wolc123 Posted October 26, 2016 Share Posted October 26, 2016 My two favorite pursuits are whitetail deer and smallmouth bass and the warm weather made me go for the fish first on my trip to my in-laws place in the Adirondacks last week. This 22" was my largest in many years, and definitely the hardest fighter, taking 12 minutes to land on 8 pound test. She hit a 1/8 oz bucktail jig, in 5 feet of water, on opening day afternoon of NZ ML deer season. My father in law complained a bit when I released her (he wants to decorate his place with "native" mounts). She was just so healthy looking and in good shape that I had to put her back. I told him that I will mount a 23" if I ever get one, at least I have something to aim for now. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grampy Posted October 26, 2016 Share Posted October 26, 2016 That's a beauty of a smallmouth! And you did the right thing putting her back, to make more just like her. Nice job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BizCT Posted October 26, 2016 Share Posted October 26, 2016 Awesome bronzeback. What did it weigh? I've never gotten a 20", just 19"sSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Real_TCIII Posted October 26, 2016 Share Posted October 26, 2016 What a beastSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolc123 Posted October 26, 2016 Author Share Posted October 26, 2016 I did not weigh her. Fortunately I had a 5 gallon bucket in the rowboat and I put her in it and ran across the lake, back to the house, with my father in law's 10 hp outboard at wide open throttle. I yelled for them to bring out a camera and a tape measure, then got her right back into the lake. I made sure my hands were wet when I touched her. She definitely used up a lot of energy on the landing, but she swam away real good when I released her. I think her odds of making it are good. The water temperature was in the lower 60's. Years ago, I caught a 23 incher out in lake Erie in that special early May season (also released). That one was probably a good bit heavier (also not weighed), being full of eggs, but did not put up nearly the fight in the cooler water (in the lower 50's). I was fishing for over an hour for lake trout, in deeper water before I tied on the jig and moved into the shoreline for this fall bass. Had she not shot straight up and jumped clear of the waterline, right after the hookset, I would have swore she was a big laker. After that jump, she peeled drag and headed out for deeper water. It took me more than 10 minutes to start pulling her back up. I was pulling as hard as I dared on the 8 pound line the whole time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
river Posted October 27, 2016 Share Posted October 27, 2016 That's a beast of a SMB!!! Ill be on one of my last trips of the season on the Mohawk River tomorrow, prefishing for a tournament on Sunday!! Then its time to hunt!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paula Posted October 28, 2016 Share Posted October 28, 2016 Love the shirt! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moog5050 Posted October 28, 2016 Share Posted October 28, 2016 Awesome bass. You could have a replica mount made from the photo if you wanted. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pygmy Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 Paula....I have a pair of jockey shorts that say DAVID ALLEN COE..... I'd like to show them to you sometime.....<<SMILE>>.... " You don't have to call me Darlin' ......DARLIN' ".......... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ants Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 Awesome fish. I got one just a hair over 20", years ago, out of Oneida Lake. My buddy said I was nuts for releasing it..but what ever. 22" is a great fish…Congrats!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paula Posted November 4, 2016 Share Posted November 4, 2016 On 10/30/2016 at 6:15 PM, Pygmy said: Paula....I have a pair of jockey shorts that say DAVID ALLEN COE..... I'd like to show them to you sometime.....<<SMILE>>.... " You don't have to call me Darlin' ......DARLIN' ".......... They certainly don't make country like they use to. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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