How good are your knots?

Capt. BassinLou · April 18, 2024, 12:46:32 PM

I'm pretty disappointed today. I lost the chug bug that's depicted in the picture above. I had that chug bug for over 25 yrs. It caught me tons of bass over the years.

Based on the title of this thread, you might be lead to assume I lost my chug bug due to a bad knot.

It's quite the opposite, I caught a 6-7 foot alligator. I made a long cast, and what I thought was a cattail stump was actually gator.

In an instant, the gator grabbed my lure, and the fight was on. I fought the gator all the way to the boat. I wanted the line to snap, but nooo,, my knots held tight! Doh!! I got the gator close enough to cut the leader.

Bye, bye, chug bug. RIP.

Donald Garner · April 18, 2024, 04:04:48 PM

Lou sure sorry to hear that you lost that bait. I've hooked into a few gators myself down in Georgia bass fishing. I was lucky most of the time I was fishing 12in Texas Rigged Worms swimming them like a snake. So there wasn't a big lost there.

The new chug bugs aren't made the same ways as they were back then either. Double Whammy

J.W. · April 18, 2024, 05:39:03 PM

When I have a failure it's rarely the knot. So, good enough I guess. Hard to mess up a Palomar though, and that's what I usually tie unless it's a fluoro leader, which I rarely use.

Lou, quit playing with them lizards

Princeton_Man · April 19, 2024, 05:53:37 AM

I'm curious Lou, what rod did you use to bring a 6-7' gator to the boat? If you had been with me, you'd still have your Chug Bug and we'd be eating gator for dinner.

Capt. BassinLou · April 19, 2024, 07:21:10 PM

Quote from: Princeton_Man on April 19, 2024, 05:53:37 AMI'm curious Lou, what rod did you use to bring a 6-7' gator to the boat? If you had been with me, you'd still have your Chug Bug and we'd be eating gator for dinner.

703 Savvy.

FlatsNBay · April 20, 2024, 07:24:39 AM

Accidental gators are part of Florida fishing. They will test your equipment for sure. A couple of weeks ago I accidentally hooked a giant softshell turtle on my finesse gear and 8 lb test. He was huge and bigger than a trash can lid. After a big battle I was able to get him close enough to get the hook out. He wasn't going to take my .99 Ned rig from me! 😂

Princeton_Man · April 20, 2024, 11:50:02 AM

Quote from: FlatsNBay on April 20, 2024, 07:24:39 AMAccidental gators is part of Florida fishing. They will test your equipment for sure. A couple of weeks ago I accidentally hooked a giant softshell turtle on my finesse gear and 8 lb test. He was huge and bigger than a trash can lid. After a big battle I was able to get him close enough to get the hook out. He wasn't going to take my .99 Ned rig from me! 😂

I snapped my favorite LSCR trying to rescue a NuTech jig. Most of the way to the boat I thought he must have been big ol' cat, but once to the surface he was already within a couple yards of the boat. He thrashed just as I got my pliers on the jig. Saved the jig, freed the turtle, but broke my rod. Next time, I'm cutting my line.

SFL BassHunter · April 22, 2024, 12:24:37 PM

I don't remember how knots!!!!!
LOL I am going to be watching some videos this week.

big g · April 25, 2024, 07:13:05 PM

For most applications a Palomar knot is hard to beat, easy to tie, and good for all lines. I only use a loop knot for some top water when walking the dog!