What’s Your Biggest Fish of the Past Year

I like Beaver’s idea for a Grand Champion this year but I’m curious to see what your biggest fish was during the past year and where you caught it. Any species or location will do. I remember James caught that monster….. was it a buffalo… earlier this year.

My biggest walleye of the year was 27.5″ caught in Pool 3 the day of the FTR Get Together. (I would have liked to fish in the tournament but I could only fish the morning)

This year my biggest bass was 19.5 inches and weighed 4.9 pounds, biggest nothern was 34 inches. Both of those two fish were caught on pool 10 by Prairie Du Chien. My biggest walleye was 21 inches caught on Lake Wisconsin.

Biggest bass, smallie or largemouth, is the one I’m holding in the picture to the left. Hougie made it my post picture so you all wouldn’t have to see that face and scare the kiddies! LOL! It was 20.5″, 5lb. 5oz! A 23 1/2″ walleye (Thanks James!), a 32″ pike, a 30″ muskie, 15″ yellow perch, and 5 crappies between 14 and 14 1/2″ (all the same day). No cats, one sheepy about 7lbs, and a carp about the same size. This year’s goal? None. Just gonna fish with a smile and see what happens!

My biggest was also my lifetime biggest walleye. 29.75″. Also caught a 22″ sheepie. My only goal for the new year is to fish as much or more as last year, and hopefully make the Get Together again this year!

Since I don’t tape many fish, I’ll put ‘est’ next to the ones that are guesses:

Northern: 33 inches, Channel cat: 27 inches (est), Carp: 25 inches (est), SMB: 24 inches, LMB: 19 inches, ‘Eye: 21 inches, Yellow perch: 15 inches (est), Crappie: 11 inches (est), Sheep: 15 inches (est).

The only fish that weren’t caught on the interior rivers of NE Iowa were the walleye and the perch, which came from Leech.

Just bought a cheapie digital camera at Office Max for $25. Not very good resolution, but I’m guessing that it will take fine pictures of the next FTR grand champion.

I suppose that means I’ll have to take up trout fishing… my wife will be thrilled.

Since it’s bound to come up: Is any legal method of take acceptable?

Most fun was a 33″ northern, also a 19″ smallie, 24″ walleye. Does my lady count? She got a 15 1/2″ crappie. Would have won the Minnetonka Crappie contest. Except she caught it at a different lake. Oh, well.

It wasn’t my idea, it was Steve Cady’s idea over at FTL. Give him the credit for this cool idea.

Beav

Mille Lacs:

30″ eye

36″ pike

14″ perch

Mighty Miss:

48″ sturgeon, with James of course.

39″ Tiger Musky

38″ Pike

25″ Walleye

19″ Smallie

Walleye 24″

Catfish 38″

Both on Pool 2 on an light rod early spring high water on 6 lb test.

Don’t want to sound like a big shot but in July I had the pleasure of 6 days in Northern Saskatchewan, Wollaston Lake, Minor Bay Lodge: 30 Northerns over 36″ the largest was 51″ which came after a 46″. The estimated total weight for these fish was over 600 lbs. (Lenght cubed divided by 3500 = lbs.)

Best on the river was a 27″ walleye — with James of course.

Best total day of fishing was the FTR Get Together.

Hook a Kid on Fishing and you have a partner for life.

28″ walleye caught above Redwing on Pool 4

45″ sturgeon caught on the Rainy River

I cought my personel best channel cat that was 22 pds….and my persnnel best walleye that was 28.5 inch and the biggest sheep head and bass I have ever cought …. the last two wee by accident……. so it has been a banner year for me…. that and getting to meet and fish with yall on the board …. I have and continue to learn all the time……. .

19.5″ 4.75 lb. smallie on Flambeau Flowage

63″ 50 lb plus barracuda Carribean Sea.

Rough year here, biggest eye was 23″. Biggest smallie 19″. Biggest carp — heck if I know, I’m not going to tape or weigh that thing, but it was BIG.

First ever muskie, an estimated 43″, but botched the landing so there’s no first ever muskie yet.

I thought I’d save all those big fish for next year.

jeeez mavzer… I saw you land that eye… thought it was 29.5?…… REAL nice fish, anyway……

I did not have much of a fishing year….. but when I did get out it was fun and thats what counts to me more than anything else…… met and fished with Stillakid, Jon J, James, and saw a number of others on the water and at the get together (saw Mavzer catch his big Walleye)…. I caught some nice fish, but nothing special…. I dont even really remember much about them unless its a personal best…… as I run it through my memory it seems I only got out 14 days….. instead of my usual 100+…. no wonder I have fishing fever bad…..

A few smallies 20 to 21 inches, 12 pound channel, and to top it all off what i would guess to be the wisconsin state record dogfish, which i let go, roughly 39 inches long

river eyes, now that I think of it…. it was 29.5 ha ha… I am sure it will grow every year by a 1/4 inch…… I am just thankful you were around to take a picture other wise…. I wuold have had to just talk about it… and try to convince “the boys” that I really cought it……

Had a super year for numbers of fish, and a fair year for some bigger fish.

Walleye 27 1/2″ Traverse

SMB 19 1/2″ LOTW super fat

Muskie est 42″ LOTW, netted for a friend a 49″

LMB 20″

Flathead 42 1/2″ 36 pounds

Flathead 40″ 30 pounds

Flathead 40″ 30 pounds

Sauger 19 1/2″

Northern 36″ LOTW

looking forward to a super 2002, good luck to you.

Jack

Had a great time on the water this past year. Managed to catcha sauger that went 21″, a walleye that went 26.5″, and a smallmouth that was 19″ and weighed 4 lbs.

Jim L

Hey Guys- Caught my largest walleye yet this summer in pool 4. July 4 I caught a 31″ 11.5 lb monster. Very high water, cut 4. Sorry to spill the beans, but it was the only day I had any luck in there this year. Also caught a 50″ muskie in SE Mn. Thats all I can say about that spot. Tight lines. J.J.

23″ 5lb 13oz. Largemouth Bass. Late July. CPR (catch photo and released) for another day.

The one in my pic.