I was talking to a game warden named Brian on CC today and he was in an boat rigged up for shocking fish so I asked about hybrids and he told they gill net them and the last time they did it they caught an 18# one. I had no ideal they could get that big on CC.
Needless to say I will go after them a little harder now.

You know there are a few that big and bigger then the record of 13 something. I have a couple of 12's a few that went 11, several that were 10 and many too many too count from 5 to 9, but there are some big ones out there.

Did you ask him if that fish had a hole in his mouth from my 2 ounce slab that the hook got straighten on??

Hey Steve--
There there is a new thing called
an adjustable DRAG. It prevents things
like broken lines , straighted hooks ,
broken rods and tall tales about the one
that got away.
I have but one mission on this
board and it is to impress upon anglers
the importance of checking the drag, and
re-tying lines often. It will make the
difference one day whether or not you
land the fish of a lifetime or just have
another " big one that got away" story.
Good luck
MO

I got to agree with Mo! I hear stories all the time about fish breaking off. If you have fresh line and the drag is adjusted properly the only limits are how strong the fish is and how much line you have.

The first hybrid I caught was seven pounds. I was trolling a hell/pet rig with one of my bass fishing rigs. He took off all but about three wraps of line from my reel, but would have gotten away if the drag had been set tighter. I got a couple of reels with a higher line cap. and still watch my drag!

------------------
smallblessing - Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Steve -- You know I am just kidding you.
Don't want to start any more fight
good luck
MO

REST ASSSURED MY EQUIPMENT IS TOP NOTCH,(THOSE THAT HAVE FISHED WITH ME KNOW THAT) BUT WHEN IT MAKES A RUN RIGHT AT THE BOAT WITH LITTLE LINE OUT AND A TIGHT DRAG OR A SEMI TIGHT DRAG ON A SLAB THAT PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE HAD A NEW HOOK ON IT, BUT I WAS LAZY IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE..

I HAVE CAUGHT 20 TIMES MORE THEN I HAVE LOST....

I have lost so many of the "ones that got away" and knew they were big fish that I eventually learned. I change out my line at least every other season. I also cut off about six feet and retie whenever the line looks like its getting some abrasion.

I always set my drag.... Whether I am crappie fishing with six # test or doing the helpet with 15b #.... Drag will save you a lot of "Fish Stories"!

You are right though Steve, sometimes when the right circumstances occur even the most vigilant drag setter will find he didn't loosen it quite enough.

Then theres always your knot, age of the line, abrasion from catching a lot of fish or just simply not taking care of your gear and you will be in the same boat.....



------------------
I fish..... Therefore I am!!!

bro,

One thing that loses fish at the boat more then anything is slack in the line.....personal experience on an over sized red fish years ago...still have not lived it down.

This thread is killing me - 18 lbs!!!

I have been rejuvenated. Motivation comes in all shapes and sizes - 18 pound sizes

I have missed getting to the lake for the past two weeks. I will miss agian this week. However, I caught my best hybrids last year during the month of September. Looking for a repeat!!


[This message has been edited by FisherMatt (edited 08-19-2003).]

Steve, Do you know of anyone in the Tyler area that you would recommend for a redfish mount?

Sorry, if you wanted to bring it to Fort Worth, then I could help you.

However, you might call the fishery in athens and ask them who does their replicas and go from there.

Had a guy braggin to me how he almost broke my record on R.C.
He talked about fighting it and how it had to be much bigger than mine.
Just really going on about how he would have broken my stripper record.
I said you no thats great but I boated mine.
I ant braggin just lucky.
You don't brag in fishing because you can get bested the next day!!
see you
Bob holmes

I have never heard of a stripper record. Was it the most dollars in a night or what?

By the way how big was your striper?

------------------
David


"Git-R-Done"

The 23# hybrid is below R.C. every spring during April and upstream below Ray Hubbard at the same time. Both restricted to fishing and both with State Records begging to be caught. What most people don't do is use big enough baits and be willing to go 200 trips between fish to get the record.

I have caught 6 pure strain striped bass out of RC, the largest was 12# back in 1996. According to biologist I spoke with they were possible holdovers from a Bardwell stocking, or striped bass fingerlings accidentally in with a Hybrid shipment.

A comparison for who has braggin rights
R.C or C.C.

C.C 18.56# Striped Bass 2/28/75
C.C. 13.19 Hybrid Striped Bass Jimmy LeGrand 5/11/99.

R.C. 15.3# Striped Bass by Bob Holmes 6/2000
R.C. 18.07 Hybrid Striped Bass Jerry Anderson 5/18/03

All published water body records from TPWD

Looks like last 2 weeks April first 2 weeks of May are good bets for a monster. Bet some of you didn't know that CC once had striper in it !