Derek Gibson
Well-known member
Many of us at some point in our angling life will have lost a fish. That would have been a milestone, due to snags, hook pulls or tackle failure.
In my own case there are two that are imprinted in my memory. The first was a huge Pike that had grabbed a small Jack of three pounds or so that I had hooked and was just about to net, when it was nailed by a beast of a fish. Realistically there was no hope of landing the lump as the Jack had engulfed the lure, so no hooks to find a purchase. But I played the big 'un gently enough,(guided may be a better description) in order to get a better look, which I did and was gobsmacked. That fish was in excess of thirty pounds, and then it let go of the Jack, I was gutted.
Briefly, the second fish was a huge Perch that had taken a small live-bait. That fish was fairly hooked, but shed the hook when the paternoster link became snagged in some marginal rocks. How big you may ask, without hesitation I would say well over four pounds, having taken them to over four and a quarter pounds previously from the same water.
How about you?.
In my own case there are two that are imprinted in my memory. The first was a huge Pike that had grabbed a small Jack of three pounds or so that I had hooked and was just about to net, when it was nailed by a beast of a fish. Realistically there was no hope of landing the lump as the Jack had engulfed the lure, so no hooks to find a purchase. But I played the big 'un gently enough,(guided may be a better description) in order to get a better look, which I did and was gobsmacked. That fish was in excess of thirty pounds, and then it let go of the Jack, I was gutted.
Briefly, the second fish was a huge Perch that had taken a small live-bait. That fish was fairly hooked, but shed the hook when the paternoster link became snagged in some marginal rocks. How big you may ask, without hesitation I would say well over four pounds, having taken them to over four and a quarter pounds previously from the same water.
How about you?.