Monster Fall Smallies!!

  • arklite881south
    Posts: 5660
    October 9, 2011 at 10:31 pm #1291545

    Though I’ll admit focus from our guide service often is centered on Fall’s Monster Walleye, Pike and Crappie action; Rainy Lake Smallmouth deserve due respect. We’ll post this pic all by it’s lonesome.

    Mammoth sized Smallmouth can be caught as the water temps drop on Rainy Lake. Take a look at this Rainy Lake Freak we CPR’D on today’s trip. Although my batteries blanked on my digital weigh scale, we all estimated this Fall pig Smallie very tight to the 6lb mark. The girth really isn’t given justice with this photo as she appeared to be simply stuffed with ciscoes. 2 seasoned smallmouth fisherman with me today agreed it was the biggest “Barred” football with fins they’ve ever had the pleasure of laying eyes upon.

    mossydan
    Cedar Rapids, Iowa
    Posts: 7727
    October 9, 2011 at 10:38 pm #1000248

    Thats the nicest smallie I’ve ever seen, theres bigger ones but this is the nicest, bar none, very nice fish!

    arklite881south
    Posts: 5660
    October 9, 2011 at 11:10 pm #1000254

    Quote:

    Thats the nicest smallie I’ve ever seen, theres bigger ones but this is the nicest, bar none, very nice fish!

    Thanks Mossydan. This is certainly NOT the longest fish we’ve measured taping a tight 20 inches, but without a doubt the heaviest fish. The fish was really out of balance considering girth vs. overall length. Over my career I’ve been fortunate enough to measure a 22,22 1/4 and my personal longest at 22 1/2 inches that I assure you wouldn’t touch the weight class of this “FREAKY” Fall Pig. Very special fish released to hopefully someday grow into Minnesota’s next State record Smallmouth Bass!! Over the years I can say I’ve stumbled across a pretty impressive smallmouth pattern during late fall. LORD knows I need something else to clutter my mind here in October!!

    Here’s a couple other shots. Looking back I sure wish I would have taken a close up belly shot of this fish now looking back over the pics. Oh Well….Important thing is as she swam away she gave me a face full of the Cool Rainy Lake water, and all of us one heck of a thrill today!!

    She simply Pasted my H20 Precision Jig and Shiner as I set my feet and slammed the barbs into her upper lip. She immediately started to rise up the water column as I looked at my customer and said “She’s a BIG SMALLIE BUD!!” She looked as though she wanted to jump, but was just too darn fat……Poor Girl. Hope she isn’t being picked on at school. We saw her shoulders rip across the service of the water quite a long ways away from our boat. She came off a rock shoal in a very angry fashion before digging her heels in boatside for several minutes before we netted her in our Frabill Conservation Series net. We snapped a few quick pics and sent her back home!!

    kruger
    Metro,mn
    Posts: 593
    October 10, 2011 at 12:11 am #1000271

    Sounds like a real tough day at work

    mossydan
    Cedar Rapids, Iowa
    Posts: 7727
    October 10, 2011 at 12:39 am #1000277

    The picture of you holding it sideways does it justice, what a hog! Its also the nicest picture to show its color too. All it takes is one that size to impress somebody, very nice fish Chris. I wish I had the time to make a trip right now, even for 2 days, I don’t think one would be enough. This fish is what smallie fishing is all about. Congradulations

    arklite881south
    Posts: 5660
    October 10, 2011 at 12:59 am #1000281

    Quote:

    Sounds like a real tough day at work

    Yes….But somebody’s got to do it.

    arklite881south
    Posts: 5660
    October 10, 2011 at 1:00 am #1000282

    Quote:

    The picture of you holding it sideways does it justice, what a hog! Its also the nicest picture to show its color too. All it takes is one that size to impress somebody, very nice fish Chris. I wish I had the time to make a trip right now, even for 2 days, I don’t think one would be enough. This fish is what smallie fishing is all about. Congradulations

    swlund
    Cuba City, WI
    Posts: 395
    October 10, 2011 at 12:53 pm #1000350

    That is 1 beautiful fish Chris.Perfect coloring and size to match. My biggest was 20 3/4 5.5 lbs. from Green Bay. You have the worst dilemma. Giant eyes, Pig smallies,Monster pike, or Slabs. How do you decide. Put a sign on the wall and throw a dart?

    arklite881south
    Posts: 5660
    October 10, 2011 at 1:11 pm #1000361

    Quote:

    That is 1 beautiful fish Chris.Perfect coloring and size to match. My biggest was 20 3/4 5.5 lbs. from Green Bay. You have the worst dilemma. Giant eyes, Pig smallies,Monster pike, or Slabs. How do you decide. Put a sign on the wall and throw a dart?

    It truly is a tough choice I’ll admit, but one we all wish to have to make each morning. To make matters worse I watched my young brit point a big ruffed grouse in our backyard a few minutes agao. She looked back over her shoulder with her front leg locked up tight to her body as if to say “HEY PAL……YOU READY YET!!” I must be maturing as I simply sipped another shot of Coffee while walking in to flush our backyard feathered friend.

    BTW awesome Smallmouth there in Green Bay!! I hate to admit it as a “WALLEYE GUY” but Smallmouth may very well start to receive more attention from me in the coming years. These fish truly are special and deserve a lot of respect. That smallmouth is one I’m personally very proud of. I can’t say for sure what this particular Smallie weighed, but it truly was of mammoth proportions and my 6’9 NRX was doubled over nearly to the cork. That my friend is worth the price of admission.

    Stay thirsty my friends

    Jack Naylor
    Apple Valley, MN
    Posts: 5668
    October 29, 2011 at 3:33 am #1005039

    Chris,
    Terrific Smallie, Congrats ma’ man, Super Tanker.
    Check out a few of my posts on the Mille Lacs forum, I’ve been getting some tanks there too (22″er, my first; and another 21″). They sure are Impressive.

    Jack

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