A buddy came over so we could build a ground blind for him and his son. His son wanted to fish in the pond, and I need some fish removed, so it worked out great. Got the ground blind built (left over pallets, recycled barn tin for a roof and wrapped with with brown tarps) and Luke (pictured) caught 2 HSB, 3 LMB and 2 SMB. The one that he's holding is 7#, 1 oz and 25", the other one he caught was 4#,10oz and 22" the 3 LMB totaled 3#, 2 0z. The SMB were released, and they weighed between 2 and 3 pounds each.

The fish looks small, he's 6' tall and just turned 11 years old.........

Jeez, Scott!!!!


No more pictures????

That is a fine fish!

I'm with Sunil, we NEED more pics!

Sounds like an all around great day at the pond.

P.S. Do you have enough supplies left over to make a football blocking sled? At that size I think you should help the kid get a full scholarship for college!

He'd be perfect to go to a college with a bass fishing team - he can fish every day of the week his dad said. Last year he expressed a desire to tie flies, and he's been doing that for the past year. His skill is slowly getting better.

A different view



Here's the other fish. One of the LMB had 2 stab wounds showing on the other side, exiting the bottom of the fish.


Those posts on the pier should be very close to the walking surface of the pier. That's how I keep that part of the floating pier in place in the pond. They have moved over time and really need to be reset. They were straight when first put in the water.

What great fish. I'll bet that big HSB was a terrific fight!

He said that if it was much bigger he doesn't know if he could have gotten it in. There is one in there that is a lot older and is probably 3x that size if it's still alive. Last time it was seen was 2, maybe 3 years ago and it was close to 20# then, the guy that had it on and had it close to shore said it was between 30" and 36". If it's still alive it's 10, 11 years old. Never found a dead one that big.

Holy smokes! I've never seen one larger than 7# at my place, though I had one on that may have been a lot bigger. Just took off and kept going, nothing I could do to even slow it.

I'd thought HSB topped out around 10# in ponds, but if they live more than a decade in a well fed pond maybe not. Sure would be nice to hook a biggun!