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.

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Goodness gracious those Gills are nice. Hate to hear about the rod, hope you can just shorten the rod and have the only 6.5 STS.

Ah, sorry to hear about the rod accident. Too bad, looks like you were having a good fishing day. Hope you can get it repaired/replaced.

Nice looking catch !
Sorry about the rod .
It happens to us all .

Good looking fish and pics. Hate hearing about the rod.

If you still have the tip guide a little heat from a lighter to soften the glue and you can remove the broken section. You can usually slide the tip fuide back onto the rod and you are good. The diameters are usually close to the same when only a very short piece is broken off. Very nice fish

What Jack said about the repair is my thought too. Those are some nice fish, I’d be happy with some of those for a dinner.
Alatoona?

Great looking Gills. Didn't want to open this post after seeing title......hate to hear that.

Regards

Looks like ya got yur string pulled big time. Thanks for sharing yur fishing adventure. Seems ya have a handle on the rod repair. How is the new trolling motor working out. What model did you put on yur boat?

JJ

Hare to hear about your fishing rod. Beautiful catches though, thanks for sharing