So, Ive just sorta been thinking of a few scenarios lately. Not because theyve actually happened ;) , but because I think they could happen. Question is, do these scenarios qualify as a legitimate catch.

Scenario #1: Im throwing a swimbait and on the cast my line breaks. As Im getting pissed, I look off in the distance and see my line sitting on the water but sinking fast. I run over and pick my line off the water just in time. Phew, just saved a bunch of money! Start hand lining my swimbait in and holy smokes Ive got one on! I hand line in a toad. Is this a legitimate catch, would it be legal in a tournament?

Scenario #2: Im throwing a large exspensive floating swimbait. My line breaks on the cast and I watch my bait set a new world record for cast length. As Im motoring over to pick my favorite swimbait off the surface of the water, to my horror, a fish comes up and smashes it. Bye bye favorite swimbait, ouch. I sit down to cool off, and pick up my jig rod. Ten minutes later, about 150 feet awasy a fish jumps, and then again. Could it be? I motor over there but the fish is nowhere to be found. As Im scratchin my head, much to my amazement, a bass floats to the surface with my super sweet toad killer swimbait stuck to its head! I motor over and net the fish. Is this a legitimate catch, and would it be a legal tournament fish?

Now, I just want to reiterate that this is strictly hypothetical. These scenarios have never happened to me or anybody that I know. Honest.

Situation #1 actually came up in a tournament I fished, and according to the TD it was an allowable catch if YOU catch or snag YOUR OLD LINE. If your partner catches or snags the line that catch would not be allowed. If you see line wrapped around a tree and decide to be a good Samaritan and unwrap the line form the tree and find a fish attached, that fish can not be weighed in during a tournament. Again all tournaments are different so it would be the call of the TD

I don't know about situation #2

Lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what have-yous

Urban, You need to go fishing! LOL!!!

Don.

http://calfishing.com/gallery/v/members/bassindon69/basspics/

Nothing like fishing!

Well your #1 is definitely possible, but kinda far fetched? But a scenario very similiar happened to me. I snapped off a fish in the 10 lb range on the hook set. The line shotgun snapped (loud pop) at the reel. The line then lay gently on top of the surface. But started going fast. I jumped head first in and grabbed the line but lost it thru my fingertips as the 10 lber swam away with it. I often think about this moment in time as proof of the trama that can come with bass fishing. To add to it, it was my only bait I had that was working.

Life is tragic sometimes :)

legitimate? Sure why not. lol

Another thing I've perfected is hand lining big fish in. For some reason I have issues with screwing my reel into the reel seat securely. Four different occasions I set the hook on a toad only to have my reel come yanking off the rod and no way to reel. Thinking fast, and screaming at my partner to help me (what would he do to help me?) I throw the rod down and grab the line and handline the fish in......Is this legitimate? It became routine the fourth time I did that. ALl of the fish were over 8 lbs.

http://www.calfishing.com/gallery/v/members/bigreenjobass/

How did I just find this post?!
All those scenarios are clearly too far-fetched to ever happen to anyone but the luckiest/unluckiest person in the world.

JERK!!! :P

Scenario #1 happened a couple of years ago, or possibly last year, to Iacconelli during a BASS event. He was fighting a fish and his line broke, he went over the side of the boat, grabbed the line and brought in the fish. So, it counts.

Keith
Fish Blaster Baits Pro Staff
www.fishblasterbaits.com

>Scenario #1 happened a couple of years ago, or possibly last
>year, to Iacconelli during a BASS event. He was fighting a
>fish and his line broke, he went over the side of the boat,
>grabbed the line and brought in the fish. So, it counts.

Yeah I remember that Tournament!
-----------

Go big or go home!

:P

Ryan Thoni


If people concentrated on the important things in life there would be a shortage of fishing poles.
~Doug Larson

WOW!!! Finnaly a topic on Calfishing that is worth replying to.... #1 is a legit catch! :-) Steve are you stirring the pot! }( There is another subject that I don't even want to bring up! ;) ;) ;)

Josh D.

I lied. Both scenarios happened. Scenario #1 resulted in an extremely large fish (the fisherman is lucky the fish didnt cut his hand off since the person was wrapping the line around their hand); scenario #2 resulted in a 3.5 largemouth.

What are you talking about Josh, I never stir anything but the rizzoto. Seems a changing of the guard may be occurring. Some are in and some are out.

Scenario 1 was a big fish. Legit... sure. I don't think I would brag about it though.