12/09/2026
“I had no idea what was swimming in this lake. It felt magical, similar to a time when every bite was a surprise, pre smart phones and so many documented pictures. To see this giant in the net blew my mind. The width of its head is a vivid memory and my little, pink, HAULER pop up sat nailed in his bottom lip. The battle was a long, heavy, slow and ponderous job, you just know it’s a big un and then it slowly rose up through the waves and the old knees went like wet spaghetti. I’m not sure I’ll catch many of these in a lifetime. Long live the pursuit of moments like this. I’d been fishing over a spread of Heat and CreAmino with my usual rig, with a tungsten loaded semi stiff hook link and yet to be released braided mainline SINKPRO holding firm in some snaggy terrain”