It's been a long time coming...

On May 16, 11:38 pm, "Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers" go-
wrote:
The smallie was either lethargic from the cool water, but I don't think so,
based on the way she pulled.

I don't think I have ever read the terms "smallie" and "lethargic" in
the same sentence. I can still remember the first one I ever caught
at Lake Cumberland in Kentucky thirty-five years ago.

I love largemouth, but smallmouth are really something special.

Dick Durbin
Tallahassee

Fabulous fish Steve.

I do have a question that I'm very reluctant to ask, lest someone thinks I
am doubting you, WHICH I AM NOT ONE IOTA. But based on New York data, the
length and weight don't go together. When I looked at the picture I was
expecting to see a real football, but it doesn't appear to be one. So I was
just curious about how a fish gets that heavy for its length.

Thanks.

"Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers" wrote in message
...
I've been working a bunch lately and not nearly fishing enough, so when my
friend and guide service partner Gil called today and asked "wanna go
fishing?" I jumped at the chance even though it was a lousy day for
fishing. We're at the beginning of a cold front, 52 degrees with winds
from the east gusting to 30 mph. The water temps ranged from 59.4 - 60.8
at the lake.

He wanted to fish a local lake for walleyes so we picked up a bucket of
minnows. When we got on the water, I couldn't stand the thought of fishing
walleye with a jig/minnow, so I grabbed a 1/0 octopus hook and a 5" GoTo
Bait Company Tournament Stick bait and rigged it wacky style.

I caught a largemouth, a northern pike, a walleye and three smallmouth
before Gil put away the livebait and grabbed a Tournament Stick bait from
his box. He caught three or four smallies and we decided to wrap it up for
the day.

On the way to the landing, I told Gil to swing by a rock/rubble shoreline
for a couple minutes. Tossing the stick bait, I let it fall, feeling
"something." I set the hook and the rod just STOPPED in mid-swing. I
actually told Gil "Hold on, I'm hung up," when I felt the headshake!

The smallie was either lethargic from the cool water, but I don't think
so, based on the way she pulled. All I know is that she tried to jump
several times and couldn't get half her body out of the water!

I put a lip-lock on the fish and greatfully swung her over the side. She
measured 19.75 inches and weighed just shy of 5.5 pounds.

You can read the same story here, but with a picture of the beauty...

http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com/of/i...hp?serendipity[subpage]=forum&boardid=2&threadid=90
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods
http://www.herefishyfishy.com

"Marty" wrote in message
news
Fabulous fish Steve.

I do have a question that I'm very reluctant to ask, lest someone thinks I
am doubting you, WHICH I AM NOT ONE IOTA. But based on New York data, the
length and weight don't go together. When I looked at the picture I was
expecting to see a real football, but it doesn't appear to be one. So I
was just curious about how a fish gets that heavy for its length.

I know what you mean. When I first got the fish along-side the boat, I was
guessing 4 1/2 to 5 tops. What amazed me was how thick the fish was across
the back. I know it's an over-worked cliche, but this fish had shoulders.

Gil has a digital scale that has proven accurate previously, so we hung her
from the scale and that's what it said. We didn't do a good job on taking
the picture, because we should have somehow figured out how to showcase the
width of the fish. I just wanted to get her back in the water.
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods
http://www.herefishyfishy.com

On Wed, 16 May 2007 21:38:26 -0600, "Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers"
wrote:

I've been working a bunch lately and not nearly fishing enough, so when my
friend and guide service partner Gil called today and asked "wanna go
fishing?" I jumped at the chance even though it was a lousy day for fishing.
We're at the beginning of a cold front, 52 degrees with winds from the east
gusting to 30 mph. The water temps ranged from 59.4 - 60.8 at the lake.

He wanted to fish a local lake for walleyes so we picked up a bucket of
minnows. When we got on the water, I couldn't stand the thought of fishing
walleye with a jig/minnow, so I grabbed a 1/0 octopus hook and a 5" GoTo
Bait Company Tournament Stick bait and rigged it wacky style.

I caught a largemouth, a northern pike, a walleye and three smallmouth
before Gil put away the livebait and grabbed a Tournament Stick bait from
his box. He caught three or four smallies and we decided to wrap it up for
the day.

On the way to the landing, I told Gil to swing by a rock/rubble shoreline
for a couple minutes. Tossing the stick bait, I let it fall, feeling
"something." I set the hook and the rod just STOPPED in mid-swing. I
actually told Gil "Hold on, I'm hung up," when I felt the headshake!

The smallie was either lethargic from the cool water, but I don't think so,
based on the way she pulled. All I know is that she tried to jump several
times and couldn't get half her body out of the water!

I put a lip-lock on the fish and greatfully swung her over the side. She
measured 19.75 inches and weighed just shy of 5.5 pounds.

You can read the same story here, but with a picture of the beauty...

http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com/of/i...hp?serendipity[subpage]=forum&boardid=2&threadid=90

Nice one Steve!

Nice fish Steve, I see the beard went away too.

"Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers" wrote in message
...
I've been working a bunch lately and not nearly fishing enough, so when my
friend and guide service partner Gil called today and asked "wanna go
fishing?" I jumped at the chance even though it was a lousy day for
fishing. We're at the beginning of a cold front, 52 degrees with winds
from the east gusting to 30 mph. The water temps ranged from 59.4 - 60.8
at the lake.

He wanted to fish a local lake for walleyes so we picked up a bucket of
minnows. When we got on the water, I couldn't stand the thought of fishing
walleye with a jig/minnow, so I grabbed a 1/0 octopus hook and a 5" GoTo
Bait Company Tournament Stick bait and rigged it wacky style.

I caught a largemouth, a northern pike, a walleye and three smallmouth
before Gil put away the livebait and grabbed a Tournament Stick bait from
his box. He caught three or four smallies and we decided to wrap it up for
the day.

On the way to the landing, I told Gil to swing by a rock/rubble shoreline
for a couple minutes. Tossing the stick bait, I let it fall, feeling
"something." I set the hook and the rod just STOPPED in mid-swing. I
actually told Gil "Hold on, I'm hung up," when I felt the headshake!

The smallie was either lethargic from the cool water, but I don't think
so, based on the way she pulled. All I know is that she tried to jump
several times and couldn't get half her body out of the water!

I put a lip-lock on the fish and greatfully swung her over the side. She
measured 19.75 inches and weighed just shy of 5.5 pounds.

You can read the same story here, but with a picture of the beauty...

http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com/of/i...hp?serendipity[subpage]=forum&boardid=2&threadid=90
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods
http://www.herefishyfishy.com

Yeah, I forgot about the beard thing.. I think you made a wise choice Mr.
Steve! Very nice fish too might I add. I'll be up your way here in about
11 days 12 hours 45 minutes 15 seconds, lol, for my annual U.P. Smallmouth
and Pike trip! I would imagine the bass are in Pre-spawn mode pretty hard
right now aren't they?? I sure hope I time it right this year up there.
Last year, I missed the "Big Bite" by about a week, but still bagged some
nice post spawn Northerns.
Anyway, again, nice fish!!

Doug


"Bass_Mr." wrote in message
...
Nice fish Steve, I see the beard went away too.

"Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers" wrote in message
...
I've been working a bunch lately and not nearly fishing enough, so when
my friend and guide service partner Gil called today and asked "wanna go
fishing?" I jumped at the chance even though it was a lousy day for
fishing. We're at the beginning of a cold front, 52 degrees with winds
from the east gusting to 30 mph. The water temps ranged from 59.4 - 60.8
at the lake.

"Bass_Mr." wrote in message
...
Nice fish Steve, I see the beard went away too.

Yep, the prevailing opinion was that it should go. I hope that smallmouth
was just the first of many this season.
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods
http://www.herefishyfishy.com

"Doug" wrote in message
news:cai3i.790$xP.385@trndny04...
Yeah, I forgot about the beard thing.. I think you made a wise choice Mr.
Steve! Very nice fish too might I add. I'll be up your way here in about
11 days 12 hours 45 minutes 15 seconds, lol, for my annual U.P.
Smallmouth and Pike trip! I would imagine the bass are in Pre-spawn mode
pretty hard right now aren't they?? I sure hope I time it right this year
up there. Last year, I missed the "Big Bite" by about a week, but still
bagged some nice post spawn Northerns.
Anyway, again, nice fish!!

Thanks Doug,

With the water temps hovering right around 60 degrees, the bass have moved
up shallow. I've been seeing some bedding activity, but not a whle lot yet.
And with the cool weather we've had lately, it should stall things a little
too.

I'm just worried that it's going to happen like last year, the water warmed
up and it all happened in about a week.
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods
http://www.herefishyfishy.com