Was fishing a small creek with a 1/8 oz jig, with my Clarus 5.0 UL with Pflueger 25 sized President Limited = she weighed 5 1/2 lbs, caught off the bank. A lot of fun and unexpected to hook, and land this girl. Often run 6lb test P-Line CX but believe I had 8lb on this reel. Really gave me confidence on what can be done on light tackle. Chose this rod in the past as it had more backbone than other UL rods. I was targeting White bass, Crappie, and bass 2-3 lb that I have normally caught in the past.

I did not try powering the fish, just let it play itself out, had my drag set where she pulled a bit of line here and there when she made a few runs, but she did not take out much and it may have kept my line from breaking along with a limber rod. Just wanted to pass it on. Hope all are off to a Great 2017.

AWESOME, it's always funny how you seem to catch the big'ns on lite set up or when you aren't particularly targeting them. Were you able to snap a pic?

Simply excellent! It just reaffirms how really light lures and light lines can attract big fish. Yes, they gobble down big baits but they like the occasional snack, too.

On your small rod, an interesting development occurs: a big fish on a short rod creates such a close lifting point that the pressure from the fish running your line out on you is actually much less than someone with a 7 footer, say medium heavy action. You have the leverage, just not the rod backbone to apply power.

There is no such thing as powering in a 5.5 lbs. bass on light spinning tackle, for sure. Work that drag . . . take your time, stay well back of the breaking strength of your line.

Brad

Great catch!

Nice job!

That's awesome. Bet it was a heck of a fight gettin her in

Congrats. Beautiful fish.

VERY COOL! nice pic that you added!

Nice fish, I can relate to your experience because I use 6-8 lb line on spinning tackle all the time. If I'm on Toledo, Rayburn, Fork, or Fayette, I leave those rigs home. But on the local rivers I use it all the time and it is a lot of fun. In the kitchen..... fish fry?

Congrats. Beautiful bass!

Nice job landing a beautiful fish. Problem is my wife want let me dress fish in the kitchen. HA....

Great catch!

Thanks guys, good stuff Brad.

Yes, I wanted to get some pics and weigh it, have to admit I felt a big bad not having released it. That was Mom's kitchen so I could get her to take a photo.

It got cleaned, so I might make some Bass Almondine

http://www.foodfanatics.com/blog/why-I-love-almondine

Nice one!

Nice fish. Congratulations on the PB!

Nice fish!

Nice fish

Nice fish. Congratulations.

Nice fish and they are a lot of fun on light line/tackle. I would however like to invite you to Catch & Release fish like this though. Fish like this in small bodies of water are hard to come by. They are responsible for a much higher percentage of fry that survive because of a larger fish's ability to run off the predators that eat the eggs and fry. Eat a few smaller ones and let the big girls go!!!

Broke jaw Just messin..nice fish!

Thanks guys, yes B99, I will be releasing any fish approaching this size in the future. It already fed a Buzzard, and I will feast next, Bass Almondine...

I am not a trophy fisherman or hunter, and do believe strongly in conservation and wildlife management.

Use one of those copper pans and you will love a nice succulent bass dinner!

K47 - tell me more, Mom has a black iron skillet and also a set of Copper bottom cookware. I take it - it's all about the heat? Like to hear how you cook yours. Thanks.