The One That Got Away

[crokett]

Ok, so here is a classic fish story. My FIL was there as a witness, not that it matters to you guys.

So what was supposed to be my last minnow tonight I cast it out and hook something and get it close to the dock. It is the biggest fish I've ever seen on a hook. It dropped off. I stuck the line back in the water at the dock and hooked it again. I get it up close to the surface and it is a 30" long Northern if it is an inch. 2 summers ago I caught 2 measured 24" Northerns here. This one was bigger than those. The dock section is 3' wide and this fish was several inches longer than 2/3 of that. I was worried about it breaking the line if I tried to get it up on the dock. My FIL went running to get the net while I tried keeping on the hook. He came back down after remembering my BIL accidently took it home on his boat earlier this month. I gave my FIL the pole and had him start lifting but before I got my hands on it it broke 15lb test.

Tomorrow I am going to buy an net. My FIL is already teasing me about how big the fish will get when I start telling the story.

[TB Roye]

David

Not only get a net but a camera also and keep it with you.

Tom

[pelligrini]

Sounds bigger than the 4lb bass you got the other day.

I've always wanted to go after some pike or maybe some muskie. I just never get up to those northern waters.

[crokett]

Sounds bigger than the 4lb bass you got the other day.

It was a 2lb bass.

[pelligrini]

You fishes don't seem to grow very well. You need to feed them more; several retelling tales of tails a day should do the job.

[fbrend123]

Here's one that didn't get away (but we had a net):

[JSUPreston]

David, this thread is useless without pics.

[Black wallnut]

No pics, didn't happen. You really believe that we don't think you thought this up while waiting for your wife to finish shopping?? Yeah riggght.

[Kristofor]

Seriously, pick up a camera on your way to the net store

Heck, out of the water flopping around a 10lb fish can can snap the line. The net would be best, but failing that walk the thing up the dock to the beach/shore and pick it up there. Northern are slimy with sharp teeth, so still not a walk in the park but better than the odds of lifting it by the line...