BOSTON -- An East Templeton boy got the surprise of his summer vacation last week when he caught a sizeable bass while fishing on his inner tube.

Ian Wilson's dad Larry said the boy was riding on his inner tube at his great-grandmother's camp at Kendall Pond in Gardner when he felt a tug on his inexpensive fishing pole.

Soon the pole was almost bent in half and Ian, 11, and his brother Michael, who was with him on the tube, were paddling fast to try to make it back to shore before losing his catch.

Their big sister Cate swam out with a net to help them haul in the 2 1/2 pound- fish.

"They were using night crawlers, which is funny because they usually just ask for worms. But that day they begged their mother to buy crawlers and she did," Larry Wilson said.

"Anyone who has fished for bass knows how hard it is from a boat never mind an inner tube. How the darn thing stayed on the hook is a wonder," Larry said.

He said Ian asked if the fish was a "keeper" and his grandma said it was an "eater." It's currently in the freezer awaiting cooking.