By my Minnesotan and lousy fisherman standard, these are hogs.
The two largies were caught on tiny child rigs (Texas-rigged 4” plastics with 1/8oz nail weight in the nose). 15lb braid with 8lb fluorocarbon leaded. Size #2 VMC finesse neko hook. 7’ ML St. Croix Mojo Yak rod. This is my current favorite technique. Basically a weedless ned. I let the bait hit the bottom and slowly hop it or drag it back. I like to use this rig because I mostly fish in a reservoir with a lot of submerged timber and it just slips right in and out of cover so well.
The smallie was caught on a 24” roboworm on a drop shot. It’s probably a state record.
Posted by IamSamBellToo