You'll get your fish Don :) You're catching way too many double digits not to get one.

It's hard to make generalities about those really big fish but it seems like for me it usually happens on a quiet day when not many boats are around, and it's usually on a long cast after a good approach to a key spot.

You put yourself in those situations enough times at the lakes that have the big ones and eventually it happens. Then it's just a matter of hanging on and hoping the fish gets in the boat :) That one fought me hard, I hooked her about 125' from the boat and she jumped 3 or 4 times on the way in, then gave me the monster head shake at boatside.

I've lost those kind of fish before, once because I didn't have a net, once because I threw the wrong bait on a bed fish, and once because I was fishing the wrong rod. The big ones always remind you to never be lazy or sloppy with your tackle. This fish came on the Okuma 7'6" Heavy swimbait rod, CTE 400, 25 Triple Fish Camo main line and 25 Triple Fish floro leader.

That setup is one of my key combos that seems to really land fish well. You probably have your key setups also, just make sure everything is right every cast because when your big bite comes it will test everything. I look forward to the day when I see your pic in the gallery with a super bessie :)