So, I was on a 10 foot cliff above a laydown tree and decided to toss my t-rigged lizard down between the branches for fun. While I tossed it in I thought to myself, "If anything bites it right there, I won't be able to pull it up over that branch my line is going over." Of course, bait hits the water, gets slammed on the drop. Like a freight train. I set and it feels like trying to pull on a wall, then my drag pulls out a bit and it was set high. I get excited. I pull the fish up out of the water, and it hang on the branch...I pull harder, it won't come over. By now, I have a clear view. It's the biggest bass I've ever seen in person. I'm about to beat my PB by a couple pounds...then it pops off.

Sigh.

Brutal

fish happens at the wrong angles.

better to have loved and lost..............WAIT! NO! BETTER TO BOAT THE FISH!

prolly was a new record.
I have lost a few dozen record bass. May even lose 1 tomorrow.

Nah, wasn't quite that big. Just visibly bigger than my best so far. I'm going back tomorrow to try again.

Big bass are creatures of habit. According to John Hope, if that bass was over 7lbs, she's likely got a very small home range. Now you know where she lives. It's a good news day.

Don't feel bad man, I had the same exact thing happen to me yesterday afternoon. Only had 1 bite and it was more than likely the biggest fish I've ever had on a hook. Same t-rig lizard by a laydown. I flip it in there, she grabs it swims towards some other brush. I reel down and set the hook and when she came out of that brush she did a nice topwater dance and I waved goodbye as my lizard flew out of her mouth. Lesson learned, don't try to horse big fish out, but like someone above said, I know where she lives now

we need more details.. What lake, what tree you were fishing. Sorry to hear that you lost her but you know where she lives.

Sorry to hear about your loss. Go back with 65# braid and jerk her out of that tree!!

Wait until your in a tournament and that happens. Use that as a learning experience. But it sounded fun.

+1

Just come at her from a different angle maybe...

And like Ken said, spool up some braid, get some Trokars, and come back with a couple of pics

Yeah, I had 30lb braid on, the line was strong enough, just couldn't get the angle to flip her up over the branch. It was a Y-shaped tree and I tossed it right in the middle of the Y and was off to the side.

I'm going back today, so wish me luck!

Well, I didn't get it but we think my cousin did. If not the same one, at least a good one still. Was just over seven pounds.

Sucks but at least you saw it. I hate hooking up and breaking off and never knowing what it was.