him on the scales.
    Name:  4E00AD8D-D544-4B6B-8768-BB4A8448AFA4.jpg
Views: 510
Size:  38.0 KB
    Haven’t weighed anything this big in a very long time. Just lipping this thing took concentration. I didn’t dare let him start flopping around and get gone. The rod, reel, line and most of all, my little jig with a #8 sickle hook performed better than I ever dreamed it would. I put the fish on the front deck to look at it in the net and the jig fell out and through the net. God worked overtime smiling down at me on this one. An amazing fish, but now, what to do with him. It didn’t take long to decide that he was feeding someone and it wasn’t me. I had been talking with a gent that I’ve spoken with several times and he was catching fish, but this covid thing had him fishing for family and things were slow for him. I already had 3 crappie in a bucket for him and I just added the tilapia to it. His eyes and grin got real big and he kept saying thanks. We parted a little while later and I headed home, was there just after 9. Not a bad start to a day. As I write this I can barely move after too much yard work, service the mower, and set about 200 sq ft of two inch thick paver stones. Maybe I’ll work tomorrow, not sure. I might be able to wipe this smile off my face by about Thursday. This has been a bit off the usual crappie trail, but what a ride it was. Thanks for coming along and I wish you at least one of these in your fishing lifetime. Until I see you on the water..........Skeet
    Name:  F58CB247-5DB3-4768-9144-2B160195994A.jpg
Views: 513
Size:  60.4 KB
    Creativity is just intelligence fooling around

  2. #2
    Smitty39365's Avatar
    Smitty39365 is offline Crappie.com 2K Star General * Crappie.com Supporter
    Join Date
    May 2018
    Location
    Union, Mississippi
    Posts
    2,753
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Great story & Awesome fish!!


    Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app
    Thanks skeetbum thanked you for this post

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    East Tennessee
    Posts
    3,403
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    That is a great story, and a great fish. None of them critters in my area lakes but I wouldn’t mind a tussle with one. Not slimy, no whiskers and no teeth, I’m game.
    Thanks skeetbum thanked you for this post

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Virginia
    Posts
    2,504
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Good looking fish Skeet! Glad you took us along with you :D
    Thanks skeetbum thanked you for this post

  5. #5
    Slabprowler is offline Crappie.com Legend * Crappie.com Supporter
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    Scottsboro Al
    Posts
    9,433
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Could only image the fight and the excitement! Good job nice fish !
    Thanks skeetbum thanked you for this post

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    Alcoa, Tennessee
    Posts
    8,938
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Awesome!
    I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.
    Thanks skeetbum thanked you for this post

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Mechanicsville, VA
    Posts
    5,261
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Wow, you had me sitting on the edge of my seat reading your very discriptive story. Very good read with my coffee and toast this morning. Yes that would have been a heck of a video. Good job and thanks for sharing.

    Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app
    Thanks skeetbum thanked you for this post

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 1996
    Location
    Central Florida
    Posts
    25,841
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Wowser, great job Timbo. Thanks for sharing.
    Owner
    "Wear your PFD" "No texting n driving" slab
    Crappie.com members are the best
    Thanks skeetbum thanked you for this post

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Deltona, Fl
    Posts
    1,652
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    what a wonderful way to test out your equipment ! Way to go Tim ! 5 # fish on 2# line . I think we call that being a fisherman .


    another good day at the office !
    Likes Conrod LIKED above post
    Thanks skeetbum thanked you for this post

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Oviedo, Fl. (central florida)
    Posts
    3,221
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Always a great day when catching 1 that makes for an adventure...WTG!
    crappie down !
    Thanks skeetbum thanked you for this post

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

BACK TO TOP