I had to clean and keep him. I usually catch and release but I put him in the basket that I always put my fish in, and he was so large, I guess he couldn't turn around, and he died. So, I had no choice when it came to him. I caught eight fish all together, but this was the biggest, and boy was he fun to catch. I always use minnows.
We actually went to our "deer camp". All the guys were getting together to bush hog trails and such. Scott took our tractor and bush hog, and worked his butt off. The only reason I go is to fish. It's sure not to "hang" around the guys, or eat their food! No, actually they are some pretty good cooks.
I could have caught more, but I ran out of minnows, and there is not a bait shop for sixty miles. Plus, I was too busy looking for snakes. I only saw the one I shot at. Then I decided I needed to just not look for them, that they generally run from you. I would just "tip toe" down the path to the small lake where I have Lil Brother's small flat bottom boat with a trolling motor on it.
I was a gorgeous three days until today, then it really got hot. I was glad to be coming home, though.
Keep smilin', Sunny