Agree 1000% - why wouldn't we be excited about this?

He isn't doing anything on Ivie the rest of us haven't been doing for awhile now. We just don't publicize it.

You catching teeners???

Naw not me. Just 10's and 35 pound bags the last couple of trips. But I can assure you guys like Brian Hall and Chance Woods and several other local guys around here catch as many big fish on that lake as anyone. They don't go around publicizing things. I have fished many tournaments on Ivie and know it well myself, we have been catching them big for years.

One of these days I'm gonna catch a fish out of Ivie

Another share lunker today, guess this guy was just lucky too? Hahaha locals be maddddddd

That whole family is fiishhhhhhy af. They all hammer toads. Congrats Don!

That guy looks like he's about 4'-6" tall.

I,m happy for him. Don't look like he's gonna hold it in his live-well all day and try to kill it!

Not to argue, but maybe I can give you a little perspective on how JJ may have seen it from his perspective...and how it strongly relates to your scenario and the $9k.

Im likely going to Ivie next week coming from El Paso....I thought Amistad was the closest thing to decent fishing without going far east texas. This guy and miliken have 100% blown the lid off and opened up a whole new can of worms to people like me (so has TPWD). And yea that sucks as a local and i feel you....but I hope youd understand that it is a community resource and the public has helped get it to where its at today with tax dollars.

you mentioned the fish being a $9k payday. This fish can and will likely net him many multiples of that $9k in both short and longer term returns. I did some facebook stalking (as im sure many others did) and reading here...and it seems like he is blessed enough to make his living off fishing. Hell...i read here $1k/trip. Well....that means he just needs 9 trips from people who have never heard of him (vast majority im guessing) to make $9k off this fish. But I have a feeling lifetime he just upped his guide game/demand with this week alone when you pair it with his past track record....so this fish is worth way more than $9k toward his livelihood and future. Im not even factoring in sponsors and extra opportunities (fishing with Jimmy H)....but this fish was worth way more than $9k.

It's 2021....we all know how hard it is to make it as a tourney fisherman...but with social media, making a living off fishing is wayyy more possible today than it was when you had your $9k payday. Back in the older days if you wanted to make $10k you better win a tourney.....today....you can make $10k+ on a single video that goes viral or semi viral. Its just where we are and what the reality is nowadays.

So im not a fan of livewelling them either and wish he wouldve caught and released ASAP....but he didnt do it "just for clicks" he did it to help support his livelihood and to help the longevity or possibility of him being able to continue to do what he loves...and make a living off of it. I know I wrote a book...but i hope you can see this isnt just "for likes" or "for clicks" and attention....this is about the bottom line for him.....in my opinion.

^^^^THIS! ALL OF THIS^^^^^^

I wish all the best on your journey to Ivie. Best advice I can give is study a map and be prepared to be a bit overwhelmed when you get there. Oh and watch out for trees sticking up in the channels in 50' fow.

Catching giants outta grandmas pond in Oklahoma or a hammer hole in Texas really doesn’t blow my skirt up.
Come scope them up at texoma and I’ll be on board.

Now you went and made the locals mad, they catch Sals everyday . They just don't mention it until now, but they don't ever want to tell you until today . Makes sense.