I just got off the phone with Russell Baker. He was so excited I could not even understand him. After he calmed down a bit he said " You won't believe what is in my live well. I got me a 9 pounder!" He said the scale they weighed her on said 8 pounds 14 ounces. They are going to weigh her again and get some pictures which I am sure he will be posting soon. So I would have to say if his story holds up he has the big-un of the year to this point. Phil Mehrtens is with him and they both sounded like a couple of nuts on the phone. Congratulations Russell. I can't wait to see some pictures!
She was sitting in about 5 feet of water at a place i have stuck a couple of other big fish before that I wanted to check out before we left the lake yesterday. Have caught a few 5's and 6's in this area in the past but never a 9 until now. Her tail was bloody and believe she had moved up shallower in the past week since the warming trend.