I lost a fish once . . .

I had a tournament last year at Sandlin where I broke off multiple big fish in the last couple of hours. I was teaching a lesson on how to suck at landing good fish....
Found out a few months later when I was still breaking off fish, that I had a nick in my eyelet that was cutting my line

I broke off the biggest fish I ever had on the line. Late January on Fork...hadn't had a bite all day flipping jigs on creek channels. Decided to hit a bridge corner on the way home and tossed the jig at the first piling (around 15' deep). Hard thump, set the hook, and the fight was on...I had 50# braid on and the drag set tight and I could barely move her with my heavy action jig rod. 6-7 seconds in, she broke off. I couldn't believe a fish had broke 50# braid...but I tied another jig on and tossed it out. The line cut and jig flew off with about 10' of line, I turned around and my dad was laughing so hard he could barely stay in his seat. I checked my guides and had a big break in one...so that's how the fish came off...I'll never forgive Dobyns for that one. I've caught plenty of 8's and a handful of 9's...I'm confident that was my DD.

Middle lake?

There is always another to catch.

you are out of control sir

Was fishing with my dad one time, and he set the hook on a BIG fish using a jig. It got him tangled in a tree and broke off. That fish kept jumping around the boat for the next 15 minutes or so trying to throw that jig. Heartbreaking.

That fish will probably survive. Caught this one a few years ago

Had a nice bass blow up on a topwater chugger a few weeks ago, she had it so deep in her gullet I couldn’t get it out without likely killing her. Cut it loose with bait. I really felt sick about it for a few days but I figured she had a better chance if I didn’t try to get it out. Stuff happens

Carry a pair of side cutters and reach in and cut the hook.

This happened to me last year:

Biggest bass I'd ever seen, broke me off while throwing a crankbait on some riprap on Benbrook. For some reason, my drag was locked down and when I got it close to the boat, snapped the line. I was shaking from excitement of the sheer size of the fish and sick because I lost it due to a stupid mistake. I'm sure it eventually shook out that crankbait, but damn what a fight. Definitely a DD.