I went kayak fishing on a nearby pond this past weekend on Sunday. With the light winds, it made for a great day to be on the water. Hit the pond around 9:30 or so, and within about 15 minutes I hooked my first fish. It felt heavy, and at first I thought I was hung until I felt the tugging. She didn't fight a lot, but when she came up and flashed near the surface I knew it was a pretty decent fish. After landing her, I got my phone, scale, and measuring stick out to record the weight and size. When I first put her on the scale, I saw 6 lbs. 9 pounces. This was just as soon as I put her on the scale. I guess by the time I used my phone to record the weight with a photo, the scale had leveled off. I did not know this until I got home late afternoon and looked at the photos I took. What I thought weighed 6.9 in fact weighed 7.1# according to the scale. My previous PB was 7 pounds even which came out of Fork on a guide trip, and I have been stuck there for like 5 or 6 years. Since that time, I have fished lakes that could produce larger fish such as Lake Fork, but have never come close to the 7 pound mark. Ironic that my new PB came out of a pond. I'll take it, even if it means I only crept up by one ounce.

I had a hard time having enough hands to pinch her tail, hold the fish and board, and take a photo. As you can see, she was just shy of 22 inches with the best I could do for measuring her. I think her tail could have touched or come close to that if I had been able to pinch it together and hold it there to check. Nonetheless as you can see in the belly shot, she is ripe and ready to spawn.

I caught 7 or 8 more fish between the time I started and 4:30 when I got off the water. The next biggest fish went 2.8. After catching a fish to start the day, which for me was a GIANT, I would have been happy if I hadn't caught another bass all day.

Hoping it doesn't take another 5 to 6 years to eclipse this new personal best! Fishing is addictive as y�ll know, and catching one like this makes you want to get back on the water soon!! Now I want to move up to 8's, 9's, and 10's!!

Jim

Congrats bud. Looks like a healthy girl!

NICE

congrats again Jim!

Need to update your signature! Nice fish!

Awesome! Beautiful fish.

Great point!@! Thanks!

Nice job

Congrats on your new PB

Big Girl, Nice fish man!

Nice fish Jim!

Nice fish..congrats

Nice bass! Congrats!

Very cool, congratulations.

Nice fish. Congratulations on the PB.