Personal best LM on my birthday :D

[jad2t]

Heck no I'm not working on my birthday. I took a vacation day and hit a secret pond I like to fish from time to time. Had to get past ankle deep in slimy muck to get in the water but it was worth it.

I got six fish, all on SUMKINA stick worms, purple with blue flake, fished weightless and wacky rigged. First fish was the big girl at 21.25" long and good girth as well. I don't have a scale but I'm confident that fish was over 5 pounds and based on looking at length to width conversion charts for an estimate, she may have hit 6 pounds. I can't say for sure but upper 5's definitely.

I got it all on video too!

Definitely thanks to God for blessing me with a fish like that today. Let's hope I can get one like this again Saturday at the TKA tournament.

As a side note, does anyone have insight on whether a fish can survive with a hook down in the throat? I felt so bad but I absolutely could not get that hook out. She swallowed it far. I tried and tried and had her out of the water for so long that I figured I was doing more damage because of that. I'd hold her under the water for a minute and try again but had no luck. I had to just cut the line and let her swim away with the hook. I really hope she survives.

[Alphahawk]

Congrats Jimmy! Fish can survive the hook in the throat. They produce a chemical that will eat it away. Just depends on how much damage was done and if the fish can still eat.


Regards

[jad2t]

Thanks and that's good to know. I was going to do some internet research on it. I figured if I kept tugging at it I'd only do more damage to her and keeping her out of the water was just as bad if not worse. That's a small pond with a handful of big fish so I want them all to survive.

I've caught another 20+ inch fish out of this pond back in May. Also got several in the 15-18 inch range. Tons of fish 12 inches and smaller. I've heard stories about a 7 pounder and even a 12 pounder in there. It might be total crap but this IS a natural pond, not man made, so it could be possible that there is a huge grandmother bass in there.

[Reel Tune]

Congratulations on your new personal best, and I hope you get another one this Saturday. Like Alpha stated it's best to leave a deep hook if it cannot be removed safely, and quickly. Sometimes you just have to cut your loses and say goodbye and hope for the best.

[nomad60]

Beautiful fish. Did you try coming in with the needlenose through the gills? I can usually get the hooks out that way.

http://www.in-fisherman.com/2014/04/...-hook-removal/

[Halli]

I caught a largemouth on Ky lake couple months back that had a hook in it's mouth down toward the gullet so I reckon it don't stop em.

[SAMBOLIE]

Congrats Jimmy. You will never make me believe that you let a fish swim off. Let us know how it tastes.

[XxthejuicexX]

Originally Posted by SAMBOLIE

Congrats Jimmy. You will never make me believe that you let a fish swim off. Let us know how it tastes.

Yeah really, we all know you are a killer! I have seen the pictures

[jad2t]

Originally Posted by SAMBOLIE

Congrats Jimmy. You will never make me believe that you let a fish swim off. Let us know how it tastes.

Haha I did release it. Lately I've been releasing bass in certain situations. This is a small pond with a handful of larger females so I want them to survive. I catch tons of 12" and smaller bass in there, I may start taking them out to help manage it. There are way too many small bass in there.

[Heiny57]

Hooks will rust out quickly I have caught them with hooks in their guts.