7 lb Northern Michigan Smallmouth Bass ~

[A-Jay]

This one recently showed up in the reports thread.

But it's such a special and rare fish, I feel like she deserves her own thread.

A separate video account seems appropriate as well.

Plus, I will probably never see another one bigger.

 

  When she struck my jerkbait and I felt her weight, I was really hoping she was a brown bass

and not one of the many other plus sized species that inhabit these lakes.

Despite not knowing for sure, I really took my time bringing her to the boat.

Was especially hard not to get over excited but I managed to keep my cool.

Once she was on deck, I was pretty pumped.

Be a while before I forget this one.

 

Fish Hard

A-Jay

 

[GaryH]

Great job Andy…congrats 👏👏👏👏👏👏

[txchaser]

Nice fish!

[gim]

Maybe it’ll be an 8 pounder next spring.

[A-Jay]

8 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Maybe it’ll be an 8 pounder next spring.

I like the way you think Sir ~

I caught my PB in Sept - 

Wouldn't that be something ?

A-Jay

[AlabamaSpothunter]

1 minute ago, gimruis said:

Maybe it’ll be an 8 pounder next spring.

I don't doubt it, I was just listening to a podcast discussing the fact that SMs, and SM bags seem to be getting bigger and bigger.  

 

I think this is supported by evidence as well.   B/t the Gobys and Zebra Mussels, along with in some years, a month longer growing season because of increased temps, it all adds up to growing bigger fish.

 

Not sure if Andy is fishing a place that has those things though.

 

Either way, incredible catch and fish, congrats!  

[gim]

1 minute ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Not sure if Andy is fishing a place that has those things though.

Me neither. Menderchuck isn’t on the map and I’m sure that’s by design.

 

I assume he’s primarily fishing Great Lakes or connected tributaries though, so there should be gobies.

[A-Jay]

13 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

I think this is supported by evidence as well.   B/t the Gobys and Zebra Mussels, along with in some years, a month longer growing season because of increased temps, it all adds up to growing bigger fish.

Not sure if Andy is fishing a place that has those things though.

 

 

9 minutes ago, gimruis said:

I assume he’s primarily fishing Great Lakes connected tributaries though, so there should be gobies.

Thanks - 

Yes and Yes and Yes.

A-Jay

[Big-Bass]

Such a great fish!  Congratulations!

[Columbia Craw]

Happy for you Andy!!!

[AlabamaSpothunter]

1 hour ago, gimruis said:

Me neither. Menderchuck isn’t on the map and I’m sure that’s by design.

 

I assume he’s primarily fishing Great Lakes or connected tributaries though, so there should be gobies.

Shush, I was hoping he would slip up and leak the coordinates to Menderchuck......he'd have fools from Alabama making the pilgrimage up there for SMs like he catches 🤣

[A-Jay]

20 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Shush, I was hoping he would slip up and leak the coordinates to Menderchuck......he'd have fools from Alabama making the pilgrimage up there for SMs like he catches 🤣

I keep posting up the lake.

Don't know what else I can do ?

😎

A-Jay

[T-Billy]

5 hours ago, A-Jay said:

I caught my PB in Sept - 

Same here, plus several other big girls of both the green and brown varieties . I don't know what triggers it, but there's a window in Sept when the sows come shallow.

[Bird]

That's a tank !!!

Congrats 

[Dwight Hottle]

Sevens are really special especially when you understand the countless hours & preparation it takes to achieve them. 

[Swamp Girl]

I'm out of reactions again, but she's a beauty, Andy. The stuff of dreams for 99.9% of us, but for you, it's reality due to your savvy and tenacity. 

[TOXIC]

With all that you have been through lately, it couldn’t happen to a better guy! Congrats! 👍🏻👏🏻

[roadwarrior]

 

 

                                                           

[Skunkmaster-k]

Holy guacamole , I didn’t know they could get that big. Is that your personal best ? In the video you said it was close . 

[A-Jay]

10 minutes ago, Skunkmaster-k said:

Holy guacamole , I didn’t know they could get that big. Is that your personal best ? In the video you said it was close . 

MI state record is 9 plus pound, close to ten I think.

My PB is not that - it's 7.29 lbs 

Got that on video as well.

A-Jay

[casts_by_fly]

Yeah, that’s a special fish. That’s better than a 10 lb largemouth caught anywhere. Well done. 

[pdxfisher]

Wow! That is incredible!! I got a 7 today to but that was inches

[Deephaven]

Awesome fish!!!

[12poundbass]

On 6/6/2024 at 11:01 PM, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Shush, I was hoping he would slip up and leak the coordinates to Menderchuck......he'd have fools from Alabama making the pilgrimage up there for SMs like he catches 🤣

I tried posting the coordinates to lake Menderchuck before. I won’t be making that mistake again. Let’s just say @A-Jay still has connections to Boston.

 

[Wildbillb]

Nice fish.