The "ONE" that got away

[Ketchn]

I am aware that a few people out there enjoy my posts and of course some not so much . I really only take the time to post because I am always in hopes that a few get to grin when they read them .
So here is one that we laughed about from lunch time until we closed our eyes last night . We went west to our spot in the woods to do our regular check ups and maintenance . A lake I really like is about 15 minutes down the road ,so we and or I often hit it on the way home.
Well its blowing gale force and white capping and no one is around on the "crappie" dock . The wife and child want to count deer and use the powder room and drop me off on the dock. I opt for my Xtralite with 2 lb test and a 1/64 jig , now mind you there are souls out there that say I cant possibly use such light equipment in that much wind .
Well let me say this about that , a heavier jig in the amount of brush present under that dock in those conditions is a gone bye bye jig about first drop and that much I know factually .
So here I go and its really tough at first , lost an ok one in the waves because i couldn't lift it over the railing . Lost a jig not long after on an up on the dock while tickling the brush . Then as if scripted here comes my crew down the walk to enjoy my getting beat up in the sea of waves .
The little one stands on the very front of the dock just tickled pink the crashing waves are splashing her really good . The wife stands by me and gives me head counts on the deer and the ages of the fawns and sizes . I hook a nice little black crappie and she is not so impressed . So the bite is a bit better and I miss one or 2 and THEN it happens . I get a pretty good bite and the fish that takes it creates a real struggle . It races off and then comes racing back and then after a bit comes to the surface . Its a real pretty crappie and when I kneel down and grab it and when i stand up .....
my wife is looking at it like her date on prom night I swear
I told her wow isn't this one pretty and as i can tell she has that eat it look , I say you want to .....and before I finish the sentence she says ....YES !
So she says she wants to put it in our ice chest . She says here let me get a photo of it before I take it up there . Tells me how she is going to put it on the bottom of the ice chest under the frozen insert . We agree its a going to be a perfect fish for dinner as I give it to here by the lip I tell her its a really strong fish so you will have to hold it really tight . She is all with that I got this and I tell her AGAIN . if you don't really hold it tight you will never get it to the ice chest ! It's a long narrow walkway up a steep inline and this fish is not near done .
Well you guessed it , about 40 foot or so along and about 30 to go the fish goes into the I really don't think so mode and as i watch it hits the walkway and one hop and GONE !
She comes back down to me and I was like I told you so and then she starts with the 14 excuses of how it happened and we are both just about to cry over this episode . To say it was hilarious is an understatement to be sure and after that happened we decided the rest of the fish could go free for the day .
its almost a 2 hour drive to our house from there and to be sure I mentioned how she let our beautiful tasty dinner get away and what was going to be our stand by meal instead . She said at one point she probably wouldn't survive on the naked and afraid show as she looked just like some of those people letting their meals get away too .
The good news is we got a photo and a fish tale for the books for sure , it couldnt have been much funnier , wish I had video of it for sure ,I couldn't EVEN make up something that funny if I tried.
KABOOM is the word yawl
p.s. we had chili dogs for dinner

[SuperDave336]

What a beauty, sure would have made a good tasty meal..... Good job Ketchn.

Yup almost same happened to me yesterday. Hooked a nice bass while crappie fishing and had all intentions on keeping it for a meal. Well I netted it and picked it up and removed the hook and like you said, bass said “I don’t think so” and flip flop shakes out of my hand and kerplump back she go. Well darn, would have got a couple tasty meals.

[Chuck Adams]

Great story.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

[S10CHEVY]

Ketchn, don't you dare quit posting fish and stories. I look forward to them.

[ET Fish]

Nice fish!

[StantheMan2567]

Lucky Fish...Chili dogs are good too but not like Fresh Crappie good.

[Speck Detector]

The "one that got away" is the usual inspiration to go, get back after it, Again & Again

[franklin fisher]

Funny story. Chili dogs are always a good plan B.

Sent from my SM-G530R4 using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

[Ketchn]

We have a story from a few years ago that tops this one beyond the great beyond .
But to be sure unrehearsed stuff this funny sure makes for a smile .
All 3 of use watched that fish escape and I am here to tell you this ,
both mom and the little one had a look on their face that was totally priceless