DanMarino  11/06/2011 - 08:33  Trip Reports  Potomac    I met up with a guy named BigPat100 and we fished the upper Potomac on Saturday morning. Pat's boat has a 40 HP jet and it ran much faster than mine with the 20 HP engine so it was fun and CHILLY. Water temp was 48 degrees. Pat caught his healthy 12 inch smallie on a tube. I caught my 14 incher on a spinner bait with a grub on it instead of a rubber skirt. Fishing was slow, but we were both surprised to see 2 other boats fishing as well. We fished for about 3.5 hours and called it a day. Pat also caught a largemouth on an in-line spinner. I almost caught the largest fish of my life. I decided to put a crank bait on and began throwing it along the river bank as we drifted along. I thought I got snagged on something, but then my line began to move and my fully tightened down drag began stripping away. I should have loosened the drag. Pat thought I had a muskie or a big smallie. I wasn't sure. Whatever it was pulled like a horse. I eventually made some ground and got the fish to the surface after what seemed like 5 minutes. My crank bait had snagged the tail end of a HUGE carp! It was around 3 feet long and it was very broad with huge scales. The thing was a horse and probably wouldn't have fit into the net. We got it within arms reach of the boat and it made a frantic get away attempt. Then the knot on my lure slipped and the fish was gone with my crank bait still in its tail. I was using braided line and it seemed like the end of the line just sorta came undone and slipped through the palomar knot. It was a fun experience and would have make a very cool photograph. I could definitely get into carp fishing!!!!! Had a great time fishing with BigPat.