Congats! It is always awesome to up your personal best! It gets harder and harder to do as the years go by. But it keeps us shooting for the stars.

Congrats on the new PB, I too found it odd to catch my PB in Washington and not TN, KY or GA as well but I'll take it anywhere I can get it.

A pic of a tail section is better than nothing.  We'll check it out no doubt at the next fish-in.  You gotta be ready for those monsters Jon.  I always take a digital camera (a must, and I prefer Olympus), with a $5 tripod, and thanks to Larry S's bright idea, use your weigh bag as a livewell    Now obviously 2 gallons of water won't keep the fish alive for long, so move quickly.  I'm happy for you.  I think June was the worst month ever for me  

everyone thinks the spawn is the only time for big fish.  my two largest fish have been in july, post spawn.  congrats.  that is killer it was top water too.

I do have a pic but I was alone on the boat so it is just the portion of the fish I could fit into the screen while it was hanging from the scale - doesn't really do it justice.  Plus my comp is old and finicky - don't think it will let me upload anything.  I'll have the camera at the next fish-in I'm at though.

Nice job John, I got an extra bigger net for your next PB.  Way to go!!!!

excellent work John, way to go!!!!

Mark

Sweet now dont tell me you have no picture 

Awesome Jon.  Post a pic, we wanna see.  Congrats !

Was fishing a little lake in snohomish on Sunday and I caught an 8.02 # largie on a spro frog.  I was fishing the frog in some pads (and caught a couple) then I came too a stretch where the pads met some milfoil and all of the sudden I see a huge wake coming and then an explosion.  After fighting it through the pads for a while (thanks for 65# braid) I had to land it by hand bc it would not fit in the net - a good bad problem I guess.  Then weighed it on the Xtools and sure enough it was an 8 pounder - 1 # bigger than my previous best.  Never would of thought I would get a new PB here in WA (and not TX), much less on a topwater and during the summer - wow.  I even had to take a break after that to regain composure... thats why I fish right there!  It was awesome!