Been a while but here is my story anyway...

Yesterday (Sunday) I managed to hook up a ride with a bassing buddy to go
and throw a few plastics in a great lake that is by invitation only.

I was looking forward to this because I had received a packet of 7 3/8" Bass
Pro Shops Stik-o-Baits in Dunebug a few weeks ago.

These baits got me real excited. They are HUGE stick baits that weigh an
absolute ton! Definitely a hawg catcher in my opinion.

I was using a Quantum PT 7 foot medium action rod (the 705 if I remember
correctly) with a Team Daiwa X Procaster 103 reel spooled with Big Game 10lb
line. I rigged the bait weedless with a 5/0 Gamakatsu EWG hook. I must say
that the 5/0 is way too small, but the G-Lock 8/0 was too think in my
opinion to get a good hookset with only 10lb mono.

Once again, not owning my own boat, I was relegated to the rear deck of the
boat I was fishing off. I have no problem with this though. I am of the firm
opinion that the guy on the front only wakes up those sleepy and lazy
monster momma's for me. Of the 8 competitions I have fished this year on the
back of my partners boat, he has only beaten me twice!

We started working along the shoreline in about 4 to 12 feet of water. I
soon discovered that the bait I had tied on was completely overwhelming the
rod I had brought, so much so that I could not pitch or flip properly. I
quickly changed over to a sidearm circle cast, which worked much better,
but the bait still made a little too much fuss on entering the water.

This would not do! After thinking about it for a while I decided to cast the
bait and bounce it off the rocks into the water. This worked much better.

As we were coming around a point I made a perfect cast that bounced the bait
off the rock and allowed it to enter the water with a minimum of fuss. I
watched my line as the bait sank slowly (much slower than I would have
anticipated) and then suddenly; *TAP*.

Unmistakable. One solid and firm tap. I did my usual thing and waited for
the fish to start moving.

In one sweeping motion I dropped my rod tip and hammered the hook home,
right into a fish that did not turn. I knew straight away it was a good
fish.

All she wanted to do was go straight down and under the boat. After a good
fight she was netted, and my, what a beauty! A fine, plump and magnificently
couloured largemouth that had razor sharp colours.

We put her into the live well and headed back to the shore to put her on a
digital scale.

At the shore we prepared the scale and weighed her, 1.93kg (4.25lb). My
second largest fish of the season.

Granted, its not the largest fish on record, but on that outfit, it was a
tough tussle that left me grinning from ear to ear.

Now I only have one problem, I need to buy a new rod that can handle these
behemoth baits.

Hmmm, any one out there have a suggestion for me?

I quite like the quantum's that I have, but I am always open to new ideas.

*********

Conlan
South African bass angler

PS: Brendan, how does a 3 bag limit of 7.08kg sound to you little brother! I
am out to beat that on Sunday! Watch me!

real great story neck!
"Conlan" wrote in message
...
Yesterday (Sunday) I managed to hook up a ride with a bassing buddy to go
and throw a few plastics in a great lake that is by invitation only.

I was looking forward to this because I had received a packet of 7 3/8"
Bass
Pro Shops Stik-o-Baits in Dunebug a few weeks ago.

These baits got me real excited. They are HUGE stick baits that weigh an
absolute ton! Definitely a hawg catcher in my opinion.

I was using a Quantum PT 7 foot medium action rod (the 705 if I remember
correctly) with a Team Daiwa X Procaster 103 reel spooled with Big Game
10lb
line. I rigged the bait weedless with a 5/0 Gamakatsu EWG hook. I must say
that the 5/0 is way too small, but the G-Lock 8/0 was too think in my
opinion to get a good hookset with only 10lb mono.

Once again, not owning my own boat, I was relegated to the rear deck of
the
boat I was fishing off. I have no problem with this though. I am of the
firm
opinion that the guy on the front only wakes up those sleepy and lazy
monster momma's for me. Of the 8 competitions I have fished this year on
the
back of my partners boat, he has only beaten me twice!

We started working along the shoreline in about 4 to 12 feet of water. I
soon discovered that the bait I had tied on was completely overwhelming
the
rod I had brought, so much so that I could not pitch or flip properly. I
quickly changed over to a sidearm circle cast, which worked much better,
but the bait still made a little too much fuss on entering the water.

This would not do! After thinking about it for a while I decided to cast
the
bait and bounce it off the rocks into the water. This worked much better.

As we were coming around a point I made a perfect cast that bounced the
bait
off the rock and allowed it to enter the water with a minimum of fuss. I
watched my line as the bait sank slowly (much slower than I would have
anticipated) and then suddenly; *TAP*.

Unmistakable. One solid and firm tap. I did my usual thing and waited for
the fish to start moving.

In one sweeping motion I dropped my rod tip and hammered the hook home,
right into a fish that did not turn. I knew straight away it was a good
fish.

All she wanted to do was go straight down and under the boat. After a good
fight she was netted, and my, what a beauty! A fine, plump and
magnificently
couloured largemouth that had razor sharp colours.

We put her into the live well and headed back to the shore to put her on a
digital scale.

At the shore we prepared the scale and weighed her, 1.93kg (4.25lb). My
second largest fish of the season.

Granted, its not the largest fish on record, but on that outfit, it was a
tough tussle that left me grinning from ear to ear.

Now I only have one problem, I need to buy a new rod that can handle these
behemoth baits.

Hmmm, any one out there have a suggestion for me?

I quite like the quantum's that I have, but I am always open to new ideas.

*********

Conlan
South African bass angler

PS: Brendan, how does a 3 bag limit of 7.08kg sound to you little brother!
I
am out to beat that on Sunday! Watch me!