Finally Boated A Good One This Year!

[Seth]

Caught it on the Gasconade and it weighed 4.02#. I didn't get a length measurement. I've hooked a few other nice smallies in my past few trips, but have yet to boat one. They have spit the hook on me or I yanked the bait right out of there mouth! To say it was a rush watching this big momma come screaming up out of a log jam to inhale my bait in this clear water is an understatement!

The numbers of 12-14" fish being caught is crazy with a few good ones mixed in. This is the best warm water fishing I've experienced in my four years of being serious about chasing these river bass. Up until the past few weeks, the last 18" smallmouth that was in my boat was in late May. It should just keep getting better and better the farther in to fall that we get.

My buddy Tommy Bench was fishing with me that day as well so he got to net my fish and I got to rub it in his face that I spanked the smallmouth master at his own game. Like he said, even a blind hog finds a nut every now and then LOL! That's the story of my life when it comes to catching these big warm water smallmouth.

 

[Mitch f]

I think you guys are both great fishermen! Congrats! Nothing like seeing it happen!

[fishinwrench]

Nice one!   What did it take to win?

[Seth]

mid 12 range. There were two in the 11's, two in the 10's and we were in sixth with just under 10# out of 30 something boats. Big LMB was 4.54 and big smallmouth was 4.35. I never thought I catch a 4# smallmouth and NOT get big smallmouth in a tournament on the Gasconade, but it happned. We've had a #2 big bass jinx going this year. At the Meramec Invitiational, my partner caught a 4.80 largemouth, which is a toad for the Meramec and it was his biggest he'd ever caught from there. It got beat out a 5.40!

[drew03cmc]

Nice fish Seth! I am jealous.

[rps]

And a tiger stripe to boot!

[Gavin]

Very nice catch Seth! 18" for sure. Maybe bigger. Good for you!

 

[MOsmallies]

I'd guess this fish was every bit of 20"... I'd bet there's very few 18" Missouri Smallmouth that would weigh 4 lbs. Congrats Seth! A beast for sure!!

[Seth]

Tommy has seen WAY more big smallies than me and he said it was right around that 20" mark. An 18" smally is doing good to break 3# judging by the few I've seen. Tommy caught one with me in late May that only weighed 2.40#! It was the skinniest 18" smallmouth I've ever seen though.

[Smallieguy87]

Awesome catch! This year was the year I landed my PB smallie. I dig the colors on that one.