I've been fishing delta and clear lake a lot, there are times of course you brake a line, you regret the fact you didn't even had a change to glimpse on this fish, I lost a few like that, and yeah I felt bad, but not as bad like the one I lost at clear lake last weekend, I'm using 6lbs test(Suffix) I never had a problem landing my double digit, and I always re-setup after a big fish, anyway I was cranking 9:30AM missed a big tug twice like it pulls I thought its just probably a sunken log or a snag at first, but cast it again this time I paused bam it pulls, yank missed it, after few more cast nothing, I was cursing (you know what mean) Then decided to follow up with my deadly weapon MMIII 1st cast a 4lb'er, reeled it in NP, re-setup, then cast where I missed the tug, "nibble and pull" Im using ultralight rod, my pole bent Like when I had my 10lb'er, Set-the hook hard there she goes It pulls like I've never felt B4 the problem is it didn't stop (Stingray Pull) I was using my Laguna 2000, my reel is smokin so I noticed my spool is running out so I thighten my drag, after a few run "Snap" I thought it came un-button no sir it snaps, can any1 make feel better I thingking its a catfish but yet I haven't sleep keep thingking about it..bomber here are some nice I caught that day

http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/5270-1st.jpg


http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/5271-6.5.jpg


http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/5272-other1st.jpg

Break offs like that are just the nature of the beast with the tools you willingly chose (ie, UL rod and light line in a big fish fishery with heavy cover). Yea, it's a lotta fun fighting bigger fish on light tackle but going into the game you have to immediately figure the percentage of lost fish will be higher. You just have to put it in your mind that you'll eventually set into a fish that can't be turned and the limits of what your gear will do have been reached!

I think I've seen your name in the BNT tourney roll calls--do you use the same UL gear for the Delta events? If you're fishing for money or point standings I think that'd be very nerve wracking!

Great fish pics by the way, and as I said earlier, those fish must've been pretty fun on UL gear!

They give chill everytime they run near the cover ;) and yes I use the same set-up on the tourney and I had a fish actually broke one of my rod and lost it, I end-up using one rod the whole day, didn't get a change to fish the day2 and I forgot to thank Rob for helping me recovering my fins (Lost on on strong current), that day wasn't my day, but it was a fun.. I fish for fun and adrenaline rush.

Looks like a fun trip to clear lake :) You can never be sure on those big mystery breakoffs but I have hooked quite a few big cats while fishing for bass and what you described sounded pretty catfish like. The cats usually start moving off slowly when you hook them and take a few seconds to come alive. Then they start running and they stay close ot the bottom. They also give big twisting headshakes as they get more pissed off.

Sometimes a fish fools you, like the 13lb cat I caught once on a 1oz rattle trap. I thought for sure I had a 15lb bass on. Or the other weekend at the delta I hooked a 5lb bass on 8lb test and it ran me like a foul hooked carp and never jumped for probably 2-3 mintues. So you never know, maybe you hooked one of the elusive 10lbers of clear lake :) That's the fun of fishin.

Thanks Rob I got my Fins back last delta open, well the fish I had didn't even start slow it just rips it off it swam like theres no more water.. :) anyway thanks I kept thingking it was catfish to just to ease the pain ;(

Darius,
I think I saw you at the entrance to State park this morning. Looked like you were flipping with a spinning rod. Would have stopped but I had to get home. Hope you did well, I had a blast up there!

Matt

When you hook something big on UL the fish has such little resistance that they all just seem to run your drag like a catfish......I've caught 8 lb redfish on crappie rods and they dont fight like they do on heavier tackle, they just peel drag on the bottom as long as they can.....Theres pretty much no way to know for sure.

But if your serious about getting some serious toads I would upgrade from UL. Theres a compromise to be had if you dont like heavy heavy stuff. I usually fish 6'6 spinning rods when using smaller plastics or small jerkbaits and I only use 10 lb test. On baitcast, I generall use 15. They still fight, still fun, and you dont snap fish off all the time...

Good luck

Also, I learned from a friend recently to not fish senkos with 5 lb test in heavy timber lol rusty spoons

Thank you, but I love the challenge on my ul tackle its the feeling that, can my tackle handle this? anticipation that what I am, I love to fish, locating them is already a challenge but bringing them in on your light tackle priceless, Like when I had that 8.9lbs and 10.3lbs on the same day my blood was pumping hard especially when you see them jump on your 6lbs test, that my friend is priceless.

Nice. Thats cool. I understand the excitement that UL brings for sure.

Wow dude, you have to have some big conojes or be crazy to go after Delta bass like that with a UL. Sorry, I understand the whole thing about the fight. That's why I fly fish for trout in the Sierras. But you wouldn't catch me fishing at my local lake with an UL. The lightest rod I own is my Loomis DS820, and that thing has more power than most rods of it's rating. It's really fun to fish with but I'm definitely more secure with my flippin' stick and 30 or 50 lb. braid. I mean, somehwere at Castaic or Pyramid where it's just rocks, no problem for me to fish lighter dtuff. But if I'm anywhere near heavy stuff, I'm going at least 12 on my reaction baits, 10 on DS, and braid with my cue stick for flipping :+ I really like to have control over a fish, and with the mats and tules I'm fishin' right now I wan to be able to get that fish out of there muy pronto. Anyways, better luck next time.