Dbors post about wishing he had a net got me to thinking, lets say you have a monster fish on, and heres the deal its going to get off whether breaking the line or whatever, the question is do you want to see the fish or not want to see it. Me personally I want to see it, its still a heartbreaker but I at least go to see what it was.

see it defintely

There's times when I'll pull a fish up prematurely, just to get a look at what I'm dealing with. I definitely want to see it.

My nephew fought something on Upper Red for 15-20 minutes, and never got to see it. It eventually spit out about a 1 lb sheep head, with bite marks on it. We pretty much agree it was a snapping turtle, but my nephew was devastated he never got to see what he was fighting for so long. And there's an extreme outside chance it was a very very big pike, that just had no urgency to go anywhere, as it didn't feel a hook.

I want to see. But not seeing gives your imagination a chance to make a better story.

See it...always.

same, no brainer, see it.

I fought a fish for 35 minutes this spring...no lie 35 frickin minutes. Of course all alone on the river with 4lb test. I had plenty of time say every prayer I knew about 14 times "just to see it". It would tear our drag staying on he bottom and slow at about mid river and then take the eddy back down and around towads me as I did everything I could to keep him close. The current is so strong near this area which became my biggest problem. The monster fish kept tuging my anchored 16 boat from shore. I'd end up slinding off the bank anchor suspended straight down while my boat was getting sucked into the back current which led to capsize size flow. So picute a guy in full pannic fighting a fish overhead, ripcord starting an old 35 horse, slamming the boat back into the rocky shore line and throwing two anchors now fast as he can so he can get back to working the fish. It was about 85 degrees and I was litterly soaked in sweat. The spot is known for great walleye action, but this was now eye. It fought like an eye with a cat's strength. At time the fish was straight below the boat which was about 5-7 feet. I tried lifing him up but he would not budge. He definetely swam (not a turtle). He swam head first so not a 20 carp snagged on the tail (happens occasionally pitching hair jigs). He gave long head jerks, but nothing all that violent. There were a few 45"+ muskies in the area around that time so that is one possibility and some big pike yet he seemed a touch slower than those fish. Other locals tell me cats are new to th area and that I won't catchone over 30" so I just don't know...bugs me still, but that brings me back to seeing it which as you can guess I never did. He was certainly in the 20-30lb range. After a couple more boat fiascos the fish must have gotten bored and he ran out back through the huge eddy and into the downstream flow. Nothing was going to stop him now and by this time, all my anchors were tangled around the trees and finally secure. There was no way to run release the boat and run with him. Swim fighting him/her would have been suicide in that current (colder and more extreme than "The River Runs Through It" scene.

So to have scene it wold have made my day, but now not seeing it has made my season (kinda).

See it!

I have fought carp before but never saw them. Best moment was at the Gunflint Lodge. I had seen a big pike follow my lure during earlier in the day from the dock. I went back out in the afternoon and hooked into at least a 30 inch northern. I had no net and it gave one shake as I was trying to position it so I could grab it and it snapped my line. I'm glad I have the mental picture at least.

While I'm fighting a big one, I definitely always want to see it. However, I think some of my best memories are of the ones I never saw!

See it. On my trip this July I had something hit at about 100MPH. I set the hook and it was gone. I don't even know what it was, but think it was a big pike. Haunts me everyday.

JD

Seeing is believing, how else are you going to make up a lie if you didn't see what you're lying about:)


JB