How long?

…til the pain goes away?

Been in pursuit of catching a legitimate 6 pound smallmouth for years now. Have caught 10+ 5 lbs or better but no 6. Have had one of my best springs in terms of numbers and average size but nothing over 19 inches (not that I’m complaining).

Loaded up on my secret lure from John at Dick’s Sporting Goods in Minnetonka and headed out this morning. Second cast – Kapow! Took it deep and just stayed down. After 2 minutes I don’t think I had moved the fish 2 feet. Uncharacteristic for a smallmouth, more like a big walleye. Then he started moving back and forth, got him up to 10 feet away from the boat … reached for the net. Unbuttoned…

Whale tail, splash, gone. I know…everything looks bigger in the water. I’m not going to say how big I thought he was.

Was an easy PB, was it 6? Dam ~

Try the west end of Lake Erie it’s loaded with 6 and 6+ pounders. Also several of NY Finger lakes regularly produce SMBass of this size. 22+” not at all usual.

Green Bay in the fall or spring it is very possible to catch a 6 lb. or bigger. Have seen several friends catch just not me yet.

Mille Lacs is probably a more realistic destination for me next… this Fall.

x2 on Mille Lacs. If you spend enough time there you will top 6lbs in short order. My pb was from there a few years ago 21.5″ 6.25 lbs. That day we probably had 10 over 5 lbs.

Try the Hayward area lakes as well. There are some absolute toad smallmouth in Round, LCO, and Grindstone lake. The fish in the picture is a few ounces shy of 6 pounds and went 21.5″

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That is a good area too. We had a family cabin for 27 years on Whitefish (connected by channel to LCO). There were some big ones in there but due to the clear water were many times in such deep water they would die once to the surface. Spring was the exception in shallower waters, and many 4-5 pounders.

Still looking for that elusive legitimate 6 pounder! Many close, but I’m not quite there. Will be on Mille Lacs in Ssept, we’ll see…

BigWerm wrote:

x2 on Mille Lacs. If you spend enough time there you will top 6lbs in short order. My pb was from there a few years ago 21.5″ 6.25 lbs. That day we probably had 10 over 5 lbs.

Bigwerm, assuming you caught the 6.25 pre-spawn? I know the big girls can really pack on the weight then. My best on Mille Lacs was 21 1/8 and weighed in at 4-12…but then again that was August and they are a skinnier fish that time of year.

Lake Sharpe on the Missouri River system in SD is a hidden gem for smallmouth!