34 lber today 6.26.09

[Dirk]

<p>Been exploring some different areas this summer and have had some success but haven&#39;t been getting anything big so it has been getting kind of depressing. Today Robert Smith and I fished a small river that was about 72 degrees and broke the small-fish streak with a nice 34 lber.&nbsp; This fish hit a live bait on the bottom (4 oz weight) about the time the weight hit the bottom. I made a looooong cast and when it hit the water I engaged the reel and was about to set it in the rod holder when it I noticed the line was moving upstream...&nbsp; <img title="Smile" src="/site/wp-content/forum-smileys/sf-smile.gif" alt="Smile" />&nbsp; We had a couple more pulls on live on the bottom but nothing hooked. We haven&#39;t had any rain but the water was still murky/slightly stained where we were at. Tight Lines. Dirk<br /><br /><img src="http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/DirkDial/UE362609.jpg" alt="" width="520" height="799" /><br /></p>
<p><img src="http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c122/DirkDial/UE262609.jpg" alt="" width="635" height="799" /></p>

[FlySlingerCole]

Dude... Awesome fish!!!

Congrats on the PB?

[PawPaw]

<p>Great looking fish Dirk!!!&nbsp; Congrats on breaking the small fish streak.</p>

[ol' Feller]

<p>The pictures make MY arms hurt.....that&#39;s a big one!</p>

[BrokenPaddle]

<p>what river is that?<br />
<strong>Congrats!</strong></p>

[FBMoche]

<p>Awesome fish Dirk!!!!&nbsp; Congrats!</p>

[Boyscout]

<p>Is it really a good idea to wade rivers with fish that freaking bing in them? <img title="Wink" src="/site/wp-content/forum-smileys/sf-wink.gif" alt="Wink" /></p>
<p>Dude, honking great fish!</p>

[Bruiser]

<p>Wow!</p>

[RedHeron]

<p>What a hoss!</p>

[Jump n Fish]

<p>Whoa!&nbsp; That would be amazing to hook into some fish that size, especially in a small river.</p>

[Just Fish]

<p>What a river pig. That thing is huge. What a fight I bet. Biggest striper I have caught was around six pounds and it put up a fight.</p>

[BasserDrew]

<p>Awesome fish Dirk!&nbsp; I look forward to hopefully repeating that with you later this month!</p>

[BASSNUT]

<p>Thats a Beast of a Fish!!!!!!!!!!!!</p>
<br />
<p>Congrats on a Great Catch! <img title="Cool" src="http://www.riverbassin.com/site/wp-content/forum-smileys/sf-cool.gif" alt="Cool" /></p>

[dimecovers3]

<p>That&#39;s crazy!&nbsp; What temp does the lake have to get to for them to look for cooler water in a creek?</p>
<br />
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<p>Looks easy though............</p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDq3zyXY7q4" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....Dq3zyXY7q4</a></p>

[Dirk]

<p>That Carp seemed a little less skittish than Striped bass... <img title="Laugh" src="/site/wp-content/forum-smileys/sf-laugh.gif" alt="Laugh" />&nbsp; If a striper sees you, it will not only swim off but it usually will not bite. I try to sneek up on mine so they don&#39;t see me or my boat or kayak. They are definitely more likely to bite if they are not spooked.</p>
<p>My experiences have led me to believe that the bigger stripers like to stay in water less than about 72 degrees, and prefer to be in water in the 60&#39;s. Smaller stripers (&lt;10 lbs) can take water temps up to the low 80&#39;s, but a big striper will die real quick in 80 degree water. I have caught a few pretty big striper in water that was over 72 degrees but they did not revive well after the fight and probably died, so I try not to fish for them unless I can find 72 degree or lower water.</p>
<p>I am catch and release only, and I try hard not to kill any of these fish so someone else can catch them later. Not to long ago I hooked a big fish and it came out of the water and broke my leader off at the hook. A buddy of mine (Chris Stockton) caught the same fish in the same hole a few days later and it was a 30 lber, with my hook still in its lip... <img title="Smile" src="/site/wp-content/forum-smileys/sf-smile.gif" alt="Smile" />&nbsp; It was a pretty unique hook so we are sure it was mine (6/0 wide gap, short shank, circle hook)</p>