Palisade Reservoir 12/20 Lost a Monster Tiger trout!

[RyanCreek]

I fished Palie this morning for a few hours thanks to reports and tips from Jacksonman and Fuzzyfisher. Fished near the dam in 8 to 9 feet of water. I got there before sunrise and was iffy because of all the open water, but found the ice to be quite safe on the west end. I used minnows on 4 inch glow tube jigs and had a a good time. I landed 10 fish, mostly Cutts and rainbows. All but a few fish were very fat and good sized (over 15 inches). How do they get so big and healthy in that little reservoir? The tiger I landed was 18 i think. I've never had my bait stolen so many times, as I rarely use minnows. Man those fish can be difficult to hook on minnows. I think that's why I need an aquaview. I used about 2 dozen minnows to land my 10 fish. The fish came in spurts. Twice I caught two fish at a time.

Then came the most exciting, then horribly frustrating and depressing time of the morning. At 10am I was talking to my dad on my cell phone telling him about the good fishing when I got a strike. I set the hook and starting reeling like it was a normal fish, but felt a sharp tug. Then I looked down and saw a monster tiger trout. There was no mistaking the pattern and coloration. When it came towards the top of my hole it decided to fight harder. Afraid that I would lose it, I loosened my drag some more to let it tire out. I got it back real close a couple more times only to have it take off again. Once I reached in to grab it by the tail but it was way too fiesty. It pulled my mono around in circles and would go straight out rubbing my mono on the ice edge the whole time. So I told myself to just take it easy and play him out. I never got to see the whole fish, but I would not be surpised if it was at least 6 lbs, maybe more. It took off and got wrapped once around the line of my second ice pole. I got freaked out that I would lose it, but was somehow able to get it out of my line. Now I knew I would bring it in, as I was confident that I had a good hookset. It had already been a few minutes and I felt that if it was going to come off it would have by then. It should've been a breeze. It was still pulling good when all of the sudden it was gone and I pulled up a jig..... Words cannot describe my dissapointment. [unsure] [] [mad]

Needless to say I am going back sometime soon to get my revenge. Grrrrrrr! It would've been the biggest trout of my life. I think I let it play too much, next time I'll get it right. It makes me sick just thinking about it. So sick. I'm going to go sulk for a while.
[signature]

[Kent]

[size 1]"Words cannot describe my dissapointment. [unsure] [] [mad] "[/size]
[size 1][/size]
[size 1]Yep, but I bet you tried to describe it in words![blush][/size]
[signature]

[Jacksonman]

Glad you had some fun and thanks for leaving the big one so I can catch it later!! Too bad about losing the big one. That's the way it seems to always go. Thanks for posting. I was planning to hit the berry tomorrow but might have to test palies again. We'll see. The hardest thing about fishing is deciding where to go (especially with the gas price factor). Glad you got into some though.
[signature]

[RyanCreek]

"Thanks for leaving the big one so I can catch it later"
Jacksonman, only if Fuzzyfisher doesn't get it first!

Well I am confident that there is probably more than a few huge tigers in there. That's how I have to deal with it -by telling myself there is always a chance to get a big one again. Heck I'm only 22 and I have many more fishing years left in me. There will always be stories about the ones that got away, but that's what makes the stories of the ones you catch that much better.
[signature]

[ocean]

Messing with the drag will always come back to bite ya!!! []
[signature]

[fuzzyfisher]

did ya notice if it had a pearl pepper 4" tube hanging from it's upper lip? [crazy] seems that one has 9 life's.. []

better luck next time..
[signature]

[orvis1]

Had the same thing happen to me this summer on a small stream, lost a 20+ inch tiger on a 1 weight fishing a beatle. I just plopped down on the side of the river in the fetal position. It upsets you that you missed it but happy you had the chance. Now you always will have a story about the one that got away!
[signature]

[wormandbobber]

DRag systems on reels have their place; however, my advice to any fishermen--specially spin fishermen--is NOT to place so much trust in their drag and start playing fish off the auto-reverse. Just switch the button on your reel and reel in reverse if the fish needs to be given line. I have found that this is a much more effective way of playing large fish than simply trusting the drag system of a reel. The problem with drags is that they are never set perfectly and the amount of pressure a fish puts on a drags differs among fish enough that the drag is almost always set too tight or too loose. I set my drag really tight and then put my trust in my own judgement and ability to reel backwards with fish that pull hard.
[signature]

[RyanCreek]

I agree with you about the drag. Now I know why I see pro fishermen with spinning reels who just do alot of back-reeling when they feel the fish needs some room to swim. Too bad I learned the hard way.
[signature]

[RyanCreek]

Fuzzyfisher! That makes me laugh. That's exactly what I had this fish on, a 4 inch pepper glow jig with a whole minnow! This is the kind of fishing tale that old men sit around at the local bait shop and tell eachother:
"They call it ol' hookjaw. Its the biggest tiger trout in Palie. Some people say it can't be caught, and that's its protected by a spiritual force. Others say it was sent there to take vengeance and torment fishermen. Many men have tried to catch him. A few have been lucky enough to hook him. Or should I say, unlucky enough, for in reality the fish knows its invincible and enjoys hearing the frustrated cursing of fishermen when it throws the hook or snaps the line and swims off free. Still, some try to catch him, and others have vowed to bring him in no matter the cost. A few have said that its weakness, its achilles heel, is a 4 inch tube jig with a whole minnow."
[signature]

[HookJaw_Brimhall]

When it comes to ice fishing, it's hard to determine what to do when you have a big fish on. Most of time I try to get them to the hole as soon as possible because of the fear of the jagged ice cutting my line. It's really frustrating not being able to really "play" the fish through the ice, I bet people lose alot of big fish through the ice, I know I have.
Your best bet is to take Flycastin with you everywhere you go. He will stick his whole arm under the ice to retrive a big one for you. Heck, if the ice hole was bigger, he would probably dive in after it.
[signature]

[Flycasting]

LOL... Yeah, I have been known to do that. []
[signature]

[brookieguy1]

That works really well but make sure the fish always has tension and you don't reel backwards too fast. This may result in a tangle and then you probably will lose the fish. But I agree with you Wormandbobber, that is a good method if done correctly.
[signature]

[fuzzyfisher]

i have found bait reels have a lot better drags than coffee grinder reels (spining reels) and do not have to play with the drag much.. not a good idea to play with the drag when playing a fish any way.. if ya dont have your drag set right from the start then your going to lose alot fish.. i never ajust the drag when fighting a fish.. only one way faster to lose a fish and thats thumbing the spool when a fish makes a run..
[signature]

[fuzzyfisher]

oh and BTW Aqua-Vu would not help much there.. i tryed mine the first time out.. could not see the jig inless it was a foot from the cam.. even the big ones..
[signature]

[PineviewFisher]

I also had a fish break my line because of the drag. Or maybe my own [url "mailto:dumb@#$"]dumb@#$[/url] fault. I was fishing Glassman's pond. Right by the first dock. On the left side there is a tree or brush that is in the water. there is a hole where there are two good size bass that hang out there. I went there three mourning's in a role were they would snap my line. So i went back and thought i had everything in good order. threw my plastic worm in and wack the bigger of the two took off with it. and again my drag was to tight pop. Doesn't it piss you off. I hope all that makes sense. I am not a good typer or writer. pineviewfisher
[signature]