coppernose-May-17-2014

Comment

Comment by Walt Foreman on May 18, 2014 at 5:47pm

I wouldn't be surprised if you were right, Tony.  Lately I've just been very paranoid about killing big fish through too much handling, which is why I haven't even taken any kind of scale with me the last two times I've guided.  I took a couple guys from Pennsylvania out today, and the biggest 'gill they caught, another whopper coppernose that was a little over 10" long and round - not as big as the one above, but very round - died about ten minutes after they caught it, even though it was only lip-hooked.  

I already have a marine cooler that holds thirty or forty gallons, that I've used for transporting a handful of fish short distances; I'm going to rig it up with some kind of airstone to where I can pump pure oxygen into the water, and treat the water with an antibiotic like hatcheries use.  It is not amusing seeing a twenty-ounce coppernose float up on his side.  

Comment by LedHed on May 18, 2014 at 1:15pm

Excellent fish - great catch

Comment by dick tabbert on May 18, 2014 at 10:37am

What a quality copper

Comment by Tony Livingston on May 18, 2014 at 10:24am

I'll bet that fish touched a pound and three quarters.

Where's the scale Walt!! :)

Comment by Walt Foreman on May 18, 2014 at 7:10am

Thanks, Tony!  This fish had to be at least 1.5 lbs. bare minimum, and may have pushed 2 - he was a beast!  I went back and looked at some photos from last year of bluegill I estimated to be in the 18-20 oz. range that I photographed with this tournament ruler, and the wider ones only extended a little ways beyond the ruler on either side, but this dude was nearly twice as wide as it.

Comment by Tony Livingston on May 18, 2014 at 7:04am

Just now saw this....WOW! That guy is huge, and the body dynamics are superb.

Very nice Walt!

Comment by Walt Foreman on May 18, 2014 at 6:57am

Thanks for the comments, guys!  This was one of the biggest bluegill that I've seen caught in the time I've been guiding.  He was only a little over 10" but he was wider than both of my hands put together - unbelievable girth.  

Comment by carl hendrix on May 17, 2014 at 6:22pm

walt-- that's a super nice one buddy!!

Comment by Jeffrey D. Abney on May 17, 2014 at 6:21pm

That's a fine specimen Walt......