Dwight Hottle

That is outstanding. Congrats to you both. A well deserved win.

Chris we were in the Cordele area of South Georgia.

That would be a steelhead. Here is the definition from Wikipedia. The rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) is a trout and species of salmonid native to cold-water tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. The steelhead (sometimes called "steelhead trout") is an anadromous (sea-run) form of the coastal rainbow trout (O. m. irideus) or Columbia River redband trout (O. m. gairdneri) that usually returns to fresh water to spawn after living two to three years in the ocean. Freshwater forms that have been introduced into the Great Lakes and migrate into tributaries to spawn are also called steelhead.

My goal is to break 8lbs. I hope I respond well to the pressure. My other smallmouth goals are to help the guys I enjoy fishing with the most get some PB's as well. I'm sure we will all have fun trying.

Great start to the season.

I get a call from a buddy about going up to Georgia for two days of fishing our most favorite pond. I jump on the chance because I have fished there before & know the potential for a new PB is looming. Besides it means fishing on my birthday a tradition I always try to maintain. We had a 6.5 hour drive to get there and didn't arrive until about 5:30 pm. We headed down to the back pond about 7 acres in size. Justin spread out to the right casting as he went. We all spread out as we started fishing. On Justin's fifth cast with a white spinnerbait he got bit. He yelled out I got a good one. Little did he know how really good it would turn out to be. We all headed over in his direction to see how big it was. Justin is a very accomplished fisherman in his thirties but has fished almost all his life. His biggest PB weighed was a big 9lb class fish until this trip. When he stepped off the bank with one foot to grab her he realized he had just caught a super pig. He put her on a digital scale that showed 14lbs-7oz. I weighed her on my digital and got 14-lbs-8.5ozs. She measured out at 25.75 inches long with a 24" girth. We finished the trip with a full day of fishing after that trophy day. We ended up with two fish over 8lbs, two over 7lbs and four over six with some fives. One unlucky angler lost a DD on a Hudd 68 when she wallowed at the bank. Shame on him.

I occasionally see them in my garage in PA. I love to take my grill starter torch & light them up.

Goose you took the words right out of my mouth. Good job on the explanation.

There isn't a best line for smallmouth. It's all about what kind of tackle you like use & matching the line to what you are using. I like 10lb braid or 10lb mono for them but I fish for bigger smallies & and over rock. I have fished with 4-15lb mono and 10-20lb braid depending on tackle.

Very healthy looking.

Go for it. I use braid to the swivel & mono for the drop leader.

I'm liking this already Scott.

Gives a whole new meaning to the expression good morning.

Jacob? I always thought your first name would have been Baron or Butch or Rocky or Boss or Duke. Never would have thought of Jacob. Anyhow welcome back. Your sense of humor never left.

Sweet looking 50. What are you thinking of matching it up with?

Killer color & good bait can make you very happy.

Glad you got that task out of the way. I have been getting bids to replace mine.

Snagging & bow fishing are allowed in many states for certain species usually considered trash fish as opposed to game fish.

Those are good but not as good as the third pic.

That first Jackall DD in the smelt color should get you a new PP smallie just tie it on & go fishing as soon as the ice is gone.

What's nice about the Hawgtech bearing is that Mike or Robert tests each single one before shipping to you.

It's 18 in Erie right now. Lake is 33 degrees in Toledo OH & Erie PA. It's going to be a later ice out than last year.

WTG on your first trip out.

Congratulations to you & your dad. That's a fine fish.

. Goose your intruding into my space. I had him down for a Calais DC , Conquest 100 & Conquest 50.