Reel Used: Abu Garcia Cardinal

Rod Used: Abu Garcia Veritas

Line Used: Berkley Vanish Transition

Bait Used: Berkley Shaky Worm

I was fishing with a buddy a few weeks back when I spotted an absolute monster cruising off from a sunken piece of concrete. Thinking the fish might move back if we gave it some room we backed off and played the waiting game. I estimated it was a good 4-5 pounder, a solid smallmouth for anywhere and one worth spending some time on.

Finally, after about 10 minutes of fan-casting the area I casted back for the structure and my line jumped. The fish went absolutely berserk, jumping and peeling line. After a few tense minutes worrying if my tiny drop-shot hook would hold we had the fish boatside and in the net.

It looked big. Real big.

"That might go six." I said, low-balling it, afraid to say how big I really thought it was. The scales jumped all the way to 6 lbs 13 ounces, before settling down at 6 lbs 8 ounces. My biggest smallmouth ever by 3 ounces. Awesome!

We safely let her go after taking a couple pictures and she slowly swam away to the deep water as if saying "You might have caught me, but that doesn't mean anything."

Well, it sure meant something to me.

SIDE NOTE: My scales later proved to consistently weigh 4 ounces light when comparing with two other digital scales. I'm not saying it makes that fish 6 lbs 12 ounces, you know, but I'm not saying it doesn't!