Niver’s blog

Every angler has a story about “the one that got away.” This is mine, and it’s a lesson I’ll never forget.

It was one of those perfect Michigan mornings. The sun had just peeked over the horizon, painting the water with a warm golden glow. My wife and I headed to one of our favorite walleye fishing spots, full of hope that today would be another successful day on the water.

For a while, the fish simply weren’t cooperating. We tried different presentations, changed our casting angles, and patiently waited for that unmistakable strike. I positioned the boat so my wife could work the shallower water while I focused on casting into the deeper section of the lake.

I fired a cast about fifteen feet off the side of the boat and settled in.

Five… maybe ten minutes later… my fishing rod came alive.

The line tightened with incredible force, as though some underwater monster had decided it was time for breakfast. I grabbed the rod, kept my composure, and waited for the perfect moment. When I finally felt that solid tug, I drove the hook home with an aggressive sweep of the rod.

Instantly, I knew this wasn’t an ordinary fish.

“Fish on!” I yelled to my wife.

The battle had begun.

The fish surged, pulled hard, and stayed deep. Every run convinced me I had hooked something special. As I slowly worked it closer to the boat, I was convinced it had to be a giant catfish. It fought with the stubborn determination and heavy rolling motion that catfish are famous for.

“It’s a catfish!” I kept saying.

Then everything changed.

As the fish rolled beside the boat one more time, it turned just enough for me to see one enormous eye staring straight back at me.

My heart nearly stopped.

It wasn’t a catfish.

It was one of the biggest walleyes I had ever seen.

My excitement instantly turned into panic.

“Get the net!” I shouted.

My wife was just as excited as I was. She reached for the landing net as quickly as she could, but in those few precious seconds we had to untangle it and get it into the water, disaster struck.

One final head shake.

One sharp pull.

Snap.

The line broke.

Just like that, the giant walleye disappeared back into the depths, leaving us speechless.

I sat there staring into the water, replaying every second in my mind. There was nothing either of us could have done differently in that moment—except for one thing.

The net should have already been ready.

That experience taught me one of the most valuable lessons I’ve ever learned as an angler.

Never wait until you see the fish before reaching for the net.

Keep it assembled. Keep it within arm’s reach. Have your fishing partner ready before the fight reaches the boat.

The biggest fish you’ll ever hook rarely gives you a second chance.

To this day, I still think about that incredible walleye. It remains one of the greatest fish I never landed, but it also became one of my greatest teachers.

Every time I launch the boat now, the landing net is one of the very first things I prepare.

Because you never know when your fish of a lifetime will decide to bite.

And when it does…

You’d better be ready.