They get roughly the size of an Army surplus jeep. I'm kidding, of course, but not by much. Somebody had a photo on here recently of one he caught from his pond that was over forty pounds, over three feet long. I recently had one take a cricket I was fishing for bluegill, and subsequently played it for close to two hours before it pulled off (I was using six-pound-test and six-pound-test did little more than annoy it); it was at least four feet long and eight inches or better across its back. As to their lifespan, I think they're like those cedar trees that were alive in the time of Jesus; they seem not to die on any reasonable timeline, if at all. I would suggest inviting a bowfisherman out one day at feeding time, or perhaps just take a .22 pondside at said time.
