19" Smallmouth Bass Pic

[C._Weed]

Hey,

This is my first 'big' sized smallmouth bass. I thought it was Largemouth when I was fighting it, but when I held it, the mouth was very small compared to a largemouth, and it had that tiger scale pattern on its side/back in certain light. I caught it on a smoke blue black pepper salt impregnated worm. I found the worm on the shore washed up a few days ago, I wasn't catching anything at all, then I put this worm on and caught a few nice fish these past days in this same spot with this worm. The worm I actually ripped in half, it was only 3 inches long. This bass I caught on my new Avid 7ft Medium Light rod on 6lb line. He fought one of the hardest fights of any bass I ever caught. The 7ft pole was good to keep him up higher out of all the jagged rocks, so he didn't cut my line. The medium-light rod was very sensitive. He stayed deep and took my drag out many times, the line on my pole is done for, all twisty and frayed. Took about 5mins to get him in, but I had him hooked good in the top jaw bone when I set the hook.  I was near the end of the line anyhow. I caught him/her off a shore line where it is rocky, and the water drops off and gets deep. Probably over 6ft deep, maybe to 10-14feet deep out there with rock ledges. I casted out pretty far. I actually had the worm sitting on the bottom, it was texas rigged. I decided to start fishing deeper, since the smallies I were catching were really small, sure enough I let it go to the bottom of the 'school' like Doug Hannon said once on this forum. Thanks Doug for the tip!

From the tip of the tail, to the tip of the bottom jaw it measured 19" with the measure tape straightened. IN pic the tape is not straight. It was bigger looking in person. The day is overcast, mid 70's, and slight rain here and there. In PA. I also caught a few smallmouth on my favorite Senkos, 4inch Red/Black shad color.

These smallmouths are aggressive!

[bass109]

nice smallmouth, never that species of bass before. 8-) I know i am missing out alot.

[C._Weed]

thanks.

yeah these guys fight so much harder than largemouth, in my instance anyway.  I would describe it as an aggressive fight, lots of line and forced to use the drag alot.

btw, I let the fish go.

[bpm2000]

thats a beauty!

[roadwarrior]

Very nice.

Congratulations!   8-)

[dgquail]

WOW

[GrandSlamBasser87]

Nuttin' like a nice smalllie, they are a SOLID fish that just won't give up!!!  Congrats on a nice fish!

[armesjr]

That is a nice smallie.  Pound for pound they fight much harder than largemouth bass.

[C._Weed]

thanks guys.  

[bassbob08]

nice fish.

[eastkybass]

Congrats on a nice fish.

[Bizzo]

Very nice fish. I have been catching a lot of smallies lately and I still am amazed at how hard they fight. I had about a 5 pounder last night that wanted to rip my arm off. My left arm was a limp noodle when I finally got him in! There is nothing like hooking into a decent smallie and hearing your line go reeeeeeeeeeee!