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The story of the 29-year largemouth bass

A young Joe Shead, who shirked leaf raking at the family cabin that day to catch his first big largemouth bass. (Photos courtesy of Joe Shead)

I should have never caught that big bass back in 1989.
We were at the lake to rake leaves in late October. It was Oct. 22, to be exact, because ever since I have considered that date to be Bass Day, which honestly should be a national holiday. After putting in a token appearance at the rake, I slipped away, then scrambled down the steps to the sauna, where we keep our fishing tackle and water toys.

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