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The story of Michael Seewald
(Otay Michael on the fish-boards)
and his landing of his 'personal best', an 11.6# lunker on a frog.
4.25.2018
Launched at Otay Lake (east Chula Vista Calif.), parked
boat/trailer with the other 50 or so there, and started fishing at 10
a.m., directly across from the ramp. Started fishing the frog right off
the bat. Didn't land any of the ones that hit over the past 4 weeks of
getting exploded on, the bite has been sporadic at best, so didn't spend
too much time with it. Really felt like it should now, as they had been
hitting other topwater for the past two weeks at Otay (had one frog blowup
at Cap on Monday, no sticky).
I worked to the buoy line by the dam, getting one blow up that entire
stretch. Came up to a young man in a tube, he asked why I'd throw it, as
he'd heard, and read, it was an early morning lure. I agreed, it is, but
it also works just fine the rest of the day.
I continued on, heading over to Harvey's, near a honey hole where I'd been
getting some good jerkbait fish. Had another two blowups, and it was
really looking positive at this point. But I decided to get the stripe off
my boat a tossed the jerkbait, and got three about 1 pound in short order.
I then went back to the frog. Had another hit (more of a slurp, indicating
two possibilities usually, a dink, or a lunker) and immediately I reeled
down to see if I'd connected, I had. But it was ripping drag. Must have
forgotten to button her down I thought, my 65# braid usually is, but as I
tried to I realized it already was, strange!!!?
Then I realized why as a fairly large bass came to the surface, but as it
did not jump I didn't know how large. It ran again, to deeper water (as in
7'), across the area 20 yards from left to my right, then surfaced, going
full airborne, shaking a humongous head and thrusting it's body back and
forth causing a ton of water up with it. GOD HELP ME, she's GIANT and
she's beautiful, such a giant head! GOD HELP ME again I thought.
My first thought was to yell HELP, but just as instantly realized there
was no one to yell to, and even if there was, what could they do anyways?
This was to be mano a mano (or fish a mano) I've been in this situation
before, but so far, all monsters over 10 have always got off, one at least
13 in trees at El Cap. I went into full stress mode and prayer mode too.
After jumping I reeled her over and grabbed the net, figuring I'd make
short order of this fight. She almost was guided into to but was so heavy
I could not guide her like I wanted, and she/I missed. OH NO!
She then realized what was up and muscled herself back down, and under the
boat towards the other side. I decided to relax and not force her in,
babying her instead, as I visualize what she was doing down there. Looking
for big bushes no doubt, more prayer sent up. She tore line out again (65#
braid, was not afraid of her breaking off, more likely the frog to tear
out), and slowly I gained ground and brought her back up, but she tore to
the left and tried to jump again, getting more tired.
Again, I thought SHE'S HUGE and even though the net is also, I missed her
again on the next try, she hit the rim, but slowly brought her back around
and in she went! YIPPEE, she's mine.
BUT how big? I hoped like crazy over 10, I'd bet money she was, and I
flashed how my men's group at our church had prayed I get one over 10 the
night before (but they pray that every Tues. night, for years now, but
hey, I kept the faith it'd get answered finally), as my PB to date was a
9.96 from the Delta last year at this time.
I was so nervous I was shaking, and as I lay her and the net down, I
realized she might flop out of the boat, but I was not thinking clearly
and decided to still dig out the scale and put her on it. It fluctuated
around 11.5, but as the boat was moving, and my heart beating so hard and
my nervousness shaking my hand, was not exactly sure.
I then let out a yell heard around the cove at that point, not the 'agony
of defeat' one, as I'd let out many times from fish so big you could put a
gallon paint can into their mouths that had got off on that initial jump,
but one from FINALLY being landing, attained by very few. I set up the
self timer, and it was not working properly, and not wanting to hurt her,
thru her into the live well while I figured it out. Did so, then sent some
photos to a couple of fishing buddies, then the wife, then more fishing
buddies. All the while wanting to run to the docks to weigh her
officially. Then the lake staff gentleman came by a few minutes later,
asking how many I'd got so far. Let's see, three dinks on the jerk, and
one lunker, I reported '4'. 'Any big ones' he followed up? Uh yeah, an
11.5 or so I reported. He looked and smiled, not believing me. Do you
still have it? Yep, reached back into the live well, that it barley fit
into, and lifted the beauty back up for us both to marvel at. OH MY GOD he
exclaimed, we haven't seen a lunker like this in weeks. 'Can I take a
couple of photos' he asked.
You bet I replied, so proud of her. 'Take a coupe with my phone please', I
added. He did, and a video too of me explaining the whole thing in 30
seconds. I continued with the frog, getting two more out of the four
blowups, then after an hour or so I could not wait any longer, and ran to
the docks for the 'official' weight. It only measures in tenths, and read
11.6! I take it. Thank U Lord, and that worker wanted photos too.
Click photos to enlarge.
Seewald's new 'personal best' bass, as of 4.25.2018, with an 11.6#
HOG, came off a FROG, how fitting.
Right pic: the mouth of the beast, lure still attached.
Click photos to enlarge.
Click photos to enlarge.
To: Seewald
had a chance at catching Dottie, the
world's largest bass.
Back to: Seewald's Fishing/ home page.
To: Seewald's 'fishing
for small mouth bass in South Africa' story
Don't forget... take a kid fishing, they'll cherish it their
entire life!
Or help one on shore you might see struggling, make a difference in life,
and IN a life.
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