Thread: Some more good'uns, and a tragic rod accident

Last cold front has reduced the surface temp 6 degrees, but I'm still getting a few good fish here and there, ones and twos, gills and crackers. Biggest panfish today was a 11.5" bull 'cracker. I was fishing wigglers on the bottom near beds, moving them a foot or so every few seconds, and had 2 lines out (mistake #1). I'd catch one or two, and move to another bedding area. Managed some nice ones, and kept 4 to fry up for supper.

A very big spotted bass hit my worm/jig, and proceeded to give me a fit. It was a hard fight with many runs, under the boat, around the motor, and took forever to reel in using 3 lb test Varivas Twitch Master. This was on my Limber Tip SS rod with the new Presso reel. At the last second I pulled him toward the net too hard, and the line popped at the jig. I estimate a 4-5 lb fish.

While I was fooling around with the dang ol' spot, I wasn't watching my Abu G 67SULT slow taper special, and the line got in the trolling motor. By the time I realized what was happening, it pulled the rod tip down and snapped it an inch behind the tip guide. At that time I packed it in and went home. I fired off emails to the usual suspects about a replacement tip section, and when I calm down, I will look at the damage and maybe try a repair. I'll lose about 2 inches or so. Then I can use it while waiting for a new top half. Dang it.