Finally Hooked a Fish this Year...

Finally... I got hooked up with a fish for the first time since winter started last year... It was a big one. I don't know how big it was, because it broke my leader after about a 20 minute fight. I never saw it, but it spun off line like no other one I have caught, including the 8'er last year. I hooked it on the spinning rig. I could feel it being scraped on the rocks for a long while before the leader broke. That was after about 5 runs taking a 50 yards or so each time. Again, without the rapids there to keep it confined in the hole, it would have been long gone as it pretty much took line as it liked. The dacron hook leader was badly frayed before the break and the bottom 10' or so of the topshot was badly scrapped and generally messed up - which I cut off when I rebuilt the terminal tackle. I am wondering if the dacron is a good idea to use for the hook leader or not. It sure is a lot easier to use with bait, but I reallly hate loosing a nice fish.

At least I finally hooked up with a fish. Its been a long time and I was getting pretty frustrated with it all... With the water getting warmer all the time, it should be getting better every day now...