Peter Charles wrote:

The fish stops, there's a moment of massive head thrashing that is
tangible even over the length of line and backing that's stretched
across the bay. Then nothing. I reel in forlornly not knowing where
the failure occurred. I might have lost the fly line. After what
seems to be endless reeling in, the fly line backing loop appears,
letting me know that the backing and the backing loop, nor the loop on
the line failed. Next, the leader appears, then the fly. Nothing
broke, but the Mustad 34007 2/0 SS hook bent open, allowing the fish
to pop off. Since I was tying so many flies for this trip, I opted
for the cheap 34007. Now I wonder if my choice cost me a fish of a
lifetime.


Cool Story! Sometimes you just get overpowered with the rig you're
fishing. Sounds like it was a long shot to land that fish even if the
hook hadn't bent, but I'm sure you wish it hadn't. That's a fish you'll
probably remember better than if you had landed it.

Also illustrates why trying to save a few cents on a hook is false
economy, IMO.

Willi