Private Pond Paradise

[Cheetam]

Once a year or so I get the opportunity to fish a 4 or 5 acre pond in Ortonville.  My personal best largemouth came from this pond back in 1995.  We only had a tape, no scale, but the fish was 26" long.  At the time, we figured a 6+ pound fish.  Well, today was the day I got to get out with my college buddy on his property, and it was awesome.  The first cast of the day, I whack a fish on a buzzbait with a 4 pounder's head, but it only probably weighed 1.75.  Great, I think.  The first cast jinx....wrong.  While my buddy is rigging up his rods, I throw the buzz a couple of times and I get this big girl...6lbs 15 oz on the scale.  Very nice and fat fish.  I'm thinking this is my new personal best, but, not having a scale 13 years ago casts a little doubt.  Anyways, a few photos, and back she went.  Oh, and on the next cast I whacked a 4.5...Gotta love those private ponds!

[Durand Dan]

Whatta Chunk!!

[Eric]

Nice fish, too.

[Cheetam]

Nice fish, too.

LOL...thanks Bubba.

[Eric]

That's what friends are for!

[djkimmel]

That first pic had me thinking they'd finally stolen your brain !!

You've got to LOVE all the fantastic opportunities for quality fishing we have here!!

[Cheetam]

That first pic had me thinking they'd finally stolen your brain !!

You've got to LOVE all the fantastic opportunities for quality fishing we have here!!

LOL...I think my buddy was still a little shaken from nearly falling out of the boat while trying to get the net.  Apparently he didn't get his balance back when taking that first pic.  When she hit, I knew I had a good fish.  She charged the boat, I saw her and told my  buddy get the net.  She then starting pulling drag off of a rod I have never had a fish pull drag on, and, once again told him to get the net.  At that point, he jumped up, spilled his coffee all over himself and the boat, tripped, landed on the net and broke it, and nearly fell out.  I would have been really torn over which one to pull in first if he had fallen in  .