Big Smallies

[brownieman]

I was reading a thread not too long ago about smallies and there was a discussion on length and weight.

I have to tell about a couple of smallies my father caught on the Big Piney back in the 60's.

We have had an old wooden canoe for years, it's a very quiet river boat to fish out of. I grewe up in Cabool Mo.

and my father fished the Big Piney often.

When I was young I learned to fish for smallies on the Piney. Fishing was amazing back in those days. I was talking to

my father the other day about past fishing experiences. He told me of a trip years ago on the Piney. He was fishing with the Local

Conservation agent and caught 2 of the biggest smallies he can remember, they had no tape and were fishing catch and release as we always do for smallies

and they landed the 2 largest fish he can remember. They layed them on the wooden canoe and marked the length of the 2 fish with a pocket knife.

He showed me the marks which are still there to this day. I kinda doubted his word so he took me out to the old canoe and we turned it over.

I measured the marks and 1 mark measured 24 inches and the other 26 inches. Those are huge smallies, I would love to have seen them.

They released both fish...I have always wondered what they would have weighed.

That has to be the largest smallies I've heard of around here. Just had to share this, my father is unable to fish anymore but has caught his fair share.

I enjoy hearing him talk of years past on the water, he's my father so I don't doubt his word only wish I could have spent more time on the river with him.

Just had to throw this in guys n gals...thanks and may we all have many good days on the water..

bm

[Troy Gregg]

I measured the marks and 1 mark measured 24 inches and the other 26 inches. Those are huge smallies, I would love to have seen them.

They released both fish...I have always wondered what they would have weighed.

Brownieman, You would really need the girth of the fish to get its actual weight, but by the standard weight of a bass the 24' fish shoulda been close to 8lbs and the 26" shoulda been close to 10lbs. Those are just absolutly monstrous smallies and we sure don't grom 'em that big anymore. You could fish a lifetime and never see a smallmouth that big, let alone catch one.

I think I may have to make a few trips to the Big Piney and try my luck at some toad smallies You can occasionally find a good 18" to 20"smallie way up the james, but nothing near the size of those Big Piney toads.

[drew03cmc]

6-8 pounds for both is about right. Those are monsters!