“I finally got her back”

  • love2fish
    Shoreview, Grand Rapids, MN
    Posts: 1024
    January 3, 2007 at 6:09 pm #1252810

    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.

    love2fish
    Shoreview, Grand Rapids, MN
    Posts: 1024
    January 3, 2007 at 6:22 pm #517893

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

    gary_wellman
    South Metro
    Posts: 6057
    January 3, 2007 at 6:32 pm #517897

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

    gary_wellman
    South Metro
    Posts: 6057
    January 3, 2007 at 6:40 pm #517905

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

    Well done!
    What is the story behind her?

    love2fish
    Shoreview, Grand Rapids, MN
    Posts: 1024
    January 3, 2007 at 6:50 pm #517912

    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

    1hawghunter
    Grand Rapids, MN
    Posts: 699
    January 3, 2007 at 6:51 pm #517914

    Holy Crap! That’s one big smallie.

    luke_haugland
    Iowa City, Iowa
    Posts: 3037
    January 3, 2007 at 7:04 pm #517923

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

    thegun
    mn
    Posts: 1009
    January 3, 2007 at 7:09 pm #517929

    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!

    love2fish
    Shoreview, Grand Rapids, MN
    Posts: 1024
    January 3, 2007 at 7:11 pm #517933

    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

    rvrat
    st cloud,mn
    Posts: 1571
    January 3, 2007 at 7:22 pm #517942

    nice 23.5…thats a good smallie…congrats

    outdoors4life
    Stillwater, MN
    Posts: 1500
    January 3, 2007 at 7:30 pm #517951

    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!

    jdbruesewitz
    Isle, MN
    Posts: 467
    January 3, 2007 at 7:38 pm #517958

    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

    john23
    St. Paul, MN
    Posts: 2578
    January 3, 2007 at 8:46 pm #518014

    Did you say it had a 23″ GIRTH?

    wade_kuehl
    Northwest Iowa
    Posts: 6167
    January 3, 2007 at 8:52 pm #518017

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

    Brian Robinson
    central Neb
    Posts: 3914
    January 3, 2007 at 9:18 pm #518033

    REAL nice looking mount. Congrats!

    mpearson
    Chippewa Falls, WI
    Posts: 4338
    January 3, 2007 at 10:06 pm #518067

    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!

    muskygator
    Foley MN
    Posts: 71
    January 3, 2007 at 11:04 pm #518100

    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

    Jack Naylor
    Apple Valley, MN
    Posts: 5668
    January 3, 2007 at 11:55 pm #518132

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

    sliderfishn
    Blaine, MN
    Posts: 5432
    January 4, 2007 at 12:31 am #518145

    Quote:

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


    You can view the story and pictures Here

    Ron

    Doug Ertl
    St Cloud, MN
    Posts: 957
    January 4, 2007 at 1:13 am #518162

    Quote:

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

    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.

    sliderfishn
    Blaine, MN
    Posts: 5432
    January 4, 2007 at 1:24 am #518166

    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

    Brian Hoffies
    Land of 10,000 taxes, potholes & the politically correct.
    Posts: 6843
    January 4, 2007 at 5:58 am #518300

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

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