41.5 inches……….Stitch under 21LBS!!!………..and 3 Stitches 
Monster fish just don’t behave like other fish. Inevitably those freaks of nature will do things that most fish simply aren’t capable of. After boxing this fish in the rear oxygenator getting the camera ready for a “Smile you big Freak!! Your gonna be on IDO” I VERY carefully slid my hand under the unbelievably large gills cautiously not getting into the red gill plates. I slid my Thumb over the head as I always do, and squeezed it firmly which USUALLY will keep a big fish dormant……..USUALLY!! LOL!! The Super Tanker did the dreaded “Croc Roll” similiar to the 20lb fish we iced this year on film, and got a big tooth in my thumb. As we were flat out beating the big fish in the fierce wind there was no chance I was bringing my group in at 11am to visit Dr. Love for just my thumb, so we just wrapped it up. After 5 hours of bleeding like a gut shot deer…….Off to the Dr. with strict orders from the Fishing Queen ready to send out the Coast Guard!! Special thanks to Dr. Stone for waiting around for ole 4 fingers!! Probably won’t be the last visit!! 
I swear that pike looked like she had eaten a full size Mallard,and was truly a specimen of a fish!! 
Great day with minor setbacks!! Did make it tough the rest of the day putting the beans to fish without use of a thumb!! Hooksets……….Ouchy Mamma!! 
Rainydaze Guide Service Dislaimer; Not responsible for loss of digits on big fish. Kids should keep toes out of the water.
There’s not much worse than getting stitches in a finger.
