IceShanty.com's Ice Fishing Community
Vermont => Ice Fishing Vermont => Topic started by: BomoBrown on Mar 13, 2015, 12:01 PM
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So I have been debating if I should share this story and I finally have decided to post it. Three Saturdays in a row I hooked into a seriously big fish and never landed it. Each day the hole was 5 feet from the shore line with about 2.5 feet of ice and a foot and a half of water at the bottom. All three Sat.'s I had a large dead smelt on the hook. Every time the fish took the bait she swam south right along the shore line.
The first Saturday I did not have a leader and after 20 minutes of the fish taking line it bit through.
So I fixed that problem and bought some 50 lb. test steel mesh coated line for my leader. The 2nd Saturday I had the fish on for 25 minutes. It would take line but I could only pull it back so far before it would just stop. I could feel the head tug. It never had a fast run but if I let it it would move forward. Eventually I gave it a big tug and the line snapped.
The 3rd Sat. it bit early in the day. I had it on my line from 7 am to noon. I was determined to have the line hold and land the fish. After 20 minutes if I let go the fish would swim a little bit and then just stop and stay put. I could pull the fish about 5 feet with growing tension and then it would stop coming and I knew I was near the breaking point. It felt as if the fish was wedging itself on the ice or between the ice and the shore. It did not feel like it was in weeds, but there is plenty of milfoil for it to tangle up in. After hours the line snapped.
One of the factors is the 2.5 feet of ice and 1.5 feet of water. The line is running at a 90 degree angle from the bottom of the hole to the fish. Also the fish does not do any great runs that will tire it out.
Does any one have any thoughts about what I could have done to land the fish?
I have caught plenty of nice fish ice fishing but I have never felt a fish this large. The repeated missed opportunity is haunting me.
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I would say use something to push the line down so the line will not hit the ice. The line my be cutting into the ice and wedging. Or theres a scuba diver down there giving you a hard time.
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Can you drill a 45 degree hole to ease the perpendicular tension placed on the line?
Theory only works if the fish goes in that direction...
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"I would say use something to push the line down so the line will not hit the ice." On the third Sat. I tried that but it was complicated pulling on the line while holding an objet that kept the line off of the ice.
I did have an engineering friend construct a stainless steel pulley on the end of a 4 foot long metal broom handle. I had it with me on the ice last weekend but it did not return for a 4th weekend. I will have it with me if I ever get another shot at the fish.
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"Can you drill a 45 degree hole to ease the perpendicular tension placed on the line?" I could.
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Where exactly is this? Pm me, ;D
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It my be at BOMO lol
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It just might be Bomo.
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Sounds like there isn't much you can do with such little water under the ice. Sounds like the kind of fight I have with a sturgeon on but I'm assuming this isn't Champlain. Have you tried putting your rod tip in the water to avoid rubbing on the ice? Assuming you have a rod long enough.
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Sounds like it could be an otter.
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Sounds like it could be an otter.
yup, beat me to it...
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Sounds like it could be an otter.
Oh yeah, that would make the most sense.
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Wouldn't I be able to see where the otter enters and exits the lake? I also would expect signs of the otter in the snow. I have seen otters on Bomoseen before but.... Also it feels like a fish when it swims, although I do not know what an otter feels like.
Has one ever accidentally landed an otter?
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Sounds like it could be an otter.
Except I don't believe an otter could stay under for 5hrs. Sounds like it might be getting you wrapped up in rocks or something so you lose leverage. I can't imagine fighting a fish for hours like that and then losing it. It would keep me up nights! The only thing I can think of would be to give it some slack and see if it moves away from whatever it is getting wrapped in. Would love to see you land it so we know what the heck it is.
Good luck!
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Who are you fishing with? Not these guys, right? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSQ6y3ft1Ww (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSQ6y3ft1Ww)
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It could be a huge turtle. Here's an article on how they can live under the ice. http://curiousnature.info/A1-PaintedTurtle.htm
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Sounds like something from grumpy old men movie lol. maybe a beaver ?
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Well the first two weekends were derbies so there were several people on the ice, but the 3rd Sat. it was only me so I do not think it was a prank.
I am going to think of it as a fish until it proves other wise. If I can't have the fish, I can have the story. Of course landing a whale of a snapping turtle is not a bad story.
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See if you could get some one with a camera to help you out.
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not really sure about this but the way you described your 3 saturdays and where your bait was sounds much like a big turtle. i have caught turtles on cut bait when fish catfish and wow they are tough to land. i guess the only way we will know is if you catch it and then the next thing will it fit in your ice hole.
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Of course landing a whale of a snapping turtle is not a bad story.
Make sure you don't stick your hand down that hole to retrieve it!
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It really sounds like a big pike wrapping you up in a tree.
I have a monster that has haunted me for a few seasons at my local honey hole. I can only get him/ her to bite late in the season with a big dead shiner in 3 fow. Typical late season pike action. I really believe it is the same fish that has wrapped me up in the trees time and time again.
Heartbreaking man. :-\
Sounds like catfish hunter has found your water friend. ;D Good luck!
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Please post some pics after you land that baby!
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Sounds like a fishy story! Ha
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A fish is drawing your line into rocks where it gets wedged. you still feel fish motion but the line is stuck.
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I would also say it is wrapping you around a tree or stump. The one thing I found that can work is to give short quick tugs on the line to try and get the fish to swim in another direction and free the line.
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I don't know what they're doing this time of year, but it sounds like a big snapping turtle to me. Are there any channel cats in Bomo?
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Wow! I read that some snapping turtles remain active under the ice, though most hibernate.
I hooked into a big turtle in the spring, on light tackle fishing for crappie.
It felt like i hooked into a boat! There was no stopping it.
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I'm sure some guys on here may think it's "Big Wiggle" stealing your tackle.
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I've had bowfin do this.
Don't know if they live in Bomo though.
They are an interesting fight, especially through the ice.
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I love catching bowfin i target em hard in the spring they put up a good fight
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you've tried play=it out a few times. I'd try to horse it in next time.
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Muskrat , we get a couple 2-3 every winter in Maine.
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not really sure about this but the way you described your 3 saturdays and where your bait was sounds much like a big turtle. i have caught turtles on cut bait when fish catfish and wow they are tough to land. i guess the only way we will know is if you catch it and then the next thing will it fit in your ice hole.
Turtle??? They hibernate....
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Turtle??? They hibernate....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_snapping_turtle
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Any updates on what this was? Perhaps open water will offer more clues.
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I am pretty sure that it was a sweet pike wrap pining itself in stones or a down tree. If I ever know for sure I will post it.
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Ah catfish I didn't think about that. I've targeted them through the ice and big ones are wicked tough. What they do is take the bait and then try to lock themselves in the mud when you fight them. I have broken off on many.
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Are there Bowfin in Bomo?
If there are, I'll bet that's what you had.
When they decide hey want to go they will pull like a big truck.
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SNAPPER!!
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Any possibility it could be an eel? I have heard stories before of eels wrapping around things like pipes and boards.
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It could be a Henway.