Smallies have ruined me

[Dwight Hottle]

CAdeltaLipRipper wrote

And just another comment here,it seems like from what ive seen on tv, the 3 to 4 pound smallies fight harder than the bigger 5 pound plus smallies.It seems like they have more energy

Not true based on my personal experience.

[Dave T.]

Dwight,

I bet if some non believers caught a smallie like the one in your avatar... they would have a entirely new respect for smallies!

[MNGeorge]

CAdeltaLipRipper wrote

And just another comment here,it seems like from what ive seen on tv, the 3 to 4 pound smallies fight harder than the bigger 5 pound plus smallies.It seems like they have more energy

Not true based on my personal experience.

X2

[CAdeltaLipRipper]

CAdeltaLipRipper wrote

And just another comment here,it seems like from what ive seen on tv, the 3 to 4 pound smallies fight harder than the bigger 5 pound plus smallies.It seems like they have more energy

Not true based on my personal experience.

Lol again, i dont know a whole lot about smallies,well atleast from the catching perspective.It just always seems like the 5 pounders i see them catch on tv don't do as much as the 3 or 4s

[River Rat316]

3s and 4s will be more acrobatic, but bigger fish have the ability to be acrobatic, and scream drag at the same time. I haven't done near as much lake fishing for smallies as river fishing, those river fish are something else, they are just flat out a mean fish, they will fight you until you put them back in the water, then they splash you on the way out.

[MNGeorge]

3s and 4s will be more acrobatic, but bigger fish have the ability to be acrobatic, and scream drag at the same time. I haven't done near as much lake fishing for smallies as river fishing, those river fish are something else, they are just flat out a mean fish, they will fight you until you put them back in the water, then they splash you on the way out.

Well said, Rat.  I couldn't agree more.

[MaineBassMan]

Nice looking bronze backs guys!!, Well the winter time blues are here. The boat and tackle are cleaned up and put way. Time to get some hunting in till spring.

Most of the waters I fish hold both smallmouth and largemouth. I love fishing for both of them and yes I feel that they fight differently. In my experience a largemouth might give you one or two decent jumps and then they just pretty much pull for the bottom. They are usually easier to net. Smallmouth on the other hand seem to jump and move a lot faster pulling side to side and for bottom and they never like going in the net. Just when you think you have them you put the net in the water and they go ballistic again.

River smallmouth are the ultimate fighters. I've caught a few lazy largemouth but I don't think I have ever caught a lazy smallmouth no matter the size.

I love both of them but if I had to pick just one to fish for the rest of my life it would definately be smallmouth hands down.

[roadwarrior]

CAdeltaLipRipper,

Why wouldn't you believe these guys that regularly

catch huge smallmouth? Especially since you haven't

caught many and don't really target the species.

I don't understand your point.

[J Francho]

The point is, he knows what he knows from TV, and a few fish he's caught.  Obviously, that's carries more clout than decades of fishing experience.  Its a disturbing trend, really.  I mean, why go out and learn from reality, when the internet is so fast and easy?

Obviously, I'm being facetious.  When guys like Dwight, Kent, myself and others post about our experiences, you young guys might want to listen.  I know I wouldn't have been able to catch ANY of the big fish I've caught without listening to other, more experienced anglers.  There's nothing wrong with not being an expert.

[Dave T.]

those river fish are something else, they are just flat out a mean fish, they will fight you until you put them back in the water, then they splash you on the way out.

I couldn't agree more!

[bankerbasser]

I'm afraid they're in the process of ruining me also !  I haven't caught that many, but man are they fun !  They are the most beautiful fish I've ever caught, not to mention how mean they are.  I am focusing on catching a big one (6 lbs or better !) at Pickwick for the forseeable future.

[Crankenstein_MI]

I love smallies as well.  Living in Michigan is the greatest spot for a smallie addict.  You are not far from world class smallmouth waters from just about anywhere in the state.  I know st.clair and erie get all the press, but we have a lot of other waters that are just as good: Saginaw Bay and its tribs, Little bay de noc, East and West Traverse Bay, St.Clair River, Lake Huron, Grand River, Elk lake, Burt Lake, Torch Lake, Leelenau lake, etc etc etc.

[BzWildman81]

I live near Lake Guntersville and will see 50 plus boats going down as I go up. I know that I can catch a 20+ lb bag of largemouth and pleny of 4-5 lbers. But I would rather go up river and look for smallies any day.

[KWM]

I have only caught one Smallie since I started fishing...I grew up by lakes that stocked LMB and crappies.  Last fall I got stationed in DC and this summer, I am going to the Potomac to target the smallies, I don't have a boat, but I got chest waders.  Can't wait to the fight to begin.

[John N]

Brown fish are highly addictive 

[Jeff H]

We have a sportsmans publication here in MN where one of the regular columnists referred to smallmouth as "invasive specie" and P'd and moaned about how they were taking over his walleye spots on the lake where he has his cabin.  I wish I'd saved it and could post it for you guys to read now.  I think it was titled, "The only good bass is....."  He didn't have much good to say about them.  I was shocked (and PO'd of course) to read something like this, it was pretty bad.  I've meant to write in and call him out but forgot about it until now.