Nice recap and pics Todd! It was a blast getting out for thy ditch pykle, both small and largemouth. People who don't fish for them, really don't understand. Especially the 70+ MPH across the lake. Letting you drive for a bit was one of the highlightes of the day, priceless look on your face! And yes, I may have been excited seeing the big one get hung in the tree too!

That Largemouth looks a bit beat up and bloody mostly from prepping spawning areas and cruising the shallows. The cut in it's back half/tail could be from numerous things including sticks, man made obstructions (fences/posts/concrete/etc.) or maybe an otter, osprey/eagle, or some type of prey, who knows?!