Big River Giant

[Jerry Rapp]

5.2356 lbs. It has a gut.

[Quillback]

Dayum you're good!

[Jerry Rapp]

ty for the chuckle QB

[Al Agnew]

I measured the width of the left hand across the knuckles, and also the length of the left index finger from knuckle to first joint. Then I measured these lengths on my own hand. I have fairly small hands. Using my measurements, I got 17.5-18 inches. If the guy has hands that are 10% bigger than mine, it makes it around 19-20 inches. If he's a big guy with big hands, maybe 21-22. No way it's 24 inches.

Compare this fish and the hands to the posted photo of Zipstick (the Guru) holding a 21 incher that Bman posted and Brian B reposted at the end of the biggest smallmouth thread. Zipstick's fish was a legit 21, and he has average size hands. His left hand is in the same position as in this photo. At best the two photos compare fairly closely.

I'm guessing 20 inches.

[countryred]

Its a dandy. that's for sure. I am with Al, seems like 20" max,....But its been so long since I have caught a good smallmouth, I really don't know. I love the colorization of that fish.

[405z06]

quick follow-up: the fish was never measured, the 24 was an "estimate".

[Guest Brian B.]

Its a dandy. that's for sure. I am with Al, seems like 20" max,....But its been so long since I have caught a good smallmouth, I really don't know. I love the colorization of that fish.

Aint that the truth, I'm moving next weekend, unfortunately a "double move" due to. Closing dates etc- at best I will be fishing locally to my new digs by mid August. The first smallmouth will be my first in about a year- WOW- never thought about ot until you just said that.

[Mitch f]

We may see a 24" smallmouth in our lifetime on an Ozark stream, but maybe not.... Odds are we won't. As a matter of fact I've never even seen a picture of one that looked legit. Even 22" are so rare that I can't say I've ever seen one in person (I have in pictures) come out of a Ozark stream. The only one close to 24" was a fish out of the big Piney near the Fort about 10 years ago.

[Guest Brian B.]

I measured the width of the left hand across the knuckles, and also the length of the left index finger from knuckle to first joint. Then I measured these lengths on my own hand. I have fairly small hands. Using my measurements, I got 17.5-18 inches. If the guy has hands that are 10% bigger than mine, it makes it around 19-20 inches. If he's a big guy with big hands, maybe 21-22. No way it's 24 inches.

Compare this fish and the hands to the posted photo of Zipstick (the Guru) holding a 21 incher that Bman posted and Brian B reposted at the end of the biggest smallmouth thread. Zipstick's fish was a legit 21, and he has average size hands. His left hand is in the same position as in this photo. At best the two photos compare fairly closely.

I'm guessing 20 inches.

Sounds reasonable- I give the benefit of the doubt- because as I read here recently, I have taken (or attempted) to take photos by myself- one hand held waaay out- only to have a pig look marginal when the photo was viewed later, I understand generous estimates as well- smallmouth=adrenaline, adrenaline= generous estimates, found myself guikty of it before- only to review a photo and say, Hmmm, not that big a fish.

The gut on that fish is invredible though- and the guy I re-posted, again, GREAT GOOGLIE!

[MOsmallies]

Definitely not 24" but definitely a hog right around 20".... What a beautiful, deep bodied fish. Very fat and healthy. Thanks for sharing!