PB for my Birthday!

[LittleRedFisherman]

My son and I decided to social distance at our cabin for a day and night for my birthday after a rain halted field work here on the farm.  We left yesterday and got to the cabin at 6pm.  I looked at the lake and saw it was dingy from all the rain but it called my name, I was imediately thinking crankbait or spinnerbait!  It was cold and windy but I convinced Landen let fish till dark so we launched the boat.   He wanting to learn more about boating and insisted he wanted to run the trolling moter which I always do.  So I let him and told him head over to a favorite point of mine, where the bank levels off more slowly, thinking be a good place to throw a crank.   I had a spro Rock crawler I had planned on tying on, but my favorite crank rod had a teckel drunker tied on from my latest river trip.  I’ve had good luck with that little deep diving crank thanks to Ham for introducing me to them.  So I was like I’m gonna chunk this for a few Minutes then tie on the spro.   Well Landen positioned me in a good spot and made my first cast.  The second cast was towards a fallen tree, bout halfway to the boat she hit.   When I drawed back on her the drag began to go.  I said son get the net it’s a biggun!  Finally I worked her to the surface but I failed to remember my net had a big rip in it from December’s Jigfest,  well Landen netted it beautifully but she ripped the hole even bigger and fell back in the water.   So the fight was on again but this time my line was through the net as an added level of difficulty ha ha.    I had Landen hold the net as I once again surfaced the fish, by this time it had one treble left in the thin part of its upper lip.   Finally got the fish back up and grabbed lip and rubber net all together to land it.  For a few minutes there it got really exciting ha.   Didn’t have my scales for some reason, guess I took them out of the boat?  But she measured 23 inches long, don’t have a girth measurement either.  Looking at some charts I’d say she’s  around 8 pounds!  I’ve fished this lake my whole life, including my dad since 1965, and I’ve never caught one this big anywhere.  Just right place and right time and right cast.   Letting Landen run the trolling moter for the first time may of made this happen to!  Today is my birthday and can’t think of a better present!  Bret 

[Johnsfolly]

Awesome PB largemouth buddy! Congrats and happy B-day! Nothing better than making memories with your family!

[MOsmallies]

Priceless... Congrats and Happy Birthday Bret!

[FishnDave]

Beautiful bass, exciting for sure!  Happy Birthday!

[dtrs5kprs]

Right on, Bret.

[Mitch f]

That’s as good as it gets! All wrapped up in a nice package!

[JestersHK]

Bret my friend that is simply awesome.  Your son seems to be that good luck charm all the time. Glad you were able to get out and fish and make those memories.  Happy birthday too buddy!

[Jerry Rapp]

what a belly!

[marcusearlt]

Awesome story! Well deserved fish brother!