What's considered a big smallmouth vs. a trophy in Missouri?

[Smallmouthmama]

As I'm getting more and more into Smallmouth fishing I'm wondering what most people consider big as in "best fish of the year". And what is considered to be more of a "once in a lifetime" trophy smallmouth. I tend to hear 18" 20" and 21" thrown out a lot. Let me know what you guys think! 

[moguy1973]

I'd say that 20" and anything 4+ lbs is pretty special in our streams.

18" and 3lbs is a big small mouth

[tjm]

17" is pretty big, 21+/4.5#   my pb.  None of them are trophy size, but I'd be tempted  by a 30"er.

[Dutch]

Trophy for my brain is 4# and larger.  I catch a lot of smallmouth on Stockton.  A 4# only comes along every few years and I have only caught 1 over 4# but it was shy of 5#.

[Smallmouthmama]

3 hours ago, Dutch said:

Trophy for my brain is 4# and larger.  I catch a lot of smallmouth on Stockton.  A 4# only comes along every few years and I have only caught 1 over 4# but it was shy of 5#.

That makes sense! And wow, a fiver would be amazing... would you say there's a difference between lake smallie and river smallie? Or no?

[rps]

A 5 anywhere is impressive.

Large lake fish are more common than large stream or flowing river fish. The habitat, forage food availability, and effort required to stay alive make the difference. Here in the Ozarks, anything approaching a canoe paddle size deserves a picture and a year long brag. If it says 6 on your hand scale, get it officially weighed if you can do so without killing her. Otherwise, a picture and length and girth measurements so you can have a replica made.

I hope it happens for you.

BTW, my PB came as a boy with my father in Canada. 20 inches +/-.

[Gavin]

My MO PB is a 21" fish from the Gasconade. It's hard to crack 20" on the rivers, but usually catch a few in the 17-19" range every year.. If you want to claim 22" or over you better have a good picture of the fish on a measuring device.

[rps]

http://www.gameandfishmag.com/world-record/10-largest-smallmouth-bass-world-records/

[moguy1973]

My biggest is the one in my avatar.  It came out of the Meramec and was 21.5" and 4lb 8oz.  It will be pure luck to come across another fish like that one around here.  One day I want to get up to Door County in Wisconsin to catch some of those 6lb footballs out of the bay.

[timinmo]

Big difference between lake and river smallies.  Have caught several in the 20 inch range in Mo. rivers and none of them weighted 4 pounds.  Time of the year can make a big difference I guess.  Northern smallies are a whole different story, not better or worst just different.  You rarely see the footballs out of the rivers locally but that is still what I chase most of the time.

I know most of those pictures in the link above are from a different time, and I killed and ate some good sized smallies in years past, but all those dead fish almost makes me sick.