That was fun, but----------!

[leaky]

Went to the Pine again and tried a different area.
First - the important stuff! For you tubers! Don't trust your tube skirt for measuerments! Caught a nice smallie and measured him on my skirt. He measured over 16 in. If I would have kept him I would have broken the law - 15 in. min. Didn't think my skirt was off that much but I was suspicious so I let him go. Would have been a good meal.[unimpressed] Yum. Anyway, when I got home I checked my skirt. 14 3/4 in!!! Lesson - carry your own tape (I left it home) or remark your skrt.
Now the fun part. Didn't catch many smallies but ---------. I tied into a medium smallie and started bringing him in. The line got real heavy [shocked]. Only had 8 # test with a reaper and #2 offset hook????? Well, I spent some time doing the tug-awar bit and when I got em up to where I could see (in my tube), I saw a tiger had my bass and now the battle was on. Back and forth, back and forth, got him in close several times and he took off again. Well, he finally let my bass go. Yep, he wasn't hooked, just wanted my bass. Brought my bass in and released him a little worse for wear. My guess - 30+ in. But it was fun seeing that guy by me carring the bass. They are beautiful fish up close in tne water, almost florescent.[] A lot of white in the mouth area - teeth, etc? Glad I didn't have to handle him in the final stages from my tube, I guess.[crazy]

Leaky

[Out4Trout]

[cool]That's a cool story, Leaky! Thanks for sharing. I thought that as often as you get out there that something like that would happen to ya one of these days! What did Sparky think of the whole thing?
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[leaky]

Thanks for reminding me! I forgot to add that part. Of course Sparky was right there trying to help. That really added to the challenge, trying to keep the tiger from tangling with Sparky. A couple of times the tiger got close to the surface and Sparky would perk up his ears with the expression of ------ Woa! I wish I had a video of it.
Leaky

[GEEZER]

Way cool man. My brother had a similar thing a couple winters back ice fishing at Pineview. We were using 2 lb. test line for the perch & when he was reeling one up, his drag let out a siren like howl & in about 10 seconds he was spooled. Of course we never saw it but figured it was a tiger.

When I lived in South Dakota, I fished a reservoir called Newell Lake quite a bit & it was pretty common in the summer to be bringing in a perch or bluegill & have a small northern grab it & not let go. We'd often have to net them or whack them with the net to get them to turn loose.
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[CBR]

I have heard numerous storys of this happening when fishing for perch but not for bass. Those tigers sure are hungry buggers.
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[Coldfooter]

Hey Leaky it sounds like it was a far run with a bonus ta boot.
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[maniac]

That is a great story Leaky! Maybe you should just start fishing for Tigers with bigger reapers. I have a seven inch reaper if you want to try it?
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[windknot]

I had the same thing happen on a same perch. Its amazing those things will fight you for a meal. My perch wasn't as lucky though, he lost most his hind quarters. Have you tried over by swimmers beach? and if so did you have any luck?
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[mikeyt]

That's a great story. I can't believe the bass made it through the ordeal! The teeth on those tigers are huge. I would have thought the bass would become tiger lunch. I bet that bass had a great story to tell his friends.[]
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