Beautiful! New Jersey lakes I fish produce gills that color.Just over 9" is a very fine fish. I seldom get a gill over 8 &1/2 inches. Is that a foam spider you got him on in the month of May there?
John, you called it! Yes, that's a foam spider. I'm sure a small foam Gurgler would work just as well, especially if you tie it with rubber legs. That's what I plan to try more next Spring.