i guess i really don't need to keep the spot a secret. anyone who fishes the chip knows it. i got it on pete's. i just had a hunch about that spot that day because of the breeze that picked up right before we headed in for lunch. i just went out planning on hitting a couple spots. i went straight to the windy side of pete's. i got it on a cowgirl just reeling it at a steady pace. i saw another fish about 50 yds before i got the 49. the 49 hit out far from the boat. i didn't think it was as big as it was at first. it just wanted to stay down on the bottom and not jump. i fish lake michigan around milwaukee and have caught alot of lake trout. this fish felt the same, just alot heavier. just really hard to budge off the bottom. i netted the fish by myself and hooked the net on the cleat of the boat. the fish almost took the net in twice. it did give me an idea to put a rod saver strap on the front deck to hold the net handle down. the other boat came over and helped me get some good pics. normally i just use a small tripod and hit the timer on the camera. one thing i didn't get was a girth measurement to get a replica made. anyone have any guesses on that?