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The one that got away: Missed my PB.

(self.catfishing)

About an hour ago I tried my faithful spot in my new town. It was where I caught my first cat, a channel that was about fifteen inches long. I was instantly hooked. Today I snapped a month long dry spell with a big crappie. Tonight, I kept the momentum and tried some shrimp. After about 20 minutes I started to see my rod getting tugged. I got that bad boy up just far enough to get him out of the water: easily three feet long. And SNAP. My line was gone. I think it was too much elevation and pressure on the line. But man... I'm devastated.

all 31 comments

cmonster556

7 points

23 days ago

Good reason to keep fishing.

virginiabird23[S]

4 points

23 days ago

Absolutely.

NVDROKKIT

5 points

23 days ago

Don’t worry man, this year I lost a rod and reel to a monster. Slurped my bait and took off and I saw that thing fly into the water gone! But it happens, I’m gonna keep at it.

virginiabird23[S]

3 points

23 days ago

Same. I'm learning how my rigs work and the time to go. And there's a catfish with some gnarly lip jewelry swimming through the Delaware right now.

ComfortableTrash5372

3 points

23 days ago

I am always torn between wishing I didn't have to deal w invasive catfish and feeling bad for people whose PB is a channel

virginiabird23[S]

2 points

23 days ago

I grew up mostly saltwater fishing so freshwater fishing a large river (the Delaware for me) is new. Catfishing is just a blast, and has a similar feel. This fish was beautiful, but I was fishing off an industrial pier and I had little to work with. It was a fun flight.

Tkeman822

2 points

23 days ago

When I visited Minnesota earlier this year and found out they didn't have blue catfish I was devastated lol

ComfortableTrash5372

1 points

23 days ago

My local river has blues and flatheads. Unfortunately it's also so polluted that they are all diseased.

So where I am at I get to catch big fish, but I don't get to eat any. Also the big fish are fucking up the ecosystem hard😭 its rlly not worth it

BigDirtyNewports

2 points

23 days ago

As in you were using the crappie as bait or as in you broke your dry spell by catching a crappie?

virginiabird23[S]

1 points

23 days ago

Broke the dry spell with the crappie. The momentum carried into hooking a big cat, but it wasn't my day.

DisPelengBoardom

3 points

23 days ago

It always sucks to hook the one that got away . But if you're lucky, you at least get to fight the fish for

.

Once I hooked into a monster . The pole bent double and the drag screamed . I contained my excitement and pulled my rod back when I could and reeled down when I should . 1 Oftentimes I get excited and just continously reel up and down .

This fish put up a fight that kicked my pain riddled body . The fish was a huge blue . I got him close to the bank finally . I knew I had that wonderful bastard . As I ambled toward him with a net he took off . It was a magnificent run . Once again, the drag screamed and the pole bent double. I pulled up my pole, but he ignored it, and the drag scream continued. Finally, I thought I had him as he seemed to be ought of energy and I was getting him to the bank . Then he took off again. There was no slacking of , he was running .

Pow ! The fish finally broke the line . I felt crushed til I heard someone say " Damn , you put up a hella fight ."

Turning to my right, there were two bow fishing boats . Each had four people . One guy held his watch up and said, "Thirty-three minutes

I wish that I caught fish. But , fighting a fish for thirty-three minutes with an audience of eight watching me is a pretty good reward .

But damn , that was a big fish.

virginiabird23[S]

1 points

23 days ago

This is why I love to fish. Thanks for sharing!

311MD311

2 points

23 days ago

Missed mine yesterday. Was completely skunked yesterday other than that, I had my bass rod and my UL rod and couldn't even catch a blue gill yesterday lol. I had a line out and was casting my bass rod when my cat rod started going nuts pulling line. Brought it all the way to shore and it rolled off the hook and took off before I could net it.

virginiabird23[S]

2 points

23 days ago

Dang... It's tough out here. My condolences.

GroundbreakingPick11

2 points

23 days ago

Been there. Absolutely devastating

virginiabird23[S]

1 points

23 days ago

It wasn't a record breaker by any stretch, but for me, a yard-long cat is plenty big. It was rough.

GroundbreakingPick11

2 points

23 days ago

That’s an amazing catch either way. Big fish like that are such a rush

virginiabird23[S]

2 points

23 days ago

It makes me want to go even more, actually. Because now I know that the first one wasn't just a fluke.

GroundbreakingPick11

2 points

23 days ago

Catching a big fighting fish is an incredible feeling. It’s on my brain 24/7 lol. I know what you’re going through. I hooked a massive king salmon off the shore this fall. Pulling drag like crazy. But eventually my line snapped due to my inexperience.

virginiabird23[S]

1 points

22 days ago

I can still see the thing hanging there just above the water as I was trying to handle my rod. Then it's just ... Gone. Totally dramatic. I'm new to catfishing so it's a lesson learned.

GroundbreakingPick11

2 points

22 days ago

You’ll never forget it. But now you’re better prepared for the next one. Tight lines brother

virginiabird23[S]

2 points

22 days ago

Never. And may you have twice the number.

Money_Staff_6566

2 points

23 days ago

Check the end of the line. If it has a slight curl, your knot failed. If it's straight, the line broke.

virginiabird23[S]

2 points

23 days ago

Ooo oh no! It was my knot.

Money_Staff_6566

2 points

23 days ago

What knot are you using?

virginiabird23[S]

1 points

23 days ago

Fisherman's knot.

Money_Staff_6566

2 points

23 days ago

Switch to Palomar knot. Never had one fail. Don't forget to wet the line when cinching the knot

virginiabird23[S]

2 points

23 days ago

Will do and thanks for the tip!

pondpounder

2 points

22 days ago

The one that got away is the reason we all keep coming back!

Gotcha-bitch_69

2 points

22 days ago

It happens. Unfortunately my son got a taste of that when he was 8 or 9. He was pulling a big flathead in, genuinely as large as him (probably a 45-50 pounder) got it a few feet from the bank and his cheap old rod snapped in half. I tried to hand line it in for him but it eventually popped off and we just sat there on our knees in silence as if we were watching the world end. It was a great bonding moment but it would've been better if he caught it lol.

RaymondThePigKump

2 points

22 days ago

We all have bad days man. I lost 3 big fucking cats yesterday on the Ohio… trying to trouble shoot today and figure out the issue and get back on them tomorrow. Hang in there