WI state record smallie?

[DTro]

9+lb Giant Smallie!! Largest Smallmouth ever caug…:

[BDawg23]

Giant! I will be chasing one like that up in Hayward this weekend and can't wait!

[fishuhalik]

Holy crapoly!!! That's incredible! I wanna say props on the release but there's NO WAY!!!! I'm putting that fish back in!!!

[bassfshin24]

Unreal! Just saw this on Facebook. Awesome that it was released.

[Presco]

So awesome. I think I live in the wrong state for smallmouth. North Wisc putting out 30lb bags, southern Wisc putting out 9lb giants. Crazy.

Happy for the release as well. Why keep it, replicas cost the same and look 100% better.

[mrklean]

What a beast

[BTL]

Is it C&R only in Wisconsin? If not, I would at least get a state-certified weight before I let it go.

Beautiful fish regardless!

[DTro]

I think I read they didn’t have a livewell in the boat so they used the net bag as an impromptu livewell between pics and video and weighing. It’s a huge fish, but it is what it is… a fish weighed on an old spring scale. It never fails though any fish that approaches a record and released is always left with some doubt. They say they measured 24 x 20, but I didn’t see any pics on a bump board or tape. They tested the sack of spuds at 5lbs, but why not 10?

No matter it’s a beast of a fish and one that Ben will probably never top and made a lifetime memory

[JP Z]

Yeah, with a fish like that and the crummy scale you would think they would want all the photo evidence they could get of it on a board or the like.

[MN BassFisher]

That thing is a true giant regardless of the specs. I would have liked to see a little more evidence on weight/length since the claims were so large but the video shows one massive smallie. Eric is one of the best in the Midwest but he is guilty of over-sizing his fish - like a lot of people.

[DTro]

Its kind of sad to see the whole thing turn into a marketing opp, but when that’s the livelihood of both guys involved, then its to be expected I guess. Frabill is a solid company and I know Eric and Ben are great guys, but pretty soon we will be finding out the brand and color underwear the guy is wearing when he catches a fish.

[JP Z]

They Were Under Armour..........in the Heat Tek version cuz it was soo cold.....

That's just the way things go Dtro, if you can Market........you market.

[wormdunker]

I think I read they didn’t have a livewell in the boat so they used the net bag as an impromptu livewell between pics and video and weighing. It’s a huge fish, but it is what it is… a fish weighed on an old spring scale. It never fails though any fish that approaches a record and released is always left with some doubt. They say they measured 24 x 20, but I didn’t see any pics on a bump board or tape. They tested the sack of spuds at 5lbs, but why not 10?

No matter it’s a beast of a fish and one that Ben will probably never top and made a lifetime memory

Old Spring Scale? Is 5 lbs that different than 10 lbs? That is a Chatilion Scale. I have owned them and found them to be the most accurate (Short of minute increments) on the market. If he had a Normark digital scale would yo have said its just a cheap digital scale? I don't know the guy from Atom but I know a big smallie when I see one. From my office chair several hundred miles away I know I could not refute his claim. If he is off by an ounce or two, who cares?

After questioning his honesty and character you follow up with "no matter it's a beast of a fish......." After bashing his character you attempt to redeem yourself?

In some instances I have seen fish posted on line that do not seem to fit the reported weight. In this case I think you are off base and owe the guy an apology.

[Presco]

Yea, its a darn shame the company that pays him to market their products had to be so prominently displayed. Its almost like he's trying to ensure they continue to support him financially. He probably has kids or something at home to feed. Darn shame.

[DTro]

Overreact much? Did I really question anyone’s character? Geez, make more assumptions eh. All I said was that it was an old spring scale that looked to be in the ballpark with a 5lb sack attached. Even the cheapest digital scales seem to be more accurate than a spring and most certainly easier to see on video. LOL I’m just saying if you are going to go through the trouble of setting up in a grocery store and demonstrate a scales accuracy, and since the fished pulled down to 9, why not 10lbs? Doesn’t that make more sense? The record is 9.1, so if that element is even going to enter the conversation at all then yes of course a few ounces matter. Even his sponsors at Berkely said they gave him a hard time about the scale. How dare they question his character. LOL

Apology eh? Ok…..I”m sorry.

[pushbutton]

All I know is early on after joining the world wide fish bragging webz, I posted a crappy non reference pic ...... said "pushing 6" and man o man.......let the games begin Have not done it since and would expect more of it if I did

As for the original topic. Absolute pig! Even better that it is still swimming.........

[fishuhalik]

What's wrong with a guy repping his company a little? There's a big difference between what this guy did, a tasteful plug, and the shameless constant mentioning of all his sponsors every time he catches a 3lb bass. If I made a living off catching fish and actually used one of my company's products to get said fish, you better believe I'd give a shout out! Shoot, if I caught that fish on video & only got it cuz my super-sensitive Fishmaster2000 depth finder picked up a little gravel bed, for example, I'd still mention it if I wasn't getting paid

[Juan Grande]

Get the Frabill!

[JP Z]

I know when I heard that in the video my first thought was John Gillespi

[Craigums]

I know when I heard that in the video my first thought was John Gillespi

I thought a saw some Johnsonville Brats in the boat

[RumRiverRat]

Caught on a Havoc Sick Fish.

I guess the secret is out.

[frogtosser]

what a brute