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Fork and “The One That Got Away” #12302925 06/20/17 07:25 PM
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,835
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Barn Offline OP
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,835
My Lake Fork, “The One That Got Away” story.

So, I decided to “work” from the lake a couple of weeks ago. I snuck off to Fork on the Wednesday prior to the SOT.

I have only been to Fork one other time this year. That was a few weeks earlier. On that trip, I was catching a lot of fish on a swim jig around the grass up in Birch. I was expecting go back and fish around much of the same areas and grass. To my surprise, almost all the grass was gone this time. Not sure what happened to it. confused

I spent most of the day bouncing around from shallow to deep trying to find some fish. The other half of my time I was on phone calls for work. Anyway, it was better than sitting in my office.

I didn’t have much luck most of the day but I wanted to check out one last spot, that I can usually catch a couple of fish off, before I left the lake. I pulled up and made a cast with a football jig and immediately catch a 3# chunk. Felling pretty good, I fish around the area and only get one more nip and that’s it.

I troll around a little to see if I mark any fish or bait. I can see bait in the area so I moved around to the other side to make a few casts before I pack up.

I throw my jig a little shallower this time. I soon as I start to work it, it feels like I am hung into a log or limb. I start pulling pretty hard. At this point, I cannot tell if I am pulling the boat towards it or it’s coming to me. I have a heavy action rod with 50# braid and 20# leader, so I keep pulling. After a few pulls, it feels like I am dragging in a large limb. Then it sort of feels like it’s actually swimming. Now, I am think it’s a big catfish. I finally see a boil and a part of a dark tail. I am like oh yeah, big catfish...

I start horsing it in at this point. The whole time thinking, I don’t want the catfish slime in my net. I need to try to just grab it. It keeps digging and I keep pulling… When it gets about 20’ from the boat she decides to come up. That’s when a mouth that appeared as big as a 5-gallon bucket opens up and shakes out my jig. NOOOOOO!!!!!! cry

I never actually set the hook since I thought I was hung up to start. However, with all the pulling I would have thought that it was hooked well. I don’t know how big she was. But I think she was one of those mysterious Fork giants. She seemed to be every bit in the teens.

It’s not the first time I have lost a big bass by thinking it was a catfish only to have a giant bass jump off. You would think I would have learned after the first time. bang

Moritz Chevrolet - 9101 Camp Bowie W Blvd, Fort Worth, TX - Monte Coon (817) 696-2003
Re: Fork and “The One That Got Away” [Re: Barn] #12302945 06/20/17 07:43 PM
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skeeter james Offline
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Sorry you lost it but a great story thanks for sharing.


Formerly known as progator james
2013 Skeeter FX21 with a 250 SHO... Love this boat!!

James Moore
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Re: Fork and “The One That Got Away” [Re: Barn] #12302967 06/20/17 07:59 PM
Joined: Aug 2009
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TwoLakes Offline
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I can feel your frustration from the story. You will think about that for the rest of your life just wondering how big she was.

I hung one earlier this year fishing at night. I set the hook, but my drag wasn't tight enough and the spool slipped. I tightened the drag and reeled back down to set the hook about the time she jumped out of the water directly between me and a very bright full moon. She was LARGE. My bait popped out of her mouth a millisecond before I could get the hook set again. 15 minutes later, my buddy lands a 10. I was very happy for him and still wonder if mine would have broken that 10 mark......

Re: Fork and “The One That Got Away” [Re: Barn] #12303193 06/20/17 09:52 PM
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bo tbo Offline
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Simply heartbreaking

Re: Fork and “The One That Got Away” [Re: Barn] #12303245 06/20/17 10:22 PM
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Reds Bass Guide on Sandlin Offline
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Yep.. The big one got away at Fork story. I think we all have one. You will get her next time..


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