This fish was 20+lbs and was over 36". We did not put it on a scale so we could get it back in to catch when the summer LOC starts. Jax snapped a quick picture and back she went. So many people talk smack about lakers. If you run a little bit lighter rods, and don't horse them up, they will survive. We go to extra measures to make sure they survive. Burping them, misting their gills with the washdown pump, and having a cooler with water in the boat to revive them helps. I have caught many 20+ lbers over the years and they do fight well. The 24lb. 11 ozer I caught 4 years ago was an awesome fight. If people don't want to fish for them, thats fine with me. More for me to catch.