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Most memorable fish?

There was a low dam with a gap taken out about 5' wide on Mill creek just above where in goes under I40 that the water poured through into a pool below. I was wading the creek in the 80's and threw a panther martin spinner in above the gap and reeled it through, when it went in the pool a smallmouth hit it and just went nuts,it seemed he spent more time in the air than in the water. He jumped real high shaking his head and the spinner came out. I can see it now twirling and shining in the air on the end of 6lb stren blue and it landed in the water beside me about 10' away.
 
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Great topic! For me it was a walleye. I got into fishing later in life (about 35) so in an effort to shorten the learning curve I booked a trip with a local walleye guide. Pete Hatchett is his name and he is an awesome fisherman and an even better teacher. He patiently fielded my 10,000 questions, gave me tons of tips, and still offers guidance to me from time to time. A week after we fished together I tied some crawler harnesses how he taught me and I caught some solid fish, one of which was about 23". For me, there was a great sense of accomplishment to tie my own harnesses and catch solid fish on them. Even though I have a boat, I can't wait to book another trip with him, just had a riot fishing with him.
 

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I've thought about this one, and decided I can't limit it to one. There are a handful of mental images I will take with me to the end. In chronological order:
1. Probably a 15" largemouth. I was 9 yrs old and with my Dad on Fontana. I threw a spring lizard into some pollen/trash in the back of a pocket off the Little T. I watched my line go tight, set the hook, and it jumped. I reeled as hard as I could, and the nut holding the handle on the Johnson Century reel I got at my kindergarten graduation came off, and then the handle. Dad ended up hand lining it it for me..

2. A 23" brown on the Little T. I was screwing around waiting on some friends to meet me to fish. I had on a 6X tippet from dry fly fishing on my previous evening down there. I tied on about a size 2 stonefly nymph to mess around. She hit, and ran me into my backing. I wasn't really excited because I was sure she was going to break me off. I started getting nervous when I got her close enough to net. Then, she got tangled in the leader. Finally got her netted. It was my largest trout for a long time.

3. According to my very experienced buddy, a 7-8# smallmouth I hooked on a crankbait. I had her right at the boat and he told me to bring her up so he could net her. He was already telling me I had to mount that fish. As I pulled her up, she jumped and threw the Bagley. He ALMOST caught her in the net on her way down

4. My first tarpon. After dreaming about catching one on the fly for 50+ years, it happened. After being short on my first cast to where the guide told me to throw (I couldn't see her wake), I made a good cast. After a couple of strips, she exploded and ate it as she came out of the water. Her take more than likely prevented me from the dreaded "trout set". It was only around 35#s, but, it was still a tarpon on the fly.

5. Same summer. I had caught about a 90# poon about an hour before. I actually don't remember much about it because all heck broke loose and everything was a blur. My fishing partner was having some back issues and had to sit down for a while, and insisted I try again. The next pod of tarpon looked like they were going to cross at about 50' off the bow. Instead, they turned and headed right towards the skiff. I dumped a cast at about 30' and got to watch this one eat. She totally cleared the water at about 25'. I will take that image to my last breath. She was 100#s of pure energy.

Thanks for the memories!
 
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A few years back when I fished in the Illinois Walleye Trail, I saw a advertisement for the Angler Young Angler tournament series.
I signed my oldest and me up. Illinois River.
He must have been 10.
It must have been 90 degrees out and no wind.
Just brutal.
After 6 hours, trolled a fire tiger husky jerk along some clam beds.
An hour before weigh in, we end up with one fish.
1 lb. 7 oz Sauger.
For the weigh in, a tournament staff member backs your rig up and drives you to the stage.
It was cool.
Got 7th place.
 
5-11 largemouth. Spring break with my best friends, 5 of us in my Stratos 201 with an iced down keg of miller in a trash can in the floor of the boat. Cuba landing (TN River). Flipped a pig-n-jig into some crappie stakes and it never hit bottom. Set the hook and it was on. I thought it was a 9 pounder, Buddy of mine lipped it and got it in. Proceeded to then float the keg.

Should have been in jail lol
 
America crappie trail 2018 kylake is my most memorable catch.That yr it was tough to find big fish on kylake.Friday we did ok,but sat was awsome and caught some good fish.Sat we set up in a creek and probally had 4 boats around us that morning.We put on a clinic ,probally caught over 30 keepers the first couple hours.After a couple hours it was us and my buddy that taught me to jig fish.We were spiderrigging 7 poles and i had a jig pole in my hand and landed a 2.19 lb crappie on my jig pole.I weighed it looked around and started screaming and hollering cause i figured we had big fish in the bag.A team that weighed in just before us had a 2.17-2.18 lb crappie,we barely won big fish.Had another first also that day,had to take my first polygraph test to get paid.
 
Maybe 12 years ago a guy was trying to get some crappie tournaments going in east Tn and had one scheduled for Tellico lake.I signed up for it and took a 10 year old boy with me. Since we were pulling planer boards I let him reel in most of the fish.At weigh in we not only won but also had big fish. We won close to 250 for tournament and 150 for big fish. With the wisdom of youth he thought that since he reeled in most fish including the big one that he should get ALL the money. I did give him a lot but did keep some gas money lol
 
Several years ago i took both boys to a catfish pond that used to be in the Burwood area. Told them they could each catch three or four fish, at $2.50 /lb it adds up. My younger son had caught his fish and we were waiting for older son to catch his last fish. About then he says he's got one on the line but having hard time with it. After several minutes, he pulls in a 32 lb fish. I just went from spending a few dollars to costing over $100 dollars to get out of there. We still laugh about that day and i wouldn't trade it for anything.
 
Caught a 25-30 lb Cobia fishing out of Port Canaveral on a head boat back in the 70's , I thought it was a shark the first time I seen it.
 

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