Heartbreak at the trout pond

By no means do I mean to put any salt in your wounds, truthfully we've all lost some quality fish (or will in the future), but I've found that quality terminal tackle is worth spending the extra money on.

Looking forward to the report where you bag that frankenfish.

Yeah, I agree.  I didn't expect to have a 15+ pound fish on a tiny swivel made for pan fish and planter trout.  I should have swapped it out, but I didn't think about it until after it happened.  Ah, well.  If I hadn't planned on releasing it anyways, I could have used my game clip as a gaff.  But, I was hoping to get back out there and have a chance at a big one for the new AOTY year.  Nate and I were there the next day and we saw a few of the big ones still swimming.  They just weren't interested in biting.

I think only one frankinstien fish should be allowed each year. Jeff's fish was a freak of nature!

Life's a B, ain't it Craig?    

I'm with Bryce on the quality terminal tackle.  I haven't used a snap swivel of that style in many years for that exact reason.  Smack talk aside, sorry to hear you lost it.  I think I would have seriously cried if I lost mine.

All kidding aside, suffering gear failure is the pits........My son laughs at me when I use my 8 1/2' long steelhead casting rod with a Abu Garcia 6501C4 reel when I go lake fishing for trout.
Several years ago I abandoned using 10-12 pound test line and brass swivels for 17 pound test, Berkley vanish transition, color clear/gold so I can see it + SS fast-lock snaps and Sampo brand swivels.
Aside from the fact I now rarely lose a Steelhead on the Hood River, in the rocks due to shredded line, the robustness of the tackle seems to make little difference when lake fishing for trout or kokanee....conventional wisdom is to use lighter tackle for trout.
Last June I pulled a 8.5# trout out of Lost Lake while trolling a wedding ring with #6 hook......the hook bent back about 120 degrees, but did not fail....the barb held firm in the fishes mouth........I had previously  retied the lure with my 17 pound test line, but reused the factory hook......at home, I replaced the bent factory hook with a more robust  Gamakatsu #6.....my motto is hearty tackle catches more fish!

I completely agree with you.  I've always laughed at that 'conventional wisdom' of using light tackle for trout and kokanee.  I can't think of any advantage to using lightweight gear with trolling for anything other than "it's more sporting", and last time I checked, it was a lot more fun to catch a fish with 20# test than lose it with 6# test. 

I had to learn that same lesson with the same type of swivel about two years ago, now I only use those when drifting for salmon, and I tie in to the upper portion of the swivel, and only use the snap part for the lead.

My cousin, Nash, runs Fish Hunter guide service in Louisiana. He used to be president of the Louisiana Bass  Masters. His motto was "get it in the boat and let everybody play with it!".


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Life's a B, ain't it Craig?    

I'm with Bryce on the quality terminal tackle.  I haven't used a snap swivel of that style in many years for that exact reason.  Smack talk aside, sorry to hear you lost it.  I think I would have seriously cried if I lost mine.

That's because it was a winning fish for you.  For me it would not have made up the difference to surpass anyone because I already had a good rainbow.  If it would have been a new species for me, I probably would have been crying.   If I would have been in your position, I may have clubbed it when it was sitting next to me along side the boat.  The thought had crossed my mind, but I didn't want to keep it.  It was not a pretty fish and did not look too appetizing.  It sort of had that spawned out salmon look to it.  I guess I could have converted it into a sturgeon, or a bunch of crabs if I would have kept it.  But, then I may have been walking home since Nate drove.  That would have been a bitch since I forgot my cart.

Wow Craig, I thought for sure you were replying to admit that you did cry. It's OK to tell us. We won't make fun of you you

Personally, I prefer a blistering stream of profanity with a rising crescendo, but too each his own.