Topwater beast

[Ik314]

Finally found the big smallmouth I’ve been hunting for this summer!! Just a hair past the 21 inch mark!!  And boy was it a memorable ordeal.
 

I was fishing a Megabass Popmax popper on an Ozarks stream via kayak.  Noticed a spot coming up that just looked extra fishy with a nice submerged tree kind of on its own near some deep moving water.  My first cast landed just beyond the tree and the first twitch of the popper instantly triggered a huge explosion. Totally whiffed it.  Threw back at the tree and after about two twitches another huge swing and miss.  Somehow I was fortunate enough to throw back a third time and as they say third time was the charm!!!!! This fish fought hard and jumped completely out of the water a couple times!  Pretty pumped to join the 20+ inch club after catching my fair share of 18s and 19s while on the quest haha 

[Ik314]

And just to clarify for anyone that is wondering. This old brute was released angry at the world but alive and well 🙂 

[Johnsfolly]

@Ik314 Congrats on a super smallie! Thanks for taking us along in your report. It's so much fun to get a topwater bite.

[Quillback]

Nice one!

[top_dollar]

Congrats on a real trophy!

[Ik314]

Thanks you guys!!!! I should also score one for Lews.  Although I thought I liked My diawa gear, I found a lews reel in one of my creeks a few Months ago , submerged and growing algae on it.  I didn’t do anything but rinse it off and grease it up and that’s the reel that I fought this fish with yesterday!  the drag performed flawlessly , probably better than my 200 dollar diawa that hasn’t been lost in a creek and I'm still not impressed with 

Ike 

[ColdWaterFshr]

Nice fish!  I'm still trying to break the 20" mark.  Have lots of 19 and 19 3/4, just can't get over the mark.

 

[Ik314]

1 hour ago, ColdWaterFshr said:

Nice fish!  I'm still trying to break the 20" mark.  Have lots of 19 and 19 3/4, just can't get over the mark.

 

Dang Man I know the battle!!!! There are some seriously thick and quality smallies in the 17-19 range!!! I was beginning to think I missed my window for getting it done this year in the spring !! 

[NattySnax]

Awesome!!  Congrats on your catch!

[ollie]

Congrats and very surprised the bass actually went for that three times! Normally it is a one and done thing in most cases.