Reel Class Sunday 6/29 - 315# Thresher!

[Reel Class]

Had a 3 man crew of long time regulars - Doc, Ryan, Bill with Kenny and I for a thresher trip today. This trip has been in the works for over a week as Kenny has been busting my chops for years, so we blocked out today, Sunday, for this trip. With the help of our good friends Freddy Gamboa, Dan McGivney, and John Meisenbacher (all great neighbors at Clark's!) we were geared up and off we went at 6:30.

Got to our area around 7:45, got the chum bucket in, hung some carcasses (thanks Deane!) and went up on the drift. 45 minutes later, the 60' rod starts screaming, a jumbo thresher leaps and the fight is on. Kenny got a great hookset, and Bill took the rod, the fish sizzled line for a good few minutes, then settled down.

At this point, I was like, "OK, we'll have this fish in a half hour, and we'll be cleaned up and home by noon." I was VERY wrong. LOL

When that fish settled, the battle was on. This was one incredibly stubborn fish - it was like battling a Volkswagen. We'd get 40' on the fish, it would get back 41'. We slugged it out for 3 and a half hours with everyone battling the fish at least a dozen times, and finally, after a third time at boatside, we had the double line and leader at boatside. Doc leadered the fish, Bill was on the rod, Ryan had the gaff for the tail, and Kenny had the flyer. Kenny stuck the fish perfectly with the flying gaff, and basically at that point (11:30ish), it was over. We got the fish boatside, gaffed the tail, did a double tail rope, and then swung the beast through the door.

315#. Biggest damn fish I've ever seen. For a died in the wool bottom and bass fisherman like me, this is one heck of an accomplishment. Very memorable day with great friends - we have meat for weeks and memories for a lifetime! Thanks again guys for coming out - GREAT teamwork paid off!!!!