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Posts: 305
Location: Illinois | I hear "if it's under 40 I pull my lure away" . Didn't have the time window to fish the Kly tourney but had some of the day to fish. As most of you know, the winds were brutal and maybe dangerous as I was solo. My plan was to anchor with suckers and "deer hunt" by picking up the anchor from time to time to work the edge. Needless to say, it was a chore. So much so in fact that my suckers were being blown into my anchor rope, motor, you name it. Within an hour I exhausted my small sucker supply without a rip thanks to me being a hack and the wind battering me and my gear. I decide to troll slowly with the wind figuring that it would be my best shot and safest way to go. Three hours later and no fish to show I figured they had to be shallow. The wind was just as strong but had switched more westerly, allowing me to fish a good western shoreline. The wind pounded and I casted to no avail for an hour but it was doable.Finally as I am figure 8ing, lazily I admit, (I wasn't even looking at the water) I feel a fimiliar weight. A fish had come and grabbed my jointed shallow raider. I fought the fish briefly and appeared to have him under control. He wasn't a monster by any means so I was not going to net him. I get him to the boat, kneel down and he shakes free. That fish was 35-36 inches at best but I loved him. You can say I'm bragging but the fact is I didn't even really catch a fish. Still, that fish made for a great experience and I think those kind of experiences are what it is all about. hj |
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Posts: 1137
Location: Holly, MI | I'd say you caught a fish, you just didn't land it. We call that a long distance release. It is better for the fish by far than being hauled in a net and flopped in the boat. At least you fought it for a while, it could have been a hit-and-run or a drive-by.
You had your fun and the fish is fine.. perfect. |
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Posts: 305
Location: Illinois | Thanks Lobi,
Fact is, I don't really care if I landed the fish. My point is, big fish are great. I certainly prefer fish over 40, but even fish under 40 can be rewarding. I can't relate to guys pulling lures out of the water for fish under 40. It's just not the way I view the sport. Maybe if I was on Georgian Bay instead of the Fox Chain I would feel different, but I doubt it. hj |
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