Show your first Smallie of 2023!

[Blue Raider Bob]

Slow bite on the Cumberland Sunday. Water temps 46 deg. Tossed my new Mega Bass 110 JR. that Santa brought me and came up empty. Finally went to the Zman TicklrZ and caught my first Smallie of 2023. Then caught a nice one four fish later. 19-3/4 ".  Ended with fourteen mixed bag of Spots and Smallies.

 

Monday was even slower on the Tennessee River. Same water temps but much slower bite. Tried the jerkbait again but no takers. Went to the Ned and caught eight. Did see a couple of Eagles standing watch over a Cormorant rookery.

 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Great job Bob, I'd say 14 is a heck of day, lots of beautiful fish as well.

 

Keeping chunking that 110Jr....."If you chunk it, they will come" ?

[Blue Raider Bob]

On 1/3/2023 at 10:26 AM, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Great job Bob, I'd say 14 is a heck of day, lots of beautiful fish as well.

 

Keeping chunking that 110Jr....."If you chunk it, they will come" ?

Thanks Alex but it was a really slow bite. Usually an afternoon on the Cumberland will get at least thirty. A good day will be fifty plus. But also you have to remember that these are not big fish but for sheer numbers they are a blast with the occasional big fish thrown in.

[AlabamaSpothunter]

2 minutes ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

Thanks Alex but it was a really slow bite. Usually an afternoon on the Cumberland will get at least thirty. A good day will be fifty plus. But also you have to remember that these are not big fish but for sheer numbers they are a blast with the occasional big fish thrown in.

50 small ones, 1 big one, it's an epic party either way ?

[Blue Raider Bob]

Just now, AlabamaSpothunter said:

50 small ones, 1 big one, it's an epic party either way ?

Very true! Can't wait to go again. Best day for numbers last year was 75 on the Cumberland but big fish was only 17". It has truly spoiled me from lake fishing where I don't catch many. Going to try the Cumberland again Sunday if the weather allows. I just slow drift down the river tossing a 1/16th oz Ned rig. Get hung up alot but the fast action makes it worth it. There is also the possibility of catching White Bass, hybrids, and Rockfish in the Cumberland, so its always fun! 

[TOXIC]

Unless I get lucky on the Rappahonock this spring, my first smallie will more than likely come in May on Lake St Clair.?

[Susky River Rat]

I’ll keep your post going! I caught this one 1/1/2023. Super tough day 

[PaulVE64]

Season for bass is closed.

[TnRiver46]

This was my first one January 2nd

followed next cast by this one 

[Swamp Girl]

On 1/3/2023 at 9:38 AM, Blue Raider Bob said:

Slow bite on the Cumberland Sunday. Water temps 46 deg. Tossed my new Mega Bass 110 JR. that Santa brought me and came up empty. Finally went to the Zman TicklrZ and caught my first Smallie of 2023. Then caught a nice one four fish later. 19-3/4 ".  Ended with fourteen mixed bag of Spots and Smallies.

 

Monday was even slower on the Tennessee River. Same water temps but much slower bite. Tried the jerkbait again but no takers. Went to the Ned and caught eight. Did see a couple of Eagles standing watch over a Cormorant rookery.

 

 

Bob!!!!

[PaulVE64]

12 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

This was my first one January 2nd

followed next cast by this one 

First I want to say Congratulations. Secondly I'm jealous.

 

[TnRiver46]

12 minutes ago, PaulVE64 said:

First I want to say Congratulations. Secondly I'm jealous.

 

Hahaha!! You’ll be slayin em bigger than that after the thaw 

[Blue Raider Bob]

Another very slow bite on the Cumberland. This is my fourth smallie of the year but it was so fat it deserved a picture. I think it ate somebody's life jacket!

Water temps 46 deg. Air temp-much colder. Fingers froze so I went home after three fish. Big fish was only 14" I took this sorry, headless picture because my fingers were too cold to press the button at the right time.

[SWVA]

First if the year, no size but always happy to catch that first one.

 

 

 

 

 

[Steveo-1969]

 

First smallie of the year came 2 months earlier than usual. I’ll take it!!

[drakesndrum]

First pic worthy fish from yesterday, river water temp 41.4.  Dragging a fluke on the bottom in about 8' of water.  90min drive to that spot, worth it every time.

[TnRiver46]

16 minutes ago, drakesndrum said:

First pic worthy fish from yesterday, river water temp 41.4.  Dragging a fluke on the bottom in about 8' of water.  90min drive to that spot, worth it every time.

Yes sir 

[Munkin]

January 1st so I am off to a good start this year. Only caught 3 but it was a good day considering the circumstances.

 

Allen

 

[Fishlegs]

My first smallmouth of 2023. 3 lb 2oz on my lunch break today. My first smallmouth of the year is usually a dink so maybe this is a sign of good things to come for this year.

 

[roadwarrior]

 

                                           

                            

[C4Dave]

First fish of the year. Fortunately it was a 3.0 lb SM!

[roadwarrior]

                                          

                                            

[Jeff Zurawski]

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There's no pic here because I haven't caught a single one yet this year.  Water was 32.5 yesterday morning.  Tomorrow's gonna be a high of 30 with NW wind to 25.  If this trend don't turn around and I don't feel a smallie thumpin my jig pretty soon, I might blow a 50-amp fuse (like Mick Jagger sang in "You Always Get What You Want"). 

 

I'm a tad bit jealous of all you all who have already been out and gettin some this year.  Keep up the good work fellers!

[Bdnoble84]

[Jeff Zurawski]

I've gotten a few floats in and have been catching some fish since my pitiful March 13 post on this thread.  Dug out the camera for this nice 19"er caught drifting a fluke near bottom on a light jig head through a current seam on an inside bend in the River.  @Jessco87 had his scale along and weighed it a 3.5lbs.