I have to give some credit where credit is due. That big fish came on a
popper on ten pound mono. The strike was in open water, but she quickly
managed to take me into the trash. I positioned the boat as close as I
could get. She was half around a small tulie clump, but basically in open
water. Well she was in an open pocket surrounded by tulies. I held her
firm without letting the drag slip on its own twice when she tried to head
for the thick stuff. As it was I was sweating. You should have seen
Robbert stretch with that net. He was one arming it while staying int he
boat by hanging ont the boat cleat with his fingers. I think the only parts
of him still in the boat where his toes and the fingers wrapped around the
cleat. I was proud of the way he swung that heavy rubber net. It did the
job. In fct in the back of my mind I was remembering that I was going to
take the rubber net out of the boat and throw in my nylon net because the
rubber one is a little heavy for him to swing with BOTH hands and at the
same time I was being amazed that he was one arming it around that fish. I
guess he gets that adrenalyn strength surge like I do. Good thing too.

Here is the commercial part. That mono was Suffix Seige. I had retied
three times already that monring, but that mono line hadn't let me down.
I've found with any mono a big fish will stress the knot, so I've gotten in
the habit of breaking off and retying anytime I catch a fish that gives me a
good fight. Still, ten pound mono help a big fish half around the tulies,
and even held her when I cupped the spool and slowed the drag with my palm.
I am convinced this is good stuff.

Speaking of knots. I lost a big fish flipping heavy cover later in the day.
I set the hook and it stripped drag immediately three times. Zip! Zip! Zip!
and then the knot gave. I don't recall the last time I retied the hook on
the 50 lb braid I was using. Its easy to forget to do when you are using a
super lione hook on 50 braid, but even on braid you have to remember to
retie once in while. On my flipping sticks I keep the drag cinched down
fairly tight to try and get them out of the heavy stuff fast. Usually it
works. If I had retied that hook it probably would have been ok yesterday,
but I made a rooky mistake and cost myself a good fish.


--
Bob La Londe
Fishing Arizona & The Colorado River
Fishing Forums & Contests
http://www.YumaBassMan.com



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