Question:

Just how small and seemingly fragile 4lb line actually is! I got the Noodle Rod at BPS tonight,largemouth bass tagging program and a Shimano spinning reel. I had the guy spool it up with line, and after I got home and looked at it… I find it hard to believe that I can fight a decent fish with this stuff. I know it can be done, but I’ll probably break off a few hundred jigs in the process of figuring this out, but I can’t wait to try this out! I guess the net will now be a must… and just flipping the fish into the boat is out of the question. Lesson number 2: Back reel largemouth bass tagging program… LOL Wish me luck!

The first decent LM I ever caught was on 6lb test (Trilene XL) with an old Olympia spinning reel on an old fly rod.  In fact I caught him twice. I dropped a minnow on a hook (nothing else) over a broken concrete chunk below a road culvert.  The minnow swam in nice lazy circles about three times and then took as as a dark green blur jetted out from under the slab.  WHAM!  We were on. I only had 15 feet of line out to start.  He dragged it out to the far side of the little pool in seconds.largemouth bass tagging program  The fly rod performed fantastically.  Everytime the bass surged across the way that rod bent over and took the abuse. I finally managed to work it back up close to the shelf I was standing on, and when Tim Rush reach down with the landing net I figured we had him.  THUNK!  He missed and hit the fish dead on with the edge of the net. The line seperated instantly.  ”AURGH!!!!!” I made Tim set the net down and go away as I watched that big Ol’ bass swim back to its private hiding place under that broken slab. Shaking, and trying not to scream I tied on another hook.  Then I quietly walked around to the other pool were I had netted minnows earleir and dipped one out. I worked my way back around to the shelf were I had been standing when I hooked that fish.  I decided to give the big guy a minute to calm down before trying for him again.  I must have stood there for atleats five or ten minutes with a minnow wiggleing in one hand and my rod cupped in the other hand with the hook pinched between my fingers.  Tim came back around some brush from were he was fishing to see how I was doing.  I just gave him the big evil eye.  He froze. After a minute or two more I lip hooked that minnow and reached largemouth bass tagging program out with that rod and dropped the line just past the broken chunch of concrete.  Circle…. circle…. Circle…..  Then RUSH!  That minnow took off like a shot.  In moments there was a fish on.  I knew as the rod tip almost touched the water from the first surge I had hooked up with the same fish again.  We were on. The drag was screaming.  I brought that fish back to me, and had it strip line all the way across that little pool three or four times before I dared to reach for the landing net.  I was holding the net in one hand and my rod in the other when it stripped line one more time. I alomost paniced.  With the net hooked in my arm pit I worked it back in one more time.  Reaching out gently with the net, careful to get well behind the fish I scooped it into the water.  At the last second it turned and darted….straight into the landing net. At the time.  It was the biggest bass I had ever caught.  A whopping 4.5 lbs according to my De-Liar.  Not a record.  Not even a particularly large fish by the experience of most of those who frequent ROFB, but for me it was a whale. I think I was as proud of catching it on a flyrod with 6lb mono as I was of catching the fish itself. P.S. Tim is still a friend

Response:

The first decent LM I ever caught was on 6lb test (Trilene XL) with an old Olympia spinning reel on an old fly rod.  In fact I caught him twice.

Great tale–thanks!! Guy A Ripley, TN

Response:

There was a guy at Lake Fork a few weeks ago that caught a 13lb+ LM on 4lb test and a crappie jig. Can you imagine if that fish rolled and you got good look at it with your crappie rig in your hand. Holy Cow: Jake

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Just how small and seemingly fragile 4lb line actually is! I got the Noodle Rod at BPS tonight, and a Shimano spinning reel. I had the guy spool it up with line, and after I got home and looked at it… I find it hard to believe that I can fight a decent fish with this stuff. I know it can be done, but I’ll probably break off a few hundred jigs in the process of figuring this out, but I can’t wait to try this out! I guess the net will now be a must… and just flipping the fish into the boat is out of the question. Lesson number 2: Back reel… LOL Wish me luck! — Visit Charles at: www.thebasspro.net My new Motto: “Too invested to quit” www.outdoorfrontiers.com www.midtennclassic.org

Response:

Seeing a 13# largemouth on my line would probably scare the crap outta me… especially on anything less than 12# line! I can’t wait to fish this thing, and landing my first fish will be a success no matter what size it is. If success equals confidence, then it won’t matter if the fish is 10lbs, or 1lb. It’s only a matter of time and effort after that before that 5+ fish is caught. — Visit Charles at: www.thebasspro.net My new Motto: “Too invested to quit” www.outdoorfrontiers.com www.midtennclassic.org

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – There was a guy at Lake Fork a few weeks ago that caught a 13lb+ LM on 4lb test and a crappie jig. Can you imagine if that fish rolled and you got good look at it with your crappie rig in your hand. Holy Cow: Jake Just how small and seemingly fragile 4lb line actually is! I got the Noodle Rod at BPS tonight, and a Shimano spinning reel. I had the guy spool it up with line, and after I got home and looked at it… I find it hard to believe that I can fight a decent fish with this stuff. I know it can be done, but I’ll probably break off a few hundred jigs in the process of figuring this out, but I can’t wait to try this out! I guess the net will now be a must… and just flipping the fish into the boat is out of the question. Lesson number 2: Back reel… LOL Wish me luck! — Visit Charles at: www.thebasspro.net My new Motto: “Too invested to quit” www.outdoorfrontiers.com www.midtennclassic.org

Response:

At least you don’t have to use that little net you had. — Jerry Barton Be Kind To Your Children, They Get To Pick Your Nursing Home. www.jerrys-world.com

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Just how small and seemingly fragile 4lb line actually is! I got the Noodle Rod at BPS tonight, and a Shimano spinning reel. I had the guy spool it up with line, and after I got home and looked at it… I find it hard to believe that I can fight a decent fish with this stuff. I know it can be done, but I’ll probably break off a few hundred jigs in the process of figuring this out, but I can’t wait to try this out! I guess the net will now be a must… and just flipping the fish into the boat is out of the question. Lesson number 2: Back reel… LOL Wish me luck! — Visit Charles at: www.thebasspro.net My new Motto: “Too invested to quit” www.outdoorfrontiers.com www.midtennclassic.org

Response:

Thank goodness, and thank you! — Visit Charles at: www.thebasspro.net My new Motto: “Too invested to quit” www.outdoorfrontiers.com www.midtennclassic.org – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – At least you don’t have to use that little net you had. — Jerry Barton Be Kind To Your Children, They Get To Pick Your Nursing Home. www.jerrys-world.com

Response:

Just how small and seemingly fragile 4lb line actually is! I got the Noodle Rod at BPS tonight, and a Shimano spinning reel. I had the guy spool it up with line, and after I got home and looked at it… I find it hard to believe that I can fight a decent fish with this stuff. I know it can be done, but I’ll probably break off a few hundred jigs in the process of figuring this out, but I can’t wait to try this out! I guess the net will now be a must… and just flipping the fish into the boat is out of the question.

I used to use spinning gear and 4 lb Ande all the time.  I mostly fished 1/32 oz marabou jigs.  I caught many different species and sizes of fish on that set-up.  Including a 7 lb Northern.  The only fish I broke off were carp, they would stay down on the bottom and eventually I got impatient and wanted to see the fish.  You can’t horse big carp off the bottom with 4 lb test.  But I didn’t really want to catch carp anyway and I don’t think they knew they were hooked so they didn’t fight, they seemed to just go on bottom feeding. You’ll do fine with 4 lb test, re-tie often. — Richard Bass Stalkers http://www.bassstalkers.com

Response:

Just how small and seemingly fragile 4lb line actually is! I got the Noodle Rod at BPS tonight, and a Shimano spinning reel. I had the guy spool it up with line, and after I got home and looked at it… I find it hard to believe that I can fight a decent fish with this stuff. I know it can be done, but I’ll probably break off a few hundred jigs in the process of figuring this out, but I can’t wait to try this out! I guess the net will now be a must… and just flipping the fish into the boat is out of the question. Lesson number 2: Back reel… LOL Wish me luck!

Charles, You’ll be amazed at how much pressure you can apply to a fish with a noodle rod and 4 lb. test line.  I’ve done a lot of smallmouth fishing with my 9′ noodle rod and sometimes I think I get them into the boat quicker than on my “regular” tackle.  The thing to remember is to take your time, if the fish wants to run, let it.  Plus, with the type of water you typically fish, there isn’t the thick weeds and heavy cover that we deal with up here. I caught a 36″ northern pike on a 7′ crappie rod and 4 lb. test line.  Then Gil one-upped me by catching a 48″ muskie on his ultralight!!!  So you shouldn’t have too many problems with 12-20″ smallies.  But you will have lots of fun! Good luck my friend. — Steve OutdoorFrontiers http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods http://www.herefishyfishy.com

Response:

Just how small and seemingly fragile 4lb line actually is! I got the Noodle Rod at BPS tonight, and a Shimano spinning reel. I had the guy spool it up with line, and after I got home and looked at it… I find it hard to believe that I can fight a decent fish with this stuff. I know it can be done, but I’ll probably break off a few hundred jigs in the process of figuring this out, but I can’t wait to try this out! I guess the net will now be a must… and just flipping the fish into the boat is out of the question. Lesson number 2: Back reel… LOL Wish me luck! — Visit Charles at: www.thebasspro.net My new Motto: “Too invested to quit” www.outdoorfrontiers.com www.midtennclassic.org

Response:

Related Posts

• Help with fishing soft plastics..tackle fishing record for largemouth bass..HELP??????
• Bassin and changing weather fronts.boat rentals florida lake..
• What rod to purchase?bass fish large small tip for kids
• Small Pond Fishing bass humter fishing boat
• Center Hill Story Part III & from bass pro shops THANK YOU's
• Having trouble catching gheenoe 13 fish large small tip small smallmouth with worms
• Astro Fish &monark fishing bass boat Ski?
• The Elusive Five pelican bass fish large small tip Pound Smallmouth
• Belated Intro ultimate bass fish large small - Hi Group!
• bass does a largemouth bass eat