Trophy size smallmouth

[Slyster]

I caught my largest smallmouth yesterday.. and since the largemouth trophy thread was interesting.. I though I'd put out a smallmouth one.

I caught a 5Lb ~22" smallmouth on a wacky rigged bubblegum Senko! WOW what that fun.. tired me out even. Largest smallmouth I have ever caught by a longshot.

I have no pix.. didn't have a camera in the boat and let her go.

How often do you all get 5lb+ smallies? Rare? Or have most of us hit that mark? Now I wonder if I should have had it mounted or something

[Deitz Dittrich]

I have caught very few 5 lb smallies in my life. I have caught a lot that were in the 4 lb range but again, I can only think of maybe 2 over the 5 lb mark...

Quote:

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Now I wonder if I should have had it mounted or something

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In my opinion, have a replica made!

[Aj10]

My biggest was just over 4 pounds.I caught it on a spinnerbait at tonka fishing a weed edge when i was like 9 or 10 so about 3 years ago.Congats on the big fish man!

[Slyster]

tx! Can they make a replica from a picture? (not that it would help me this time... but from now on I take the camera every outing...) Yeah.. I wouldn't feel right about keeping a nice bass just for my 'ego'

[Deitz Dittrich]

Sly-they can make a replica from the measurements. No picture needed.. If you have a picture all the better. However, they are not needed. The taxi knows what a smallie looks like, all you need are the measurements and a little $$$.

[TurnUpTheFishing]

Wow, 22" smallie is huge. You fish White bear alot. If you dont mind me asking, is that were you got it?

[Slyster]

"I cannot confirm nor deny the presence of smallies on WBL."

E-Mail me if you want to know for SURE.

[email protected]

[Deitz Dittrich]

LOL @ sly- everybody knows there are smallies in WBL.. finding them can be very hard.. if you are set out to target smallies, WBL is not the lake to do it. However, if you are looking for the bonus smallie. WBL has them.. and the size can be nice, but again, the numbers are just not there to target them.

[ZOKU]

22" smallie = insane!! Get a replica made!

[Slyster]

I was actually toying with the idea. Does anyone know around how much a replica costs?

[Deitz Dittrich]

Sly- Fiber Tech Productions is a sponsor of FM. I would deffinatly give them a look. Here is a pict of a smallie off thier site.

Price on thier web site says $11.50 per inch.

[Mark Christianson]

Sly

You have mail.

Nice frickin fish!

22 inches is insane for a smallie for sure.

[LEECH21]

I have caught a few this year alone that were 20 inches. My biggest ever is 20.5 inches. I'm still in search of a 21 inch plus fish. 22 inches is a BIG SMALLIE where-ever you go. Nice fish!

[mille lacs muskie bum]

I have a cabin on mille lacs and usually get 1 or 2 21" a year off the dock . I will not make a replica until I get a 23".

[uffdapete]

One at 22 1/2" caught in a river in SE MN on the opening day of duck season 12 years ago. I kept that fish and will never keep another smallmouth again. I still regret it and was sick about it at the time.

Another and likely heavier smallie came from a small Ontario lake 4 years ago. That one was 21 1/2" and caught (CPR) while casting a large spinnerbait in an area that can hold a few smallies but is dominated by pike.

I rarely carry a scale so can't verify the weight but both were pigs in my book.

[Slyster]

I did it again... same lake... same spot and 4oz larger this time. Unreal! Another tough smallie to get in.. my stress at losing him was horrible.. one hand holding my rod.. one hand grabbing the net. SO nice to feel him in the net.. I was shaking!

This time I had my camera along... but since I was fishing alone the photos are not that great... especially since I was in a rush to get him back in the water.. 90+ degrees out today... and weighing and measuring and pics took a few minutes. He was fine after a little push.

23.25"/5lb4oz. This time on a blue tube (see pics of it). I couldn't take a pic with my ruler since I needed two hands to measure the fish- it is on the side of a bench.. if you question my pix.. look at the first one- it includes my Garmin 76CS which is a larger unit measuring almost 6.5" tall.

I am tempted to get a replica.. but more likely will keep trying for a few more weeks there first. Considering those two fish in two days.. there must be larger ones out there.

[smallie_hawgin]

Slyster,

Wow, nice fish congrats on the bigguns!! I am not sure you need to hold out for larger I found some info on all of the state record fish for you. Of all of the fish only a few are as long as what you have already caught. Some lengths aren't listed but, be happy. About the only thing I would suggest is go back to the drops in the fall when the fish get a bit more "piggy". That same fish might weigh 6+.

The listings are below:

• State Weight Length Location Date

Tennessee 11 lbs 15 oz n/a Dale Hollow Reservoir 7/9/1955

Alabama 10 lbs 8 oz n/a Wheeler Dam Tailwater 10/8/1950

North Carolina 10 lbs 0 oz n/a Hiwassee Reservoir 6/1/1951

Ontario 9 lbs 84 oz n/a N/A 0

Ohio 9 lbs 8 oz 23.5" Lake Erie 6/16/1993

South Carolina 9 lbs 7 oz n/a Lake Jocassee 2001

Michigan 9 lbs 4 oz 27.25" Long Lake 1906

West Virginia 9 lbs 12 oz 24.25" South Branch 1971

Wisconsin 9 lbs 1 oz n/a Indian Lake 6/21/1950

California 9 lbs 1 oz n/a Clair Engle Lake 3/20/1976

Pennsylvania 8 lbs 8 oz n/a Scotts Run Lake 1997

Kentucky 8 lbs 7.36 oz n/a Laurel River Lake 5/16/1998

Maryland 8 lbs 4 oz n/a Liberty Reservoir 10/4/1974

New York 8 lbs 4 oz n/a Lake Erie 6/4/1995

Massachusetts 8 lbs 2 oz n/a Wachusett Reservoir 1991

Washington 8 lbs 12 oz n/a Columbia River - Hanford Reach 4/23/1966

Virginia 8 lbs 1 oz n/a New River 3/12/2003

Idaho 8 lbs 0.5 oz 22" Dworshak Reservoir 1995

Maine 8 lbs 0 oz n/a Thompson Lake 1970

Minnesota 8 lbs 0 oz n/a West Battle Lake 1948

Utah 7 lbs 6 oz 22" Midview Reservoir (Lake Borham) 1996

Arkansas 7 lbs 5 oz n/a Bull Shoals Lake 4/1/1969

Indiana 7 lbs 4 oz n/a Twin Lake 1992

New Jersey 7 lbs 2 oz n/a Round Valley Reservoir 1990

Georgia 7 lbs 2 oz n/a Lake Chatuge 3/28/1973

Missouri 7 lbs 2 oz n/a Stockton Lake 12/18/1994

Mississippi 7 lbs 15 oz n/a Pickwick Lake - Yellow Creek Arm 1/24/1987

Texas 7 lbs 14.88 oz 23" Lake Meredith 3/13/1998

New Hampshire 7 lbs 14.5 oz 23.25" Goose Pond 8/1/1970

Oregon 7 lbs 14 oz n/a Henry Hagg Lake 10/8/2000

Oklahoma 7 lbs 12 oz 18.25" Lake Texoma 3/22/2003

Connecticut 7 lbs 12 oz n/a Shenipsit Lake 1980

Iowa 7 lbs 12 oz 22.75" West Okoboji Lake Sep-90

Arizona 7 lbs 0.96 oz 22.75" Roosevelt Lake 3/18/1988

Illinois 6 lbs 7 oz n/a strip mine lake 3/26/1985

Montana 6 lbs 6.4 oz 21.25" Flathead River 4/16/2000

Montana 6 lbs 6.4 oz 21" Fort Peck Reservoir 9/27/2000

Kansas 6 lbs 6 oz 21.25" Milford Reservoir 4/26/1997

South Dakota 6 lbs 2 oz n/a Lewis & Clark Lake 10/3/1999

New Mexico 6 lbs 14 oz 22" Navajo Lake 5/15/1999

Vermont 6 lbs 12 oz n/a Lake Champlain 1978

Nebraska 6 lbs 1.5 oz n/a Merritt Lake 5/17/1978

North Dakota 5 lbs 9 oz n/a Lake Sakakawea 1999

Rhode Island 5 lbs 15 oz 22" N/A 0

Colorado 5 lbs 12 oz 21" Navajo Reservoir 1993

Nevada 5 lbs 1 oz 20" South Fork Reservoir 2000

Wyoming 5 lbs .94 oz 21" Flaming Gorge Reservoir 2003

Hawaii 4 lbs 2.24 oz n/a Manoa Stream 3/25/1997

Delaware 4 lbs 15 oz n/a Brandywine River 5/29/1989

Manitoba 0 lbs 22.06"" Tooth Lake 1998

[wormburner]

Congrats, that is a nice smallie! Doesn't it always seem whan you are by your self is when you'll seem to catch the bigger fish and no one is around to snap a picture of you holding what is one heck of a fish!

Once again, great catch!

[Ray Esboldt]

Sly,

You have to have FiberTech make a replica of that one. That fish is absolutely huge! I have had a couple from the lake you speak of push the 5lb. mark, but never break it. And, that's in 20 years of fishing it. You had 2 in one week. God must have owed you one.

To the rest of you licking your chops regarding this lake (which most of you know), I hate to burst your enthusiasm bubble, but I can gaurantee you will not replicate this feat this weekend. There are some smallmouth in this lake and there are some nice size ones. However, if you catch one a trip, feel fortunate. I know some spots where I can usually catch one, maybe two, and I know the lake as well as anyone. So, go for it if you're in need of a challenge. But, be prepared not to catch one. However, the endless parade of hammerhandle pike will fill your time between bites.

[LEECH21]

Holy cow that's HUGE!!!

Maybe think about getting repos of BOTH fish in like a coffee table type mount. That's crazy that you got two, that big, that close together. I also can't believe that it only weighed out at 5.4???? I think it should've been bigger than that!

Way to go....I'm jealous

[Dan Thiem]

Sly, let me say this.... WOW!!! .

Most people can only dream of catching a smallie of that size. Myself included.

Way to go dude, my hats off to you!

[Gus]

That is a heck of a fish! I recently had the pleasure of my fishing partner landing a 20x15 smallie. That was the first 20"er that my boat has seen and I was just in awe. I can't imagine seeing one bigger. Again, Congrats.

[Slyster]

What!? MY fish would be a state record in ONLY 5 states? That's dissapointing.

KIDDING!

Tx for that list SH.. very interesting. Yeah- I would bet I'll never get a smallmouth like that again... and certainly not two in a week. I am glad I got some pix so I can get a replica made at a later date.

[Mark Christianson]

When is it my turn to catch a biggun?

You hog Slyster!

I be jealous.

[Lunker]

Geez, both those smallies are longer than my biggest largemouths! Nice job. And even though you took them by yourself, you can tell that is a huge fish, especially the net picture! Nice job!