Hungry Smallies

I had a great day on the river.  There were some serious fights put up today on the river.  I moved away from my Shimano Sahara spinning reel, to the Quantum Energy baitcaster just to get the fish in faster today, and it was the right move.  I think I spooked less fish. I had a few moments where I thought I was going to break 20 inches, but I didn't.  But, I did catch some tanks!  I caught at least 10 fish that were 3 lbs or more!  These fish were thick and strong.  I guess I would like to say that this catch was all skill, but when smallies are hungry they just bite about anything!

Sunday Smallies!

It was a fun afternoon.  I actually was happy with my catch today.  The belly on the 19 1/8 incher was ridiculous!

Big Belly!

18 plus

Fat 19 1/8

Do the big ones always get away?

18 incher

Again, the biggest bass got away...shoulders, and at least 19 inches... Unbelievable!  Well, keeps me going back I guess.  The thing that I don't understand is.  Why don't the smaller ones get away?

Fighter

Eating minnows?

There is no left eye.

Upper lip must have been damaged.

Tiger Muskie!

This is a pretty Tiger Muskie, and my first.  Hit on a perch bait.

Smallmouth feeding on crayfish!

2 

17 1/2

17 1/2, 2.79 lb, crayfish sticking out of stomoach!

I caught 5 smallies over 17 inches, but I had one that had to be 19 inches get off.  I have been using braided line, and a medium heavy rod, because these fish fight like mad!  I screwed up by not playing the fish more, and thinking that I could just handle another one with my heavy gear.  When I had it close enough to land, it took off between my legs and dislodged the hook.  Strange thing is, I have had the same thing happen before.  

There is a bleeding gash on the lower jaw with a crayfish pincher lodged next to it. Hungry for crustaceans?

Another lean one just over 17

17 inch fatty, 2.68 lb

River Smallies, Orange stuff?

17 inch bruiser

Orange stuff around the mouth?

Pretty Night 

More orange stuff around the mouth...

18 1/2 incher fought like mad!

 I love fishing smallies in the fall!  Unfortunately, this doesn't help me to cull in the bass derby, because the 18 1/2 incher was a lean machine.  Seriously, this beast bent my medium heavy rod in half, and had me wondering if I had a pike or muskie on.  I was using twenty pound braid, and my Shimano reel was screaming!  The 17 incher was much fatter, and I had to cut my Gamakatsu hook off to avoid injuring this pretty fish.  I still think I could cull a largemouth with a big smallmouth this fall.  But the river fish are stronger, than they are fat.  Last fall I caught a 20 incher, but I am still looking for a river smallie that is over 5!

12 inch worm gets it done!

Tank!

This 4.9 pound bass nailed it in the trees.  It was my first time fishing the 12 inch culprit worm texas-rigged, and it did the job. It had a huge girth!

This one ate it too!

I had to pull this one out of the sticks, and then re-tie the 17lb flourocarbon.