Off-topic: Are you from IL grassiegetter?

I'm originally a Hoosier, but I lived in IL (Freeport then Springfield) for 18 years, minus a few years in Wisconsin.

Brilliant story.........


There may have been some adult beverages involved on the trip where I got locked in my tentcot. (I never tipped one over though, wow).

I think I repeatedly grabbed the back zipper pull, and moved both zippers every time.

That fish may have bumped his nose on the dam to lake Travis before I got to him.

I lost one reel, and the other two were spooled by said captain... His wife was not pleased... Maybe she filleted him!

I had a fish take the bait at about 80 yards in the Richard Somerville Swim on Town Lake. The fish took about 120 yards of line and was very nearly on the other side of the lake.
It was a major panic because of the canoes and boats coming down the lake.

I have seen several people get totally spooled on Town lake too, but generally they were using fairly light carp gear with small reels.

The longest run I've had was on Lac du chantecoq in central France, I couldn't stop that fish and it kited around a point in a bay and was finally landed directly behind me in the main lake.
Much to everyone's surprise the fish wash only a high 29, I thought it was gonna be a large 40. 3lb test curve Sabre 2000 rod and 15lb big game line.

Yeah richard and this is why I stick to 25lbs breaking strains for the realy big fish
Now I know you COULD get a big fish on a lighter line
But I wont take the risk...normaly for the real big ones you have to wait such a long time that its gonna happen..that I realy dont want to risk it all so I play it safe..overkill if you like..But better safe then sorry..right!