Managed to whack a pair of small largemouth today, they were biting a 6th Sense Divine Hybrid jig and a Paca chunk trailer and were having nothing to do with anything else I tossed at them. Mostly in the slop (absolutely no shortage of this) or under shade on cover, right where they should be. Would have stayed longer but a 5 mile hike plus fishing had me tuckered out after working all week, tight lines gang.

Cool, that is the lake where I caught these girls.

Those look like prespawn fish...easily one of my favorite times to be out fishing 

Yes they were, caught them on my 25th birthday in 2008 April 18th released and swam away healthy I got a fiberglass mount of the big one. It was 23×18.5. The other one was 21×15 3/4. You can see my digital scale in the picture but unfortunately it wasn't reading right,, so I took the length and girth measurements. The state record was 23.5×18. I knew this when I caught the fish but couldn't keep the pig because of the time of year. Regardless if it was a state record or not I kind of doubt it I think it was close though there's another one out there.

I guess the statute of limitations for taking fish during the closed season in Minnesota has expired by now, so you may be safe from prosecution.

46 minutes ago, Kevin Mangan said:

Yes they were, caught them on my 25th birthday in 2008 April 18th released and swam away healthy I got a fiberglass mount of the big one. It was 23×18.5. The other one was 21×15 3/4. You can see my digital scale in the picture but unfortunately it wasn't reading right,, so I took the length and girth measurements. The state record was 23.5×18. I knew this when I caught the fish but couldn't keep the pig because of the time of year. Regardless if it was a state record or not I kind of doubt it I think it was close though there's another one out there.

 

No idea what the refs were in 08, but both the salesman who sold me my license and a DNR fishing regulations guide book told me that it is very probable that MN is going to be going to a year round bass season soon, might still be limited times for keeping, but catch and release will probably be a year round thing within the next 1-2 years

In 08, the season was closed in April. Even if the regs allowed catch and release, it requires you release the fish immediately, not hang them on a stringer for a while to get a picture of two bass at time.