Hooking Moby Dick

Today, October 21, 2008, I was on Lake Ouachita (Arkansas) and was in the process of longline trolling Bandit 300s for crappie. I had out 75 feet of line on two different rods, minding my own business.

I noticed that for a Tuesday, the lake had a LOT of traffic. Soon a hugh bass rig pulled up alongside and asked, "Hey bud, is there an Academy Sports in Hot Springs?" "Sure not. You'll have to drive to Little Rock, 70 miles east." With that he said he and his buddy were pre-fishing a tournament to be held this coming week-end. (You can bet I'll be hunting and will let them have the lake)

We said our good-byes and he drifted astern of my boat and before I knew it and unknown to them, they had caught BOTH of my lines!! One line was cut immediately the other....well. The boat took off like a bat out of hell and my drag about BURNED up...like I had hooked a whale or sompin'. It burned up all the way 'til the end of the 160 yards of 12 lb Fireline....then S N A P !!!!

So, the way I figure it, I'm out of the trollin' busines for the day. Let's see, that's two Bandit 300s at 5.50 each, and a spool of Fireline, $13.00. Twenty-five bucks is twenty-five bucks is twenty-five bucks. Geeesh!!

I hope those Bandits and that fireline wound so tight around that Yahama that they had to remove the prop to free all that mess. lol

What a day. To add insult to injury, the crappie bite was crappy today. But it was altogether a marvelous day on beautiful Lake Ouachita. I'll just be glad when it cools another five degrees and maybe gets a little stain to it. THEN....then...maybe the crappie bite will come alive.

Thanks for comin' along. <><

aj

12 lb fireline for crappie? sheesh

I've had my line cut like that while fishing from the bank for channel cats, guy in a bass boat was paying more attention to his fishfinder than where he was going and what was around him. He didn't even know what was going on till I started yelling at him. He had the dencency to shut off his motor and apologize. Sorry bout your tough luck Arkie, good luck hunting

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Originally Posted by john h

12 lb fireline for crappie? sheesh

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On this 40,000-acre Corps lake, there is a multitude of critters in the depths. While trolling, when I get a tad too fast with my trolling, I have picked up largemouth/smallmouth/spotted bass, bunches carp in the 6-10 pound range and pesky stripers and catfish that REALLY make a mess of a trolling set-up. You can imagine what happens when a large fish hits a six-pound set-up. There goes another lure.

Now YOU may have the money to replace the Bandits every time you get broke off by an uninvited strike from another species of fish. I choose not to spend my money that way. Besides, the diameter--the DIAMETER of the line--not the poundage classification--is what makes it a sensible choice for trolling--for me. It allows me to not have to pay out as much line for whatever depth I'm attempting to achieve...and I like that. (makes turning easier, too)

If you were a puritian and into crappie fishing merely for the "fight" of the fish, you wouldn't be trolling anyway. Gimme a break. For a good fight, vertical jig fishing on 4/6 lb test is the way I do that...and I do that much more than troll.

By the way...did you like the story????? Just wondering. I just thought it was amusing and wanted to share it with you all. <><

aj

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Originally Posted by zinsurance

I've had my line cut like that while fishing from the bank for channel cats, guy in a bass boat was paying more attention to his fishfinder than where he was going and what was around him. He didn't even know what was going on till I started yelling at him. He had the dencency to shut off his motor and apologize. Sorry bout your tough luck Arkie, good luck hunting

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I've had my eyes glued to the Lowrance while trolling, just looking for brush piles, etc, and look up and be 30 degreess or more off course!! It was nice he at least apologized.

The boys in my story had not a clue and it certainly was not intentional.

Fair winds and following seas,

aj

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Originally Posted by Arkie John

On this 40,000-acre Corps lake, there is a multitude of critters in the depths. While trolling, when I get a tad too fast with my trolling, I have picked up largemouth/smallmouth/spotted bass, bunches carp in the 6-10 pound range and pesky stripers and catfish that REALLY make a mess of a trolling set-up. You can imagine what happens when a large fish hits a six-pound set-up. There goes another lure.

Now YOU may have the money to replace the Bandits every time you get broke off by an uninvited strike from another species of fish. I choose not to spend my money that way. Besides, the diameter--the DIAMETER of the line--not the poundage classification--is what makes it a sensible choice for trolling--for me. It allows me to not have to pay out as much line for whatever depth I'm attempting to achieve...and I like that. (makes turning easier, too)

If you were a puritian and into crappie fishing merely for the "fight" of the fish, you wouldn't be trolling anyway. Gimme a break. For a good fight, vertical jig fishing on 4/6 lb test is the way I do that...and I do that much more than troll.

By the way...did you like the story????? Just wondering. I just thought it was amusing and wanted to share it with you all. <><

aj

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ohh the story was good just threw me off seing 12 lb test lol... we got same critters up here and i like the challenge of bringing in a 20 lb flat head ocassionally on a 12 foot jig rod with 4 lb test.. gets the blood a pumping

on my brother's new Wally Marshall 14' rod. I bought a new reel for it and filled it with hi-vis 6lb Mr. Crappie line. I was ready....almost.

Late in the day I had a jig/minnow combo on the rod and something swiped my minnow. I was moving so I threw out a marker and put another on and circled back. Immediately--the rod bowed BIG TIME.

After a four minute tussle, I came up with a toothy overgrown pike in the 4-5lb range. It was a hoot. For a second I thought I had the state record crappie! lol

Take care.

aj

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Originally Posted by john h

12 lb fireline for crappie? sheesh

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Heck, you autta see what my pops uses! 30lb braid on the 16' long rods, 20 on the 12-14'ers. Only like 6-8 lb diameter, so why not? Never know when ur gonna hook bubba, better be prepared.

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Originally Posted by Perch Jerker35

Heck, you autta see what my pops uses! 30lb braid on the 16' long rods, 20 on the 12-14'ers. Only like 6-8 lb diameter, so why not? Never know when ur gonna hook bubba, better be prepared.

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I was at Shangri-La on the south shore of Ouachita last week and on the wall there are two 10lb plus...largemouth--one almost 11 pounds! They came from the same lake.

Now I have never been so fortunate to have a 10 lb (plus) bass, but if I did, I would be cussin' 'til the cows come home if I was usin' spider web for line.

The Fireline braid offers much to a longliner because the diameter is so small in comparison to the actual strength of the line. The only drawback I see is that there is zero stretch and when trolling for papermouths, well, there is a chance that I'll lose one every now and then.

Thanks for posting! <><

aj

You could always look for the guys boat when you're duck hunting and out of lack of attention mistake his outboard for a duck... think the 12g. damage would get his attention.
Or maybe the shooting alone will ruin his fishing.

Arkie John there's not a dang thing wrong trolling with 12lb test. Now if you vertical jigging in fairly clear water with it, I also would be thinking sheesh! Gotta love those Bandits. And thanks for the story!

I agree heavy braid is awesome for crappie when line visibility isnt a factor,I can fish the nastiest hang ups all day and never lose a jig and get those fish that tend to wrap you up in the boat. Try fishing the black forest at Rayburn without it,youll learn a lesson.

Great Story.
Speaking of line size .... Dec 1955 using a Mitchell 300 and Conolin 6' Rod and 6# line an old 3 hooker Red Worm with a little prop spinner and a #4 Split Shot .. A lot of Coon Tail Moss ... No snags (Natural Lake .. Dunsford Pond Washington Couty FL) That 10 pounder made this boy sweat .. I kept on using this rig (different lures) until I latched on to a big fish in heavy grass .. I leaned over the side of the boat in the wad of grass it was wrapped up in and went straight to its lower jaw (mr. lucky) that was an 8# plus ... I quit Bass fishing with that light out fit that day (this was on the Lucas Lake About 1/2 mile from the Dunsford ) in the same lake years later while fishing with an ultra lite and 4# line for Bluegill with a jig I tied into a fish that I thought I must have the world record Bluegill ... My son and good friend but now departed fishin buddy Dave Bannister were in the boat with me .. all most into the boat and in the clear water I saw it was a big bass .. they could not see it because of the different angle ... I reached down and got it by the lower jaw and into the boat (the little #6 Jig fell out) and I thought the both of them were going to leave the boat when they saw the 8# + and they were looking for a Blugill ... The bass did not jump.
I can see the looks on their face today ..
Light Line can make you sweat but it is sometimes worth it.

TTYL
JSC
:)

JSC, Bigbee138 and Crappie Hazard,

You guys are alright. lol Thanks for the input and the support.

Lately, here on Ouachita the crappie are hard to find, so I've turned to stripers (who aren't hard to find), uppping my tackle to 25 lb mono, a half oz sinker, swivel, two foot of 20 lb leader, a no. 4 red circle hook and the biggest brood minnow I can find!!! They taste great and fight like nothing I have ever fought. They will do in a pinch, when the specks are hidin' out.

aj

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Arkie John

On this 40,000-acre Corps lake, there is a multitude of critters in the depths. While trolling, when I get a tad too fast with my trolling, I have picked up largemouth/smallmouth/spotted bass, bunches carp in the 6-10 pound range and pesky stripers and catfish that REALLY make a mess of a trolling set-up. You can imagine what happens when a large fish hits a six-pound set-up. There goes another lure.

Now YOU may have the money to replace the Bandits every time you get broke off by an uninvited strike from another species of fish. I choose not to spend my money that way. Besides, the diameter--the DIAMETER of the line--not the poundage classification--is what makes it a sensible choice for trolling--for me. It allows me to not have to pay out as much line for whatever depth I'm attempting to achieve...and I like that. (makes turning easier, too)

If you were a puritian and into crappie fishing merely for the "fight" of the fish, you wouldn't be trolling anyway. Gimme a break. For a good fight, vertical jig fishing on 4/6 lb test is the way I do that...and I do that much more than troll.

By the way...did you like the story????? Just wondering. I just thought it was amusing and wanted to share it with you all. <><

aj

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i had a similar experience ! i was putting my boat in at the launch on the wisconsin river the white bass were really running that day. some idiot was bank fishing and just wouldnt get out of the way, after the boat was in and i was ready to take off the dummie casted behind the boat . well you could guess what happened next , it got in my prop!!! at this point i only had 2 choices, lift the motor and give him his line back or take off and spool him ! still having mostly Yankee blood in me at the time and a 20 year old attitude off i went full speed ahead needless to say i bet he didnt fish at the ramp when people were loading any more.

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Originally Posted by cityboy

i had a similar experience ! i was putting my boat in at the launch on the wisconsin river the white bass were really running that day. some idiot was bank fishing and just wouldnt get out of the way, after the boat was in and i was ready to take off the dummie casted behind the boat . well you could guess what happened next , it got in my prop!!! at this point i only had 2 choices, lift the motor and give him his line back or take off and spool him ! still having mostly Yankee blood in me at the time and a 20 year old attitude off i went full speed ahead needless to say i bet he didnt fish at the ramp when people were loading any more.

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"Spool him"...:p

I got spooled alright.

We all did things differently when we were 20. :D

aj

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Originally Posted by LSUguy

You could always look for the guys boat when you're duck hunting and out of lack of attention mistake his outboard for a duck... think the 12g. damage would get his attention.
Or maybe the shooting alone will ruin his fishing.

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Anyone else sensing a hint of Dick Cheney from this statement? lol

I would still be upset over loosing the Bandit 300's...:(

...but I got over it. Having to respool two reels with Fireline was more expensive than the 300's. I went out and just bought some more. :D

All is well that ends well.

By the way, WELCOME to a right-fine forum!

aj

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Originally Posted by bignorm

I would still be upset over loosing the Bandit 300's...:(

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