Va Smallie Record

[mikewink]

We had a guy at work state that he caught a 63 inch Northern Pike. Which by the way is 20 some inches longer than any I have heard of a round here. But to make a long story short, lots of excuses after the initial story. Like know I didn't take any pictures because I am just planning on eating it. Then when a bunch of us wanted to go see the fish that he supposedly had in his freezer (imagine a 63 inch fish in your freezer), well the freezer stopped working. Then his wife took it out of the freezer to keep it from going bad. Then the dogs took a bite of it. Then his camera got locked in his father in laws motorcycle bags. Then his dad took it to the taxidermists and forgot to take pictures.

Seriously, those are all excuses he gave guys who fish every day. It's amazing how a fish story can grow and get out of control!!

[Capt. G]

Hey Doc,

Is that some kind of grouper? You are in salt water, right?

BTW (Buy the Weigh), you look sexy in black biker shorts

[Capt. G]

That one is classic, thanx.
I have one:
When I owned a tackle store in Nagoya, Japan, we ran a store promo where if you caught a bass over five pounds on any of our big custom swimbaits, you could get a free swimbait (about US$ 40.00) if you brought in a picture of the fish, with the lure in its mouth.
We then used the pics (some of them,as we were getting 100 a month!) in our promotions/ads.
I was very liberal with the pics--if the photo was of quality to recognize the angler, and the bait, that was good enough. I don't remember turning down any submissions.
Except one.
This guy, a regular customer, came into the shop, and proclaimed he had caught not one, but THREE bass over 10 pounds at a very heavily fished lake (there are a few dd bass there, but my best is only 8.7 lbs).
He wanted to know if he could get three forty dollar baits, one for each ten pounder. It clearly states in the posted rules, that only one freebie PER MONTH PER CUSTOMER, however, in light of the fact that ten pound bass are hard to come by anywhere, especially three in one day, I said yes, lets see the pics. Even if the "ten pounders" looked like six of seven pounders, that was still fine by me.
He said there was only one problem--he did not have the pics.
WTF? This is a "PHOTO CONTEST" I told him. He said the pics were still in his camera, and he had just put a fresh roll of film (remember that stuff?-this was six years ago), so he did not want to develop just then.
WTF2? If I caught three double digit bass in one day (I have caught two several times, but not three in one day), I would be rushing to get the pics developed.
So, he asked if he could have the three ($120 value) baits now, and give the pics later. Me running a retail store prevented me from saying what I really wanted to say, so I pointed to the rules, which states the pic is exchanged for a free bait, not for a promise of a pic.
He was persistent. He was going fishing that weekend, and wanted the three (free) baits. So, here is what I came up with.
I sold him the three baits for cash, and gave him a register receipt. I told him that when he developed the pics, and submitted them, I would refund his cash, and he could keep the baits (thus getting them for free).
He agreed, and went on his way.
Two weeks later he comes in, and asks if he still needs the pictures to get his cash. "Why"?

Seems his friend had borrowed his boat, and his camera was stored on the boat. The boat was now in a distant city, and he had no access to his camera. I suggested that he call his friend, and have him either send the camera, or develop for him, and mail the pictures.
"OK" he said. And left again.

One week later, he comes back in with some bad news. His friend borrowed his boat AND IT SUNK-CAMERA AND ALL!
What can WE do about this, he asked?

"WE" were not obligated to do anything, but for his persistence, I gave him one free bait, and he left happy.
To this day, I wonder if that really happened to him?

Originally Posted by mikewink

We had a guy at work state that he caught a 63 inch Northern Pike. Which by the way is 20 some inches longer than any I have heard of a round here. But to make a long story short, lots of excuses after the initial story. Like know I didn't take any pictures because I am just planning on eating it. Then when a bunch of us wanted to go see the fish that he supposedly had in his freezer (imagine a 63 inch fish in your freezer), well the freezer stopped working. Then his wife took it out of the freezer to keep it from going bad. Then the dogs took a bite of it. Then his camera got locked in his father in laws motorcycle bags. Then his dad took it to the taxidermists and forgot to take pictures.

Seriously, those are all excuses he gave guys who fish every day. It's amazing how a fish story can grow and get out of control!!

[flatliner]

Here is the link to the picture of the fish.
RodBuidling.org - 8lb 4ounce smallmouth - Powered by PhotoPost .

[RJH]

TK posted a photo of the fish a couple or three years ago when he caught it.

RodBuidling.org - 8lb 4ounce smallmouth - Powered by PhotoPost

I remember seeing more photos of the fish from a couple different angles but cannot remember where they were originally posted. One of the smallie fishing forums I think. I do not believe any of the photos were "photoshopped" and as a long time smallie hunter I know a huge smallmouth when I see one.

Anybody that fishes for smallies will recognize this as one huge smallmouth. The girth is amazing.

[Paul Lindsey]

Damn Mark i wish you had not said that about Doc. That is a vivion i could have lived without. but thata more believable than an 8#Smallie with no pictures.
Paul

[mikewink]

This is a 6 pound Small mouth my dad landed this year June 3rd. This was on the lower portion of the Menominee River, in Menominee, Michigan. He caught it on a shad rap. The fish is 22 1/5" inches long. Between myself, my brother and my dad we have landed 7 small mouth 20+ inches.

[OSiDE FiSHER]

Caught this Largemouth nowhere near the weight of Doc's bass but it was good for me.
Snapped a quick pick and released to be caught another day.

[RJH]

The photo link is above. If I can find the others I will list them as well. One had a tape measure laid out end to end next to the fish. Either way, if you fish for smallies you know what you are seeing is pretty damn rare.

[Comedie]

Years ago huh? One of my bullets still firmly applies, and that was years ago too.

[venturarodlure]

Nice bass Ryan. Looks like you were in a stealth spot..

[REP]

I actually found the thread on RBO (I can look but I can't touch) and he now claims that (a) it was 8lb4oz and (b) he has photos, weights, and a witness and (c) it was in winter, 2yrs ago. And he put it back to let it grow, hoping he could catch it again when it got to l0lbs.

Now, given all that, it sems funny that he never applied for a VA citation, much less the record, unless of course the weight was not done on an official scale, in which case it's suspect at best and only an estimate at worst (unless you do like the BASS pros do, which is keep it in a live well and measure it alive before release. Most records are dead by the time they are weighed). But with a witness and such, most States will at least give you a citation. Of course, such stuff means nothing to TK - I'm sure he's above all that.

So he's either the greatest proponent of catch-and-release sportsman we know, or just has to prove that in addition to being the world's leading authority on all things about rodbuilding he's also a truly great fisherman, sportsman, and conservationist to go along with his truly great ego.

I'd like to see the photos, but until and unless there's an official scale involved, there's no record.

BTW, an 8lb smallie is gonna be nearly 27" or better, even in spawn and depending on time of year. And those photos of Mike's 6lb and Ryan's pretty bucketmouth are just great! Goes along perfectly with Doc's - um - really big fish - - -

Doc, good to have you back at it. More than good, GREAT!

Uncle Russ
Calico Creek Rods