Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Growing big largemouth, and other fish.

I'm trying to remember what test line I used on my last 20+ lb. LMB. Memory fails me and I don't often keep good records.

My thoughts for what it's worth. For that type of fishing, it is about the entire "tool set" with all parts complimentary. I'm assuming that this is for the fish of a lifetime. Line size and type are a lot different for deep lake fishing than for stump knocking and fishing trash. I like going for the smallest line possible given the conditions as regards lure presentation. I wish I knew more about Spiderwire and the Fluorocarbons that are claimed to disappear underwater. I love good quality 14 lb. test line but it needs to be new and not something that has had the opportunity to soak up some UV rays. If I ever backlashed, I would lay the rod aside and pick up another.

But it's not just about the line. For that kind of fishing I like a really long rod. The rod takes and applies the brunt of the pressure on the fish. If you think about it, fly fishermen use the equivalent of well rope for the main line, their projectile, and very light line for the terminal end. The long rod exerts the real pressure and you try to stay away from anything that would cause abrasion. The knot or knots in fly fishing can be very key and I'm not very knowledgable about knots or fly fishing in general. I do know they are the main failure point in the "tool set". A good reel with a smooth drag keeps the fish from putting undue pressure on the knot.

My personal experience with really huge fish has been off the Gulf Coast with pool cue size rods but that's a different world. Usually we were shark fishing. However, we used to catch 10 to 12 pound mackrels using standard bass gear with large jointed Rapalas. The lures didn't last long and it's not for the faint of heart. 100 yds. of line often weren't enough. It's been years since I've done that.

In freshwater, I have caught some nice stripers below dams. My personal best has been 17 lbs. and I didn't catch many even approaching that. After some experimentation, my Brother and I built our own rods using long Calcutta cane matched with big surf spinning reels. Not all of the canes worked. This also worked great for large catfish just above the dams.

On what would have been my personal all time best striper, I had to cut the line and release the fish. I was fishing below the dam and Possum Kingdom Lake. They had just stocked trout on a put and take basis with a 5 fish limit. I caught my limit of 8 inch rainbows and then started striper fishing. The Game Warden had told me that for every trout a fisherman caught, the stripers got 5. It was illegal to use the trout for bait but it seemed like a good idea to me. I hung a huge striper and the fight was on. Then somebody said "Here comes the Game Warden" and I cut the line. Who, me? Don't know what you're talking about, Officer.