Lake Hopatcong

[thefishermanmechanic]

Got a late start at around 8:30, it's hard coming off of midnights. Started trolling the shallows with an original rapala and picked up a nice pickerel about 2lbs. Made my way to Dows to pick up some bait, talked about the wipers and was told "Exactally" where to go as his brother got 15 yesterday! So I'm setting up one high one low when the strike guard pops on the low but nothing there ok reset and again pop, nothing there, hmm maybe I'll adjust the tension a little more, when I hear a strange but familiar sound. I turn around and the high rod is bent in half and the drag is Screaming! I knew it was not a snag especially in water this deep, some how the strike guard popped and the bail closed, this can only happen with a violent strike! So it's game on, this fish peels off about 30yards of line, I have caught some Muskie before and some 4-5# smallies but this is different! After about 10min and some catch up with the motor I netted a node 8# hybrid ! If you haven't fished for these I highly recommend it as these fish fight like no other fresh water fish that I know of! I'll try to upload a pic later.