Just caught my all-time personal best today at my local 3 acre pond. I didn't even know fish this big were in there, but she weighed 7 lbs 1 oz. She broke the line, and I jumped in after her and grabbed the line by hand before she pulled it under, and fought her the last 20 yards bare-handed. Definitely the best fishing day of the year so far, and a great way to start the holiday weekend.

Was using a black/blue flake Senko wacky rigged with a size 1 circle hook and 6# line. Was expecting to catch the usual 1-2# fish, so this was quite the surprise... makes me wonder what else may be lurking in my little ole' local pond.

Just thought I'd share my excitement and wish you all the best for tight lines over the holiday weekend!

WOW DUDE !!!

HELLOFACATCH !!!

Congrats, I would have like to have seen you jump in after her though and come up with it...that had to be priceless !!!

Thanks, Nitro... yes, I only wish someone was videoing me as I jumped in without thinking! Soaked a wallet, but luckily the iPhone was laying with my gear... but even if I'd soaked the phone, it would have been worth it!

VERY NICE FISH MAN! Keep it up!

Wow Nice catch and great story to go along with it!

Jeff

Nice! Heck of a fishing story to tell for years as well.

One thing I don't quite understand... she measured 25" snout to tail-tip, and the online calculators say that would be closer to 8.5 or 9lbs, but my little scale said 7 lbs 2 oz. Guess she was just thin from the post-spawn. Any idea what she might have weighed pre-spawn, or maybe later in the summer after she had been feeding again?

Nice job! Not sure I would have done the jump in after it deal! She does look like she needs a meal, a bit on the thin side! Big eyes and big head, might have been a 7 and three quarters before the spawn. Good fish, congrats!

I'm no expert but I'd give her 8 lbs or so before spawning. Still a great fish, congrats!