Big Fish At Springfield Lake

[OzarkFishman]

I went to Springfield Lake today and had myself one heck of a fight. I started fishing at 4:00 pm right next to the warm water outlet; I was fishing for bass with a white spinnerbait and a blue/orange suspending jerkbait. Nothing was hitting the spinner so I swiched to the jerkbait. On my fifth cast I hooked a 12 inch largemouth (small fish). I continued fishing the jerkbait and about ten minutes later I was in for a fight.

Foreword: I have no picture to defend the following, but here it goes.

I hooked onto something big. I was hoping it was a big bass, but it would soon let me know it was either a cat or carp. I was fishing with a medium action pole and 10 pound test. As the fish began to make a run I could tell it was big, so I started walking with the fish so that it would not take too much line. There was a guy on the first concrete pier, so I handed him my pole and I walked around, got my pole, and continued down the bank. I stopped 10 feet from the second pier. I had to make a stand here or the fish was going under the black floating wall (if you know Springfield Lake, then you know what I am talking about). I fought the fish for probably 10 - 15 minutes. By now, both the guy at the first pier and the guy at the second pier are watching. One of them says that it is probably a big cat. I didn't think it was because the runs were slow, methodical, and powerful (BIG CARP)!!! I could tell the fish was tired, so I began the process of dragging him in. I could not reel him in, I had to lift the pole then reel the slack. I got him to the surface, but had no net. I tried to pull him on to land, but with one flick of his tail the line snapped (bye big fish and $6 Rattling Rogue). While I didn't land him, I did get a good look at the nice color (goldish yellow and rusty red = common carp). I asked one of the guys that got an even closer look to guess how big it was. He said he guessed it at 2 1/2 feet and 30 pounds. I don't know about 30 pounds, but I guarantee it was at least 20 pounds and probably more like 25 - 30.

It was a fun fight and well worth the $6 that I will spend tomorrow replacing the rogue.

OzarkFishman