My son's first smallmouth.

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

My son and I were invited to join my neighbor to go fishing.  We met up on the spot and proceeed to fish.  My son brought our minnow trap. He is very interesed in it, and wanted to catch something.  I was throwing the Ned.  He was using a popper.   We seen a couple of beds.   I explained to him what they were, and how they are made.  He tried  to catch the fish protecting one nest, but no takes.  

We left that area and caught up with our neighbor.  He was pulling in a drum as we walked up.  I continued to throw the Ned and had a couple takes, and while reeling in, they let go.  Sunfish.  Then I got a real good  taker, and was fighting with very light line, but it stayed deep.  It was a decent fight, but then it let go.   Never got to see it.  Could have been anything in this hole, from a turtle to catfish to a white bass to a walleye.   

My boy checked his trap, had a few  baby blue gills.   I told him that he could use one for a big catfish, he was interested.   He got one hooked, all by himself.  Casted out and thought he had another snag.  My neighbor calls out, you have a Fish!, my son acts like nothing going on.   He pulls in his first smallmouth.  

[Smalliebigs]

Looks like a Spot but still very cool

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

27 minutes ago, Smalliebigs said:

Looks like a Spot but still very cool

I can promise the eye was red.  The area we were at is not known for smallies at all, but like I say, it had the red eyes burning in the light.  I don't see the spot resemblance.  I know you know smallies, not trying to deny what you see. 

[JestersHK]

Looks like a great day well spent with the kiddo!  Its always awesome when they get to the point where they are catching them on their own.  Thanks for sharing!

[Smalliebigs]

3 hours ago, Daryk Campbell Sr said:

I can promise the eye was red.  The area we were at is not known for smallies at all, but like I say, it had the red eyes burning in the light.  I don't see the spot resemblance.  I know you know smallies, not trying to deny what you see. 

hahahahaha it appears to have a lateral line and a spotted belly but, that is only my opinion of an image :).....cool deal either way

[Flysmallie]

3 hours ago, Daryk Campbell Sr said:

I can promise the eye was red.  The area we were at is not known for smallies at all, but like I say, it had the red eyes burning in the light.  I don't see the spot resemblance.  I know you know smallies, not trying to deny what you see. 

It looks like both to me. Probably a hybrid. I don't think that red eye means a darn thing. But the most important part is that is one happy kid. Nothing else matters. 

[Guest]

Congratulations, memories for life!

The kid caught it by himself, then Its a smallmouth dang it!

 

 

[Al Agnew]

Yep, red eyes mean nothing.  Spotted bass can have red in their eyes.  Hard to tell from the picture, but looks like a hybrid.  Which is pretty cool, too.

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

Looking at the picture, it does clearly look like a spot. Especially since you pointed out the lateral lines and the spotted belly. But yesterday in the sunlight is sure look to be a bronze / gold color and that red I really got me excited. Is it common for them to have a red eye even when the not Smallie / goggle-eye?

[Flysmallie]

I don't think the spotted belly means anything either. I've seen more spots on bellies of smallmouth than spotted bass.