Favorite Part of The Catch

[svnmag]

If I had to boil it down to one thing it would be the connection after a good hook set. I could never use a circle hook. That's like a 4 popper Camaro.

 

[KDM]

For me it's the bite before the hook set. That "Electric" tic that sends a jolt of adrenaline through me is what keeps me dreaming about fishing. That moment when you have no idea if the bite came from a 35 inch 16 lb walleye or a bullhead is my drug of choice.

 

[Rowdie]

^^^^This^^^^^ but it wasn't an option.

 

[svnmag]

Damn right; especially with soft baits. Usually the lighter the tick the bigger the fish. My best bass (8 1/2) on a worm struck like a gnat. I nearly lost the rod when I slammed home. Good lesson! Usually it's easy to judge quality with a hard bait with some exceptions. If you're throwing a spinnerbait or crank (not jerkbait) and it suddenly feels as if your line is cut, get your line tight fast, slam it home and be ready. In fact, anytime your line feels suddenly slack there's a good chance it's a slug IME.

- - - Updated - - -

I couldn't decide how far to break it down. I almost included a "strike" option.

 

[Captain Ahab]

RIGHT before you set the hook. And then afterwards when you say "this is a good one".

 

[svnmag]

Dang it. Always go with first instinct. I wish you could modify polls.

 

[Lou63]

not an option but night fishing the bell just going ding ding ding gently and the line gently spooling off that is usually a very nice catfish, if its DING DING DING and line screaming off the rod violently its usually a carp or northern.

 

[Captain Ahab]

And then when you look at your catch at the end of the day and realize what they gave for your entertainment. It becomes a moment of zen with nature.

 

[LBrandt]

Throwing your flat of crawlers into the garden because you couldn't make time to go.

 

[svnmag]

That would help grow fine beets.

 

[Sluggo]

The bite is my favorite too, don't matter whether its ice or open water.

 

[svnmag]

Of freaking course it is.

 

[Journey]

Watching that bobber with plain hook slowly sink away after you worked him with an $12
lure and it turned up its nose at you

 

[camoman]

Throwing your flat of crawlers into the garden because you couldn't make time to go.

Hope you didn't like having a nice flat lawn.

 

[svnmag]

Lush grass and med height on the blade will compensate. Plus he'll have a good garden!

 

[Lapper]

On the ice I really enjoy the fish on the vex, watching it rise up with the jig, will it hit? I don't know, wham! Love it!

 

[Captainbrad]

I am partial to it all. These days I don't care so much about catching fish as I do watching my boy's face light up when he gets into one.

 

[Brian Renville]

Yep it's the transition between the walleye tap into the signature thunk when it commits. Other than that I'm with Brad.

 

[svnmag]

That's the deal Capt. I morphed into watching the boy and guiding him. I wish I'd spent more time with bluegills and a bobber as I've posted before. Suddenly, one day he "got it" and I received more enjoyment watching him fish than wetting a line myself.

Capt Brad,

I was too hard on him in the beginning. He stuck with it wanting to be with Dad. His first walleye was 7.5 lbs at the age of three below the Darling Dam on a Dale Jr. rod, Zebco Rhino reel and Vampire Rapala. This is when I first learned braided line works better on a spincaster than mono. 6/20 PowerPro at the time was the best thing invented for spincasting reels. I'm sure other manufacturers have caught up. I haven't bought line for at least five years: Many Sharpies. Preserve it with a bbl swivel: I had extra stuff around and filled his reel. We took it out in the yard and COULD NOT make it snarl.

I wish I could talk with Uncle Steve about slip bobbers and braid.