This is heartbreaking find

Found this one floating dead as a hammer Sat with a catfish lodged in its mouth. Not sure where the catfish came from but doesn’t matter. 9lbs 8oz. Takes a a lot to get one this size and hate find them like this

I'm guessing fertilized eggs on a birds leg.

Most likely

Yep, unfortunately feel your pain...lost an 11.5 a few years back that choked on a big rainbow trout.

It is sad but almost unavoidable to have it happen occasionally.

Bummer. Those bullheads are bound to get in there one way or another, even the healthiest ponds I fish have a few in them. Unfortunately that bass got a little greedy.

It happens a lot! Sad indeed.