Jack Gavin, Lee Zeman, and myself all went out for the evening on Lake Vermilion located in northern Minnesota. After going to our normal hot spots, we only raised a few fish, and fishing seemed a little slow. With fishing seeming slow, it was no surprise and we stayed confident as we new the next cast could be historic. As the sun was falling behind the horizon, we started a drift in one of our favorite spots. With Jack and Lee both throwing blades, I thought i would switch it up and throw a top-water to mix it up a little bit. I was in the middle of the boat and also throwing off the back of the boat to create more room for them throwing the big blades off the front. I bombed out a cast and started my retrieve, as i was twitching the bait back and forth I remember turning around to say something to the boys when all of a sudden all I could hear was a huge eruption of water. I remember setting the hook, and during the fight I wasn't sure how big the fish was. The first time the fish came to the surface, we all got excited but none of us thought that the fish would be over the 50 inch mark. As the fish came up to the boat, it took a dive as expected and made a run, I tried to free-spool her, but the tension was to tight and I could not get the button to click down. Just as I started to get nervous that she might get off, she turned back towards the boast and slowly swam into the net. after a few high fives, we popped the hooks out, took a few pictures and we put the fish on the tape. We couldn't be believe it when it crossed not only the 50 inch mark, but it crossed the 55 inch mark! 55 and a half inches is what she stretched to, as I grabbed her one last time and put her in the water, we got the girth measurement and let the fish swim back down to where she belongs. With the length being 55 and a half inches, and a girth of 24 inches, I got a replica made that hangs in my cabin today as a reminder of what Lake Vermilion has given me, and what can happen when you stay patient .