I was out trout fishing today. I had one hit and landed one fish. It was
the biggest bass I ever caught. Although, I am sure this fish is small
compared to what many of you bass fisherman take. This fish measured 19".
I have no idea what it weighed. I would say that it was a typically
proportioned fish -- not thin, not fat. Any ideas what range a fish like
that would weigh?

It definitely surprised me as I was trout fishing with an 1/8 oz. rooster
tail. I felt the typical twitch-twitch and I thought I hooked a trout.
Then as I got it closer to the boat, it took off running. Most bass I have
ever caught generally break the surface. This one wanted to stay deep. The
surface water temperature was 51 degrees.

This fish left a good size puddle of blood in the boat. I was surprised
because I hooked it in the joint of its mouth so I am not sure why it was
bleeding. The blood came out of one of the gills, but I could not find from
where it was bleeding. The only thing I can think of is that maybe I hooked
it deeper, the hook came loose, and then reset itself in the mouth. If
that's the case, then it was luck that I landed it.

Jeff