Some nights you just can't win...

[jad2t]

Funny story for you all. Tonight after work I went to my recently found hotspot on JPP which is in a top secret location. I've been wearing the Bass out in this area specifically on watermelon flukes. I fish from about 6:00-7:30...never been skunked and caught as many as 8 in one night. Anyway, I couldn't wait to break in my new reel tonight. This spot is quite a hike from where I park so I never want to bring my tackle box, just rods and a few lures. I start casting the fluke with my new reel and missed the hookset on 3 bass in a row. Confused, I check to see if my hook is sharp. It is, but I noticed it was a size or two too small and doesn't have enough gap to set the hook through the slit of that fluke...bummer..and a silly mistake on my part to have grabbed that hook. My other rod is rigged with the right size hook so I started using it. Two casts with the fluke and boom, got a hit, set the hook, line snapped immediately. Why? Because about a week ago I caught several bass on it (6lb test) and forgot to re-tie the knot tonight before I started. I didn't bring anymore hooks with me so now I'm down to the hook that I know is too small to set but I tried again anyway. Caught two more bass, both were hooked long enough to pull some drag and get me excited but shook off since I couldn't get a good hook set. I got frustrated and just took the hook out of the slit and left it hanging. A few casts later... I get stuck and had to break off haha. End of my night. So... since I hooked several fish, but landed zero, is this a good fishing night or a bad one?

[tkwalker]

Jimmy, Education and experience is priceless no matter what your endeavor <'TK>< ;) ... I bet this won't happen again !!

[txnative]

Good night of fishing, bad night o' catching.

The positive is that you have a reliable pattern. Multiple hits is fun, even if you are missing fish.


Chris

[Travis C.]

I'd be getting me a small box for hooks or a small pack I can carry in.

Still a good night of fishing though.

[Reel Tune]

At least you know where the fish are and what they are biting on. When I'm wading or hiking into a location I have a Fishpond fanny pack that is very handy for scissors, pliers, leader material, a few spare soft plastics, and terminal tackle.

http://www.tcoflyfishing.com/images/products/fishpond/HLP-SB.jpg

[jad2t]

I usually take a bag with spare lures and hooks. Last night I decided not to and was kicking myself for it!

[StriperFan]

I'm sure it was very frustrating and you gave your circumstances many "blessings", sounds like a good trip. It reminds me of a time on Tims Ford a few years ago I took my in-laws on a boat ride one night, they didn't want to fish just site see, so I took all the rods out of the boat. We cruesed back in a steep cove/creek, with high rock walls and deep water all the way to the back. Well when we get where we have to turn around, there are all these big arches under the boat, and gizzard shad were so bunched up in the back of this cove they were jumping out of the water to get past the boat. They were jumping so much that my sister in law just hung my landing net over the side and caught a couple. That was the only and last time I have left out without any fishing poles, even if I don't plan on fishing.