jaximus wrote on Apr 27^th, 2011 at 8:15pm:


I enjoy light tackle fishing as much as anyone else, but I also believe in using appropriate tackle for the fish you're after. Several years ago I landed a 44" northern on 8# test while casting for smallies, but I would have felt much more confident if I'd hooked em' on my pike rig. This was especially true while he was thrashing around behind the canoe while being blown across the bay by heavy winds. Another situation would be lakers in warmer water where the stress of a long fight on light tackle could lead to death.
I've landed hundreds of fish by hand and don't mind a "roughed up thumb" from lipping bass, but I can't say the same for a deep slice from a walleyes gill plate. You know the kind....just when they start to heal they split open again and never heal until you get home.
And personally, I hate losing big fish! I would consider it more "manly" to land a 10lb.+ walleye like the one noted above than losing it because of "slippage".    That's just me.