How to lose two fish of a lifetime in one day.

Title says it all. But its too much to type on the cell. Thought you all could use some suspense. Full detailed report as soon as i walk in my door. Jeff

If you got some photos it won't be a total loss, Jeff!   

Looking forward to the report.   

Ive got tons of pics and a video but its going to be a loooong report. Trust me its gonna make your stomach churn. You all just have to believe my story. there is no exxageration in it. Ill be home in about 45 min. Sit tight. Lol

Sittin' tight.

Ok *takes a deep breath*, Got to my launching location right about 3:30pm to very high winds (around 15 mph) and very dirty water (less than foot of clarity), threw all my gear in the yak and pushed off, headed straight into the wind to get to my spot and by the time I got there I was already soaking wet. I was not dressed anywhere near what I should have, sneakers and Dickie pants, not good lol. So I see a boat near my spot and head over to see what's up. He starts waving his arms and a flag, so I paddle over to him, apparenty he ran out of gas. He tried to get me to run into town and get him some gas, way too much work for me, so I had to say no. I told him Id flag down the next boat I see and send them their way. Paddled 20 feet from them to my favorite bank and threw a jerkbait, two twitches and fish on. Uh-oh, that's a bad sign! And I guess you could say it all went downhill from there. Yes, the fishing was red-hot again, small fish after small fish. I head over through some tules and had my brand new rod laying forward across my yak and the hook grabbed a tule and bent my rod under they yak *SNAP*, there goes the end of that pole. Good thing I brought a second rod. Threw the jerkbait for a while longer and headed over to the shallow rocky flats that have produced some big fish for me before. I tie on my brand new huge 10" jerkbait, and start ripping it across the flats. After about my 10th cast I think I get snagged up on something, crap, there goes a $15 jerkbait, when suddenly is starts to move, then heads straight for the surface and does an awesome jump, I swore my heart stopped when I saw this thing. I saw it maybe about 5 times and I swear up and down it was well over 10 pounds, it was waaaay bigger than my 6.1 I caught in the same area. We tussled for a good ten minutes and I couldnt get it to the yak. I tighten the drag up a bit to try to horse it in. Bad idea, I felt the hook slip a little and reach for the drag, then the line goes slack. Ouch, just lost a huge bass. After my hands stop shaking I continue working the big bait for no more hits so I downgrade back down to a 6" jerkbait and get a few more cookie cutter bass. Around 6pm I decide to tie on my new 10" swimbait and throw it off this point that has booking current whipping around it. After about 45 minutes of nothing my reel is just screaming, Im like whooaa this is no largemouth. (I am using an 7 foot medium action Ugly Stick with a Daiwa Samurai reel with 300 yards of 50lb Power Pro braid. I grab the drag and crank it down tight, nothing, still screaming louder than you can believe. I turn the drag down as tight as it will go and it just isnt enough. Way over the limit of my gear. After maybe 20 minutes I finally gain some line on the fish and it comes up to the surface maybe 20 feet away. OMFG! Biiiiig striper, this fish put my 37" striper to shame, after the second time I saw it, Id say it was in the mid 40"es and FAT. And that was it, she took off for another run just ripping line off my reel like it was tied to a car. All the way to the end, 300 yards, spooled me. GONE. I didnt know what to do. I was so amazed by the power of this fish. It was insane. By now it was close to 7:00. I just decided to call it quits, that was more than I can handle for one day.

Hope that was interesting read for you guys. I am uploading pics, they will be up shortly along with the video.

Jeff

Video will be up soon, just of the waves, pretty rough out there, what do you think?

That is crazy!  But shiznit like that makes you want to go back for more.  You will replay that one in your mind for a while...................

Yep, how am I supposed to sleep tonight! lol

Damn.  You really got some bad karma dude.  Give the next homeless person you see a twenty.  Maybe your luck will change.  I hope to see you Wednesday.  Any advice on striper baits...

Bryan, I got all that you need, stripers are hit or miss here, so dont get your hopes up lol.

Video

 So, did the striper come unhooked or did it bust you off at the spool? You must have been on a Big Time sliegh-ride!

Yeah busted off at the spool, first time I have ever been spooled

Quite the adventure!  Two big fish lost - and different species too - that's a unique outing for sure.

So what happened to the boater in distress?  I hate to think you may have paid a karma price for bailing on the guy!      

I told him Id help, I.E cell phone etc. Its just about 1,000 yard paddle, load up the yak and gear, 20 min drive each way to town. It's a bit much for me. I said if he got someone to have a gas can ready on the levee Id go grab it and deliver it. So I guess he floated the boat to shore and someone had some extra gas. He just bought the boat, had a 150 horse motor on it and though 5 gallons would last all day out on the delta.

Jeff