Thats not me holding it, thats my dad after he got it out of the net and up to where we were casting from. Sticking with 2.3 to 2.5 lbs. Let her go bbecause she was such a nice healthy fish, and she can go andnproduce more beautiful little basslets aho might grow into monsters some day The fight didnt quit when we landed her, she bit both me and my dad as we tried to get a measurement. 16" to perhaps 16.5" was our best estimation, well she was a aolid 16" for sure. Didnt waste a lot of time measuring bcause we didnt want her to be put of the water any longer than she coule avoid. Twas a blast on thst light line.

id say right there at 2.5

id say right there at 2.5

X2. Nice fish

Thank you! She absolutely nailed that silver minnow panfish assassin, she was hungry!

Yeah, 16.5inch is probably around 2.5lbs, nice fish!

Nice little chunk. Looks like its been eating well. Just like the majority have said, under 2.5lbs, length can't tell in the pic the fish is being held to low. But a 2-2.5lb fish will run any where from 15-17". Either way, fun catch. 

Oh yes, especially on light line, it was a blast!! Probably be close to three lbs before she spawns this spring.

Thing I liked the most about it was that little panfish jig I caught it on showed that it doesnt have to always be flashy, complicated, or expensive to catch decent fish. Just a simple slow and steady retrieve and a upward twitch of the rod every so often and bam. Seemed to work just as well in cool windy conditions as it did in warmer calmer conditions. Perhaps maybe I can take that jig and use what I learned from it and apply it to bass-intended jigs and hopefully catch some on that set up?