near record walleye

[wall eyell be]

Quick someone call channel 11. They can do an investigative series on whether our rivers are blessed with large walleyes (a native fish) or infested with medium-sized zander (an exotic).

[rmh2o]

I just measured the fish on my computor screen and it measures 7 inches and my hand measures about 4 inches across where in the picture his hand is about an inch.So 7x4 puts that fish at about 28-30 inches.It looks to have a pretty good girth but the back is also sagging.I think the scale was off by 6 or 7 pounds.

[abens1078]

I wonder if COs carry cerified scales in their cars and trucks for such occasions. I certainly understand his decision of CPR and would hope that fish weighing procedures could become more compatible with CPR.

The coulda woulda shoulda will stand out for awhile on this one.

[river rat316]

Bm you got it I am jealous!!! I would give just about anything to catch a pig like that

[bigeyes]

Yes, it is strange. I would put this fish at 11-13 pounds. It is really tough to tell he is really holding the fish out.

[Guest]

So how big would you all guess the one on my Avatar is? LOL

When Rick first put it up on the site after our trip up to Crow Lake, I am not kidding here, I got over a dozen emails from people accusing me of holding the fish out to make it look bigger, some emails were down-right mean. Now, I had a TON of witnesses to how big the fish actually was and although you can't see it, my arm is bent and the fish is held close to my shoulder. Rick, Toad, Jeff Beckwith and his son, a good friend Chris Chiakia, WallEYEs, T-Bone and a few others were all there and saw it. Never measured it, just took a few quick pics and down the hole she went. Notice the Angle Eye in the mouth for reference.

I guess my point is, not all fish that appear to be held out are, so be careful with assumptions. But I do have to agree, either that guy has elaphantitis of the fingers or it is way smaller than what is claimed. Still a nice fish though.

[30 inch eyes]

The mans name that caught this fish is Al Zwach from New Ulm. He put up a picture of it at Marvs Sport Center shortly after catching it, stating it was 30 inches long,weighing 14lbs.. It has since gained 2lbs. when pictured in the journal(that's where these pictures come from). He is a pro fisherman sponsered by northland tackle and frabil. He stands about 5'8" on a tall day. He is a very nice guy, but that is no 16lb. walleye at 30inches long.

[Brother Bro]

I know him....his name is Al Zwach from New Ulm .... Al is a vivid fisherman.....He also works for Northland Tackle... If anyone recalls from Outdoors weekly (Jan 10th 2003 ) from last year... there was a picture of him holding 8 lb 8 oz smallie also.....Good for him CPR the walleye back into the MN River..... Lots of jealous FM'ers

I guess some of us should be fishing the river instead !

[Duffman]

Tom....

The DoubleFinn Twins!! Ya gotta come up with some better eyewitnesses than TBone and WallEYES!!!! lol

I remember that day, wish I could have seen your fish firsthand, but I was to busy catching this;

It's all about hiding the hands!!!

[WallEYES]

Cripppppes Duffman der yous go again and cut us up nort brodders again, known as da double finn twins! We can fish and exagerate real well!

Tom H's fish was a nice one and no tom foolery photograph. I estimate the fish at 29-1/2 inches and close to 10 lbs and that fish went back in the drink almost as fast as it came out....Good catch Tom!....and you too Duffy...goot trout!

[DARK30]

Never hold a fish at arms length for a photo. Keep it close to your body as I did with this near record 8 lb crappie. Nobody can say its closer to the camera than I am right?

[hanson]

WOW Dark!

I'm not going to argue with that one. That is bigger than most largemouth bass in the state.

[Corey Bechtold]

Dark 30, now either you're 3'6" and have a 13" Crappie or that is truely a monster! What is the real size and weight of that fish? I'm assuming that she's on the wall or at least you have a replica?

Just curious,

Corey Bechtold

[Scenic]

Yes Tom that was a great fish. I took that picture and there was no holding out on that Angel Eye eater. That was one fun trip up there.

Also nice fish Duffman caught there too!!

[LEECH21]

Wow Dark, awesome fish...really how big?

[fishface5]

Dark Awsome crappie! The W. EYE Is a SCAM! Fingers man! Good luck Chuck, Ya right.

[Ed Carlson]

Uf-Da Dark...that bugger is as big as a sand spade!

[Guest]

Yea, that was one NICE laker! Great pic of it too!

Hey Dark,

How did you catch that crappie? Was it susspended?

[duckbill]

Dark,

That is an awesome crappie. Any details on the weight of that fish? Was is caught in MN? That thing looks huge. Nice fish.

Duckbill

[Matt Johnson]

DARK,

That fish is awesome!! Very nice!!

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

[CrappieJohn]

Compare the size of the mouth to the hand on that crappie the Dark is holding. It is darned hard to make a mouth grow on those fish. What he is hanging onto is one big crappie!

[Granny]

Dark,

Did you use the photo editor on that? It looks like you are standing no where near water but I see the lure and fishing line in the picture. Now either you put the bait into the mouth for the picture or you added the fish into the picture. Holding a bass or crappie by the mouth is very easy to enlarge and put into a picture. Nice fish either way.

Granny

[Northlander]

I give that fish about 10#-11#. Its tuff to get much bigger at only 30". Not even close to 16#! Especially if that guy is as small as stated. Still a nice eye though. They just dont have much color down that way.

[Guest]

FINALLY!!!

Granny, kudo's to you!

I've been busting a gut ever since Kevin posted his pic and how everyone seemingly believed him

I know the story, but I'll let Dark tell it.

This has got to be one of the best threads in a long time

[Granny]

Let me do a little work on the pic. I will get back to ya in a little bit.

Granny

This is a little more like it.