Lucky #13

[DTro]

After putting in many many hours this spring, I've managed to put quite a few fish in the boat, but none that I would consider a quality fish (biggest was about 23lbs). My threshold of a quality fish starts at 40" or 30lbs. I knew it was just a matter of time, but you just never know how long that might be. My time finally came last night with a fun night on the River with LFC and Shamu.

It was a great night much to my surprise, as all week they were saying storms late Sat.

We started by chasing a few channels earlier in the day and had a few runs on, but no fish in the boat.

Next it was time to fire up the grill for some "Poor man's Lobster" and Morels, before prime time was upon us...yummy.

After letting the grub settle a bit it was time to move to our night spot in hopes of putting the first flat in Shamu's boat.

We did that and then some.

LFC broke the ice with a nice 15lber.

and again he smacks another nice one with this one coming in at 17lbs.

After that there was a lull in the action as we watched the storms passing to the direct south of us on our mobile phone radar (I don't leave home with out it).

I got to thinking about Hanson's theory about big fish biting on the edges of these storms fronts and hoping that it might happen again tonight.

One thing I've learned about fishing at night is to expect everything. I'm glad I brought some warmer clothes. We went from temps in the mid 80's in the late afternoon to mid to low 40's toward the end of the night.....brrrr.

About midnight my pole gave me that sharp tap and fast zing of the clicker, grabbed the pole and felt for the telltale tug tug, set the hook and the battle was on! After a short battle, this one made it's way to the boat. Not a monster, but a "quality" fish.

Lucky #13

42"x27" and 38.5lbs

As we were celebrating and taking pics, etc. I hear this "kerploosh"....followed by an exited "that was my pole".

Shamu has his rod holder mounted on rails on his boat, and the one he had his new 6500 combo in had a run as we were celebrating, a run so hard that it rotated the holder on the rail and pulled the rod right out

Bitter sweet ending to my fish. Seems that every big fish LFC is associated with has it's consequences

Thanks again guys....fun as always.

[rushing]

Nice! Looks like good times.

[aanderud]

Wow, nice fish! I can't believe you say that's not a monster! Just a "quality fish".

[hanson]

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I can't believe you say that's not a monster! Just a "quality fish".

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Yeah... not a monster yet. 40lbs is my threshold for a monster, and then we can fire up the Big Cat Safari 2007 photo board for fish over 40lbs caught this year. 50lbs plus is insanely out of this world.

Darren- 10/0 Gamakatsu Octopus?????

[DTro]

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Wow, nice fish! I can't believe you say that's not a monster! Just a "quality fish".

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After personally putting a net under these fish last year it's pretty easy to not call it a monster

[DTro]

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Darren- 10/0 Gamakatsu Octopus?????

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[honky kong]

that's is such a sweet stack of photos. it makes me want to move into my boat and fish all the time.

[aanderud]

I suppose if you've personally seen a pile of 40+ lb fish in the last year, then 30-somethings aren't too big. Still a great fish though! Too bad about losing that other rod. Since you didn't see who pulled it in, you can probably assume it was about a 70 lb blue cat that migrated up here.

I noticed that in that stack of big pigs, grump's was the only daytime photo. Coincidence? Someone posted the other day that they wondered if flatties bite during the day, I'd say that is a good stack of pics to point them to....yes, they apparently will bite before dark, but odds look better after dark, I would say.

[DTro]

Here's a little video of the nights catch:

[Larry FlatCaster]

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Darren- 10/0 Gamakatsu Octopus?????

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Hallelujah..... He has been converted.

Was always wondering when you would see the light Mate!!!

Nice fish,

Nice edit on the video....... Shamu will be crying for some time to come. LOL.

thanks for sharing

LFC

[Flaco651]

Cool vid & nice catch!

[aanderud]

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Darren- 10/0 Gamakatsu Octopus?????

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I was down at Bob's bait shop the one day trying to get all smart on catfishing, and I pointed at some hooks and said "yeah, I better get some of these too"...they were like 8/0 or something. He says "what for, to look cute? You want these", pointing me to the 10/0 octopus hooks.

They're big. That's all I know. They should work. Haven't tried them on anything besides bait yet.

[DARK30]

That does look like the way it should be done! Nice fish Dtro.