Just lost my PB while wrapping up the night going for panfish
Sharing my story to get my heart rate down and commiserate lol.
Stopped by my local honey hole after a long trip today. Bought a new little frog to try and get some bass out of the lily pads there. Had a blow up, followed up with a jig but missed the hook set. Fished around a bit picking apart some holes but I can tell when it's not going to be a productive night.
Pulled out ol' reliable, my light rod and a 1/16oz curly tail grub. Usually at this spot I can drag in nice big panfish for hours if I want to. Super slow fishing, surprised I didn't call it a night sooner. Literally caught 2 bluegills versus the 15-20 I usually do. Four pound test.
Rain starts picking up a little, wonder if I need to pack it in. Bugs swarming me--forgot my bug spray. Toss it in one more time and just slow retrieve it like I usually do when I'm impatient. Something bit it, no idea what it was yet. Set the hook, and even then I couldn't tell what it was. Slowly I realize it's big. I saw its side flash and I was absolutely certain that I just hooked a nice 3-4 pound bass. Then it absolutely rips. I realized I had an actual fight. I start freaking out because there's tons of vegetation and I knew if he got wrapped up my line was a goner.
Finally realize it's a massive pike. The thing is just fucking ripping drag. Never in my life have I had to check my spool to see if a fish was going to spool me. I'm surprised how cool I kept it because I was freaking out. Cue five minutes of horsing and reeling. I got him up shallow a few times, and then he would just rip again. He jumped too; I absolutely cannot believe he didn't throw that tiny hook.
Finally he settles down. The last pike I caught was done when it said it was done. This one was smart. I did not bring my net with me. I am very rarely in this situation so I did what I always do. I got him in real close and grabbed my line. I had my hand millimeters away from his gill plate to grab him and he bucks like a bronco one more time. Snapped off right in front of me. Was right there for me to stare at for a good 5 seconds before he swam off.
It has been a really slow summer and I've been hoping for another pike after I didn't get a chance to weigh my first one this year. I am so fucking sad, lol. Easily 30 inches, maybe more. My guess is 9 or 10 pounds, but what's even the use with no picture. I mean my God, what a rush, but I have never experienced this type of sadness ever in my life. I know it'll be a while before I get another shot as fish here are very pressured unless I have time to take out the 'yak. Now it's time to lose sleep over wondering if there was anything else I could have done. It was very, very rocky and I'm not the type to mishandle fish just to land them but damn. I had to watch the biggest fish I've ever (almost) caught slip right through my fingers today. That is all. Tight lines folks. Maybe not so tight that they snap though...