PB Smallmouth And Her Cousins

[everythingthatswims]

Yesterday, my friends and I drove a good bit to a new lake with the intention of getting away from the storm that was hammering our area with rain (rain isn't an issue, but when air temps are in the 50s with pouring rain, your hands don't work well).

 

The goal was to catch a mixed bag of bass, as the lake we fished is home to all three species. We didn't catch a ton of fish, but we had a few quality bites, and one that made the trip 100% worthwhile! Between the three of us, I would say we caught about 15 smallmouth, 6 or 7 largemouth, and one spotted bass. We caught the smallmouth on bluff walls with a ned rig, a couple out deep on a jig, and some on walking baits. The largemouth were caught on top, a jig, a spinnerbait, and one on a 6xd. The lake has very steep banks with some good wood cover, and the better fish were definitely on laydowns, even the brown fish! Most of our bites were on wood or brush up shallow, but we did catch a handful of fish out deep on brush piles, including the big Kentucky spot!

 

The highlight of the day was when I caught my new PB smallmouth, she measured in at 21" long, and weighed 4lbs 15oz. I have fished a lot of lakes that have big smallmouth, so to break my PB on a little lake in WV is pretty special. She blew up on a super spook jr and missed it, but luckily she came back a few seconds later! Once smallmouth get up around the 5lb mark, they are definitely in a league of their own. This is only the second smallmouth close to the 5lb mark that I have encountered, and I was just as shocked by this one as the last!

 

You know it's a big fish when it dwarfs a 3lber

 

Also, I found that this fish was also caught in April, it is a great example of how C&R can give the opportunity for more than one person to get a shot at the same high caliber fish!

[Tennessee Boy]

Very nice fish!  Congrats.  

[soflabasser]

Congratulations on your new personal best smallmouth bass.

[A-Jay]

By the looks & sounds of it - was a very decent trip.

And Big Congrats of that New PB.

Real Pretty & Healthy looking Smallies.

A-Jay

[NYWayfarer]

Grats! Awesome Smallies!

[Dwight Hottle]

Knockin on the 5lb door, congrats on the PB.

[TnRiver46]

Congrats! I also had a memorable 4 / 15 smash a rattle trap years ago. Not as cool as one hitting topwater, but close!

[WRB]

The smallie is only slightly bigger then your smile, healthy looking bass congratulations.

Tom

 

 

[Fairtax4me]

Congrats on the new PB! That's a heck of a bag for a slow day!

Those big smallies do have an entirely different mindset when you're trying to get them in the boat! My PB smallie is 4.7lb 21", caught it on a shakey head in the James river. It was pulling drag on a 13 conc. A with 17lb flouro! That was my jig rod setup for clear water and finesse jigs so the drag was down pretty tight! Waiting for the day when I hook into one that size with a spinning rod and 10lb braid... 

[lonnie g]

WOW! great fish , congrats on the p.b. deffinatly worth the trip. looked like you guys were having a blast.

[Bankbeater]

Nice going!

[TOXIC]

Good day in anybody's book.  Now you know why I got to Lake St Clair every year for the Smallmouth.  Can't be beat.  

[roadwarrior]