spare tire Posted April 1, 2007 Report Share Posted April 1, 2007 I was reading our small town paper this weekend, and saw that a guy last year caught the Michigan state record for a smallmouth. It wasn't verified by anyone but he got it mounted 21 1/2 " long. I don't know if you guys noticed my avatar but that smallmouth was 22" long caught and released last year. I had a good freind of mine, Howard Capone on the boat with me, So at least I had a witness. As a matter of fact the lure hanging out of its mouth was made by Howard. I believe I caught the same fish 2 years ago at 21 1/2" , unless there are 2 monsters in the same lake, same area. I guess you guys no where I'll be come bass season, The question is if you catch that thing at dark where would you take it to get it verified after everything is closed. If I'm lucky enough to battle this monster again I don't know if I should mount him or release him. He sure wold look nice hanging on my wall with one of my hand made lures hanging out of his mouth, but it is also a great feeling knowing he is still lurking out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snooterfish Posted April 1, 2007 Report Share Posted April 1, 2007 hummmmmm! A "Capone" for a witness?????? in TN where i fish (Douglas) the minmium smallie you are allowed to keep is 22". it sounds like your luck is like mine. good looken fish in the photo. hummmmmm!! a "Capone" for a witness???? remember the monster in Calif. that the guy released? they have done everthing but seign that place and still no record yet. i don't blame you tho for trying. good luck in trying to catch it again. hey, no offense in the Capone humer. richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howard Capone Posted April 1, 2007 Report Share Posted April 1, 2007 Snoterfish, Hey we Capone's always back up our stories! http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t15/howardcapone/101_0244.jpg http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t15/howardcapone/101_0248.jpg Howard Capone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snooterfish Posted April 1, 2007 Report Share Posted April 1, 2007 Get R done !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! good looken fish snooterfish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doomdart Posted April 2, 2007 Report Share Posted April 2, 2007 The question is if you catch that thing at dark where would you take it to get it verified after everything is closed. measure, weigh, and photo boatside if possible. Then hightail it to the nearest 24 hour grocery store. Sweet talk the butcher/meat manager and ask them to weigh it. Those scales are inspected regularly by state employees in most states (if not all). I believe that would be sufficient data to support a state record. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maximusgunn Posted April 2, 2007 Report Share Posted April 2, 2007 I was thinking along the same line as doomdart, go to a grocery store. If you want a mount I would take all measurements, length, width, girth, and take a few pictures from different angles, then have a replica made. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MicroSalm Posted April 2, 2007 Report Share Posted April 2, 2007 State Record Smallmouth Bass for Michigan?? Here is a link to Michigan's state fish records. Smallie is 9.25#. Nice fish though. http://www.michigandnr.com/MasterAngler/MasterAngler.asp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spare tire Posted April 2, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2007 I guess I feel better about that, mabey it was a Upper pen. record, I'llhave to recheck that. It was a real nice fish, and that is what the paper said, but I thought that was a little small also. I've caught plenty of 18"-19" smallies, and that would be rare with a 22" record. I might of mounted him anyways if I caught him on one my cranks. My son also looked up the info and he also said 21 1/2 was record. kids Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenshomi Posted April 2, 2007 Report Share Posted April 2, 2007 It all depends on the "girth" That's what she said!!! I have caught a few 21 inchers, that have only tipped the scales at 4/12 to 5lbs in the Lower Pen. No where close to the record. The best thing you can do for all of us is release those giants - they make lots-o-babies 3 weekends to go for Catch and release!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted April 10, 2007 Report Share Posted April 10, 2007 Spare tire. I hope you catch the monster many more times. I'm all for catch and release. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nova Posted April 10, 2007 Report Share Posted April 10, 2007 You have to get the butcher to sign a paper that he weighed it; how much it weighed, and the serial and inspection numbers from the scale. Cover all the bases because you only get one chance at it. www.novalures.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CGL PITS Posted October 14, 2007 Report Share Posted October 14, 2007 What ever you do do not freeze the fish. They will not even consider it if it has been frozen. I do agree with the guys in the super market deal. I have also landed several 18 to 21 1/2 and never pulled anything over 4 1/2 pounds in that range. My best smallie went 22 1/4 and 5 pounds 10 oz. I did have a rep made of this fish from a guy in Tenn. She turned out real nice. The rep last a lot longer than the real deal. And like the one guy stated the larger fish put off some many YOY. I do promote a slective harvest, i think we need to harvest some of the smaller fish so that the lake can manage itself in the bait fish side of things. Alot of lakes have so many fish that they seem real thin. I think this has to do with the amount of fish in the lake. They only have so many bait fish and they are all compeating for them. I know in fisherman promotes keeping some for eating and C&L the bigs ones. It takes so long for a smallie to reach that size that if we do not release them our kids will never have a chance at a trophy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Predator Bass Baits Posted October 14, 2007 Report Share Posted October 14, 2007 I had a tourney 2 weeks ago, We had a away tourney for our club and had a non boater with me, I was catching the smallies on tubes and he asked me if he could have one, so I let him have one and he caught a 7.04 smallie Dang nab it if he did not beat me for first, we did take 1, 2 on a 2 day tournament. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HookUp Posted October 15, 2007 Report Share Posted October 15, 2007 IMHO - you did good by releasing the fish immediately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thill Posted January 11, 2008 Report Share Posted January 11, 2008 Keep that puppy alive on a lip-stringer, then put it in a cooler with a bubbler and some blue stuff from BPS to keep the fish calm and safe. Get it weighed, take good pics and then release it for next year, and get a fiberglass mount made from the pics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bterrill Posted February 2, 2008 Report Share Posted February 2, 2008 Come on, no 21-22" SMB is going to come close to 9.25lbs! That record fish was probably in the 24-25" range. That is a nice smallie at 21.5"! There are always more big ones down there than you think. Unless it was a small creek or pond, odds are it wasn't the same fish your buddy caught Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bterrill Posted February 2, 2008 Report Share Posted February 2, 2008 BTW thanks for releasing her, so others might have a shot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GB GONE Posted February 2, 2008 Report Share Posted February 2, 2008 Here is one a guy caught on one of my 3.5 split tails (beavers) and a football jig head... He caught plenty over 7 that day as well... WOW! He knew he was close to the record but knew KVD's brother had it at over 9.. Jim Mack Hammrick's Lake Erie Smallie!!! 8.7lbs...22 1/4 inches long with a 19" girth. Caught on a 3.5 split tail rigged on a football head jig!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smalljaw Posted February 3, 2008 Report Share Posted February 3, 2008 I caught a smallie last season that was 20.25" and weighed 4lb. 4oz but it was a river smallie which run alot less in weight to length compared to lake or resovoir smallies. My personal best smallie was 22" and weighed 5lb.4oz also caught in a river system during pre spawn. It's possible to have some big differences in weight depending on what type of water the fish was caught and what time of the year it caught. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunnie3035 Posted February 12, 2008 Report Share Posted February 12, 2008 I got one last September at 22.25" and 8lbs even. Imagine what she would have weighed in March/April. So yes, a 22-23" smallie could weight in excess of 9lbs. The one in the picture posted by Ghost looks like the real deal to me. What I look for in a picture is the fatty part where the tail meets the scales. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smirkplug Posted February 21, 2008 Report Share Posted February 21, 2008 Keep feeding her, keep catching her, don't mount her, or get her mounted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orion Posted February 21, 2008 Report Share Posted February 21, 2008 Keep feeding her, keep catching her, don't mount her, or get her mounted. Haha, "don't mount her" ?????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HookUp Posted February 22, 2008 Report Share Posted February 22, 2008 Smallies grow and get fat at different rates in different flows. I fish mostly head waters to major rivers and the big fish rarely get over 5#. Then I travel north and catch a 19" that's easily over 5#. I've never fished lakes for smallies and intent to this year. I understand the waters I'll be in the smallies get over 6 and approach 7#. But I'll catch 2# 15" smallies all day long and still leave the water with a big grin on my mug. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
