John Kristin earned Fish of the Week with his first Chinook.

By Dale Bowman

John Kristin, 8, caught his first Chinook; it was big enough at 26 pounds to take help holding. Provided photo — John Kristin, 8, caught his first Chinook; it was big enough at 26 pounds to take help holding.

Might as well make your first Chinook a truly big one, which 8-year-old John Kristin did.

Kristin, his dad, John, and uncle Kenny McIntyre fished with Capt. Mike Shine in late May. In 48 feet of water out of Hammond, Ind., they were trolling a Magnum spoon on 100-feet of copper when the rod went off.

“He fought the fish for 20 minutes or so and we finally netted it,” the elder Kristin emailed. “A 26-pound king, his first ever and now he is hooked, so you may see him again.”

FOTW, the celebration of big fish and their stories (the stories matter, as this one shows) around Chicago fishing, runs Wednesdays in the Sun-Times. Submit nominations by message on Facebook (Dale Bowman), on Twitter (@BowmanOutside) and Instagram (@BowmanOutside) or email (BowmanOutside@gmail.com).

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King of the World: A beautiful first Chinook earns Fish of the Week

John Kristin earned Fish of the Week with his first Chinook.