Bright And Early

[Driftless]

Bright And Early

 

My back kicked me out of bed early this morning.
 

I was on the water by 6:15AM

The morning started off with a hammer handle pike on a jointed minnow bait with rattles. Not worthy of a photo.

I changed lures and started working the fast water up by the dam.

I had a solid hit and hook up.  The fish did a non-typical head shake.  Pike I have caught do the power runs first and save the head shakes until on the surface later.  I thought trout or maybe a walleye.  The fish felt too powerful to be either.

It did a slow run and I caught a glimpse of its profile.  It was a thick fish and I guessed about a 35 inch pike.......then I saw the white patch on the tail and audibly said: "Holly $hit!" and I got nervous. It did one more head shake and it was gone.

I sat down and composed myself.  I knew with a hook up and middle length battle it would not come back any time soon.

I fished for another 2 hours. I emptied my tackle box to try to get it to come back to no avail. I landed a 18 inch smallie and a 30 inch pike and did not bother with photos because I was truly disappointed in both after having the biggest walleye of my entire life on and losing it.

[ANYFISH2]

I hate the ones that get away!

 

[ozzie]

oh the rush, excitement and then disappointment all in one tug of the line!!!  That is one of the many reasons we love to fish!!!  Thanks for sharing the story...