Faith Restored

[Smalliebigs]

I had the pleasure to listen an account of a Smallmouth bass today, hooked and unfortunately broke off but, the size of the fish restores faith to continue the quest to catch a smallie over 5 lbs on a river. I know a lot of you will say, fish story or tall tale but, I have the pleasure of beeing a good friend of the dude who hooked this fish and subsquently lost it and he is one of the most honest, no nonsense people I know. He is also the type of guy who's passion for river Smallmouth is only matched by his passion for preserving them and that beeing said I believe everything he says.

This gentleman is estimating the length at 23 to 24 inches and I know alot of you are saying BS.....thats fine because, I know when you have caught several smallies in the 20 inch and above range you know how big a fish that size looks. The great thing is he was actualy able to sight the fish before he hooked it as he thought it was a huge Common Carp until it turned and demolished his Wiggle Wart and proceded to snap 10 lb test line like it was nothing.

Anyway I would like to tell him thanks for letting me know there's still a few smallies out there in our rivers that are true trophy class. When my crazy situation gets settled a bit I can't wait to go chase smallies with ya.

[Gavin]

I Beleive....have gas money, lots of fishing stuff, will travel!

[Wayne SW/MO]

I hope it can survive with a mouth full of trebles.

[Smalliebigs]

I Beleive....have gas money, lots of fishing stuff, will travel!

lol......I knew someone like you Gavin, would know the potential of our Ozark rivers. The bummer is there is might be as many smallies that size in that river as fingers on your hand if we are lucky. I just would like to see one like that....it's been a long time. I saw a smallie in person that size once.....and unfortunately it was 1984 on the Meramec just above what is now the Redhorse access, right at what some call Shady Beach. It was an absolute monster and the biggest bummer was it was on an old chain stringer.My dad and I paddle our little jon boat over to the gentleman that held up the fish to see it closer and I did a half assed measurement which came out to a little over 23 inches....I will admit it wasn't the most acurate measurement. I estimated that smallie at 5lb plus and to this day I still fish that strech of the Meramec thinking there is still one in the area that size.....DORK!!!!!!

[eric1978]

Supposedly MDC shocked up a couple 24 inchers on the Gasconade recently, so apparently they're in there...but I've never seen anything close to that size. If people would leave them in the river and leave their habitat unmolested...ready for the news flash?...they'll get bigger!

[Smalliebigs]

If people would leave them in the river and leave their habitat unmolested...ready for the news flash?...they'll get bigger!

AMEN brother!!!!! I hope all is well with you and the ladies????

[Smalliebigs]

I hope it can survive with a mouth full of trebles.

sorry he wasn't fishing a Dahlberg Diver with the barb bent back on a 6wt flyrod so he could play the poor bastard until utter exhaustion set in and it floated downstream......could have died that way....just kidding but those fish shake those lures.

my buddy and I still fish soft platics, jigs and things with treble hooks.....sorry I know thats not popular on this forum

[Guest]

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[Trout Commander]

I hope it can survive with a mouth full of trebles.

sorry he wasn't fishing a Dahlberg Diver with the barb bent back on a 6wt flyrod so he could play the poor bastard until utter exhaustion set in and it floated downstream......could have died that way....just kidding but those fish shake those lures.

my buddy and I still fish soft platics, jigs and things with treble hooks.....sorry I know thats not popular on this forum

Obviously you've never fished with Wayne or read many of his posts.....

[Flysmallie]

I would love to believe there are 23's and 24's out there. I have faith that there is, but can someone post a picture of at least 1?

I have seen some that I think are that big, but no I cannot share a photo with you. I would have to be able to catch one first. But I have seen some swimming that would approach those marks, not a lot but I've seen a few.

Yeah I know they look bigger when they are swimming. But I have done quite a bit of sight fishing in my past and I know how a fish looks in the water.