Lower end 6/8

[AR Huzgr]

Got out early to see if I could find any top water striper. The topwater bite was definitely slower than last week but there was some sporadic activity. Caught two smaller ones roughly 3 lb or so each. Had one very large one (estimated over 15) on until I didn't.   It pulled my boat about 100 ft or so, made a few strong runs then my leader broke.   If you happen to catch a big striper with a pencil popper in its mouth please return it LOL.   I was using a 25 lb fluorocarbon leader. I wonder if it had a Nick in it or something, or maybe got tangled up with the hook when fish hit.  Bummer to lose that one.  At least I got to see it a couple times rolling on the surface.

After that decided to explore new areas for walleye. Caught three, two 19 inch and one 17 in.  Two on Ned TRD "new money" and other on a rage swimbait.   

A few other smallmouth mixed in there in the 14 to 16 inch range, so all in all not a bad day minus the one that got away.

Water temp about 78.

[rps]

Could you tell if the leader broke at one of the knots or in between?

FWIW, on a walking bait, straight braid or straight flouro would be my choice. When you expect to stress your rig, the fewer knots, the better.

BTW, I envy your fishing day.

[bfishn]

29 minutes ago, MO Huzgr said:

...Had one very large one (estimated over 15) on until I didn't.   It pulled my boat about 100 ft or so, made a few strong runs then my leader broke...

Cool! Way back in a previous life I got towed in a leaky 12' jon  for what the map says is around a 1/4 mile. 1/8 out, 1/8 back to the starting point (Piney Creek). Got my net under it and the Woodchopper that was hanging by a thread got hung in the net... hook & fish parted ways, hook stayed in the net and the fish was gone with one kick. 40+. Still sick over that one, but I did get a suitable net.

[AR Huzgr]

7 minutes ago, bfishn said:

Cool! Way back in a previous life I got towed in a leaky 12' jon  for what the map says is around a 1/4 mile. 1/8 out, 1/8 back to the starting point (Piney Creek). Got my net under it and the Woodchopper that was hanging by a thread got hung in the net... hook & fish parted ways, hook stayed in the net and the fish was gone with one kick. 40+ Still sick over that one, but I did get a suitable net.

LOL.   Fishing memories seem to be half the big ones you caught and half the ones you lost!    I changed my net to a rubber one a few years ago.   

[Quillback]

Talked to a buddy yesterday that said an acquaintance of his caught a 47 lb. striper a couple of days ago on a top water.  

[AR Huzgr]

2 hours ago, Quillback said:

Talked to a buddy yesterday that said an acquaintance of his caught a 47 lb. striper a couple of days ago on a top water.  

Wow.  I think I saw a photo of that on a Facebook page.   I'd need a bigger net for that one!

[Quillback]

8 minutes ago, MO Huzgr said:

Wow.  I think I saw a photo of that on a Facebook page.   I'd need a bigger net for that one!

I don't even know that I'd want to mess with one that big.