“I finally got her back”

Just thought i would share some photo’s of the replica of my 23 1/2″ Smallie that I caught on Mille Lacs this summer. I think she turned out great and is the first replica I have ever had made. She now resides in my 4 year old son’s room because the wife won’t allow her to protect any other room in the house I emailed Gary the photo’s and asked him to post them with this thread due to the fact that I am inept when it comes to posting these damn things. One day I might learn. Love2Fish.

I just heard from Gary and he should have the photo’s up within the hour. John

Here is the first one!
NICE FISH!!!!!

#2!

#3!!!

That is a dam nice smallie!!!!!!! They don’t get much bigger than that around here!!!!!

Well done!
What is the story behind her?

Gary- I was up on Mille Lacs with a buddy and we fished walleyes for about 5 hours and did real well with a nice limit of eaters in the box. We decided to head in and on the way to the Whaukon landing we decided to throw some shad raps along a reef for a while. After 10 casts or so I threw to a rock bouy with a giant boulder under her when WHAM, fish on. After a great fight I landed my personal best smallie at 22″ after a few photos she was off to be caught again. My very next cast was to the exact spot that the 22″er came from when WHAM, the 23 1/2 incher came to the boat reluctantly and after quite a battle. We had no idea what our state record smallie weighed and of course thought we could be close. After a little thought we measured her at 23 1/2 inches long and 23″ around. I then decided to release her to be caught again another day. I have to admit I was shaking all the way in to the landing. It was a day of fishing I will never forget. Thanks again Gary. John

Holy Crap! That’s one big smallie.

Wow…what a story!! Awesome fish, and release!!

Nice fish!

Ok Im sorry but a fish like that should not be hidden away where people cant see it! Your need to roll up your sleeves put your pants back on and let the wife know who is the boss!

P.S. Good luck with that!

TheguN- I hear you. Every once in a while I move her around until the wife notices her. My record is 3 days in the family room. She is really gonna be bummed when I have 2 or 3 more made. Thanks for the comment. John

Nice fish!!!!!

nice 23.5…thats a good smallie…congrats

Who did the mount. It looks great. I am thinking about getting a replica from a few years ago. Sometime I’ll post that pic. Not only is your fish big but also great colors. Congrats!

Great fish.
Mille Lacs is quite a lake. Go out and catch your limit of Walleyes, and just for the heck of it, on the way in catch a monster smallie.Sweet

Nice!!

Did you say it had a 23″ GIRTH?

Wow! Beautiful fish! I love the word “replica”! Thank you for puting her back.

REAL nice looking mount. Congrats!

Nice fish….did you get any pictures of her before tossing her back? If you did I’d like to see the real thing! Congrats again!

WOW! I would have been ginning over the 22 and then for the next cast to be a 23.5 I think I would have fallen over. Great fish. Glad to see you let her go. Congrats

SWEET!!!

John,
Great 2 fish, and Great story, and nice mount.
Very memorial day.
Jack..

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did you get any pictures of her before tossing her back? If you did I’d like to see the real thing!

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You can view the story and pictures Here

Ron

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Every once in a while I move her around until the wife notices her

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There’s the problem. You need to learn to move her around,(the wife) then you can put the fish where you want. Practice with something simple at first. Find a plant in the house that is in the perfect location and tell her how great it looks there. Then move to something else that you are plenty confident is in a good location. You will see after a few hits like this that she will be moving things around which means you are now moving her around. When you get to this point, post up. I will give you the next step.
Soon that beauty fish will be in your sight line more that you think.

I have to agree, stick to your guns..
We moved into the new house this summer, first nail into the wall was for my walleye mount. She thinks that it would look better somewhere else, I just laugh. I told her that the only time it is going to be moved is when I put up the 40+ inch flat screen then I am going to move her painting and putting it up there. It is the only thing in the house or yard that I have any say about, atleast I have it where I want it.

Ron

Frame up a centerfold and give her a choice. Remind her marriage is a 50 / 50 proposition.