Don B

March 09. Air temp about 40 degrees 5 lb., 9 ounce Allegheny River smallmouth

Wow, that was a pretty cool story. You didn't just go out there and reel in hawg after hawg and collect without much effort or challenge. Sounds like you had some difficulties, figured them out, and ended up the better fisherman for the tourney in the end. Those winnings paid for your weeks meals and lodging, plus some spendin' bucks left over! Congrats!

[my second bass ever.... is this even a smallmouth?"

What a monster of a pike!

Nice fish!

Lot of people don't know that. My Silverado has the same set up. The only other thing I could add to the post is that most times, fuses don't blow for no reason. I'd bet your brown wire has rubbed some wee little bare spot somewhere that made it short and blow the fuse. That happened to me once. I fished all new wires through and found the spot after closely inspecting the wires I removed.

Good Lord Dwight! After lookin' at all your smallie hawgs, I was thinkin' of asking you if you do any trolling in August for the 'eyes like I do. I see now that you don't wait for August to come! My best one up there yet was a 30", 9 lber. The one your holding looks like an easy 32-34", 12-13 lber! Is that your PB walleye so far? I didn't think the holdover walleyes in Erie were many fish over 20". Way to go!

Just like your pictures last year at around this time of your 7+pounder, this year's pictures are awesome! You are the man Dwight! Still nailin' them hogs on that hair jig of yours?

That's a very nice fish!......just wondrin about the tow vehicle tho...

[quote author=515B5D51564C505D4E5D51564B380 link=1237980145/12#12 date=1238020359 Was this pig from the Allegheny?

Had it to the boat 3 times before I could net it. Wasn't using heavy gear, so I couldn't muscle it in. There wasn't any jumpin', but it pulled the drag at will each time I had it near the boat. Also: Forgot to mention that I released the fish unharmed to be caught again another day!

Caught my PB river smallmouth so far on 3/24/09. Fish measured 21.25" and weighed 5 lbs., 9 ounces. Water temp. was 45 degrees. Fooled this beast with a red/yellow jig in a saddle hole about 300 yards down from a dam.

Heck yeah! I use it for pulling the kids on tubes/skis, sight-seeing on the rivers. Loaded up many times with firewood and camping gear and head out to the many remote islands on the rivers here with the kids. All the fishing/camping/swimming we do on those islands will probably be some of their fondest memories when they are adults.

Nice! They are quite powerful when they get to that size. Spring and Fall is the time for the bigguns. Enjoy the pictures and congrats!

You'll need an 80lb. or more if you fish rivers. The small stuff works okay on the flat water. I have a MinnKota 80AP on my rig. My next one will be a 101AP for sure.

Very cool when you catch one of them as a surprise. Gets your heart pumpin' a little and keeps you on your toes! Congrats!

For me, I'd have to go with the Middle Allegheny. The rocks and skinny water keeps most of the crowds out of the area and fishing somewhere safer for their props and glass hulls. ;D

Very nice story!

Dwight Hottle.......That is a freakin' pig! That fish is just a goby meal or two shy of being a 7 pounder!

Best bass lake? 2 hour drive from Pgh.? Hands down would be Erie. You will catch more bass there, and consistenty bigger bass there, than any other place in the entire state of Pa., not just W.Pa. Of course you will catch some bigguns in other places, but once you are on them at Erie, you will be pulling up football after football. Guys catch 6lb smallmouth up there(sadly, not me yet, but close!) on a regular basis. You catch a 20" river smallie here, and you'll be lucky if it hits 4lbs.

I've had the MinnKota 3 bank/30amp(10/10/10) charger in my boat for about two years now, and have had zero problems with it. It charges up all three batteries very quickly too.

Also FCB: Since it says you are from Pittsburgh, I forgot to tell you that I bought my Lake Erie map from Lock 3 tackle shop a few years back, which is right across from the Harmarville Dam, on Freeport Road. The map I got gives all the details you were talking about for that area.

LCM: You probably won't find too many places that stock bunches of muskie rods on their shelves, especially GLoomis ones, simply because they aren't the biggest movers like bass rods would be, and even the cheaper lines of muskie rods tend to be more expensive than most bass rods. I have several muskie rods that I bought without actually holding in my hand first, but I am quite happy with them. Decide what you are going to use them for, and then go by the charts. I figure that you will need at least three basic rods for muskie fishing, but you can go for a lot more than that, just like bass rods. I have several Falcon muskie rods, and some St. Croix ones, but GLoomis makes some great ones too. Here is a link to a muskie shop that has some great products, if you are interested. http://www.muskyshop.com/modules/web/index.php/id/1

Here ya go....... http://www.walleyetacklestore.com/fihotspfima.html

There are hp restrictions on KPD, and it's a little out of the way for a lot of folks, and pretty much out in the middle of nowhere. I've caught a few different types of fish there: perch, walleye, largemouth, and seen a guy catch a tiger muskellunge. They have stocked quite a few different species there including those 4, and a few others. I've never caught a smallmouth there though. Amish guys fish there too, in wooden rowboats, without any fishing licenses, and I seen them keep every fish they catch for eating, no matter what size or species. Last time I was there, I seen two of them keep about 20 small largemouths, and about a dozen panfish for the frying pan.