[BigDaddyHub]

This morning I lost what I thought was a "decent fish" because my blood knot was half-assed and slipped. A guy in a boat saw this and continued to fish the area after my departure for better hot spots. Later in the day, he tracked my down at the boat ramp, showed me the fish I lost. And graciously returned my popper to me...he stated the popper was too nice for him not to return it. I thanked him and he humored me with a few pics of the fish....The fish with the rod is the 19 incher I took on one of my freshly tied Deceivers...the other is the 24 and 1/4 " fish I lost because of my own negligence...Moral of the story...TIE GOOD KNOTS!!

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•  Cedar_Creek_Big_Bass_010.jpg (1.3MB)
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•  Cedar_Creek_Big_Bass_011.jpg (645.34K)
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•  Cedar_Creek_Big_Bass_013.jpg (580.04K)
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•  Cedar_Creek_Big_Bass_014.jpg (476.71K)
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[BigDaddyHub]

The pics don't do this animal justice...this guy was easily 6'4" and 300 lbs with hands as big as catcher's mitts. BUT he is a true sportsman...after the pics, he took the fish back to it's lie and released her unharmed. I asked him why he didn't keep her, and he stated "I saw the look in your eye when I pulled her out. I'd like for you to have another shot at her someday." Hell of a nice guy....

[smokinprice]

WOW! What a huge fish and what a wonderful story. Nice guy indeed

[BigDaddyHub]

I attempted to put the whole dialogue into the post, but my internet connection keeps crappin' out and I was aggravated after tryin it three times....but he said he knew it was the fish when the fish jumped and he saw his Pop-R lure and my popper. He said his dad used to tie flies and said that was "one of finest hand tied poppers" he had ever seen (which tells me he hasn't seen many! LOL!). He said he had been looking for me on the water since landing the fish and just wanted me to have the opportunity to at least see it. Hell of a nice guy. Before he left, he helped an elderly man launch, and then repaired a part on the guys outboard...class act!

[smokinprice]

Very cool man. Its ok you can tell them...it was one of my poppers wasnt it??? Hee hee

[onceahoosier]

Very nice fish. I saw you posted a pic of some great Deceivers a week or two ago. I've tied some too but use them for stripers, never any luck fishing for largemouth with them. Are Deceivers your favorite subsurface bass fly? What colors work best for you? Thanks for posting.

Tom

[BigDaddyHub]

Sorry Jeff...but you have to throw big flies in this lake....ya see, in Kentucky, we have real bass...I just can't land 'em! LOL!

[BigDaddyHub]

Very nice fish. I saw you posted a pic of some great Deceivers a week or two ago. I've tied some too but use them for stripers, never any luck fishing for largemouth with them. Are Deceivers your favorite subsurface bass fly? What colors work best for you? Thanks for posting.

Tom

I do like a Deceiver, but my go to subsurface is the Clouser....I tie my Clouser Minnows and Deceivers in baby bass and shad patterns, but I also favor orange over white and yellow over white for clear, shallow water on bright days. Pink over white with a white rabbit strip tail instead of hackle feathers KILLS stripers and hybrids in the jumps on the big rivers here....great pattern for the white bass as well!

[oatka]

Both are nice fish, but post a picture of this world famous popper!

[smalliestalker]

nice fish man....the one that got away....ahhhhh.....

[smokinprice]

Sorry Jeff...but you have to throw big flies in this lake....ya see, in Kentucky, we have real bass...I just can't land 'em! LOL!

Hey we have "real" bass here in Maryland as well. Just not where I fish!

[BigDaddyHub]

Both are nice fish, but post a picture of this world famous popper!

Oatka,

It was one of the Black Beauty Bala poppers I posted in teh warmwater fly database early last week. No frills...just black on black and big.

http://www.flytyingforum.com/pattern10648.html

[Kirk Dietrich]

Hub, that is one of the most unusual stories I've ever heard. Its almost unbelievable but I learned a long time ago that while sportsmen are competitive and some of the best bullshitters, they also have some of the most unusual true stories.

I knew that popper would get'em.

I didn't see any replies on good knots so I thought I'd take a shot.
Two most important things: Lubrication and steady pressure/tightening. Lubrication from saliva or for heavier leaders, lip balm works great.
When tightening, mono gets thinner as it is passing over and around itself within the knot, as long as you keep a steady pull, it will stretch and tighten, once you relax the grip on the line and/or hook, the mono re-expands and that knot will never slip. Problem comes in when the knot isn't pulled till its seated and some stretch is felt or pressure is let off and then reapplied.

Not saying you can't tie knots, shit happens. Just thought I'd post that little info for those that may be unsure what goes wrong.

Again, great story,

Kirk

[BigDaddyHub]

I can tell ya, Kirk, I didn't tie that knot for shit. I tied it in the daze of consciousness and had a feeling I had half assed it, and the that fish hit, I knew I hadn't lubed it well, nor did I cinch it down as I should have. I just assumed I didn't need a good knot at a lake that routinely coughs up 7 and 8 lb bass...What was I thinkin? LOL!

I swear on all my new stints it's honest to goodness true story, no embelishment, not even a little. I see this guy at the lake often....next time, I'm gonna get his name and his autograph to put in my display case with that fly!