And I didn't even bring a camera. I don't usually do a lot of fishing reports, but I couldn't help myself this time. I mostly just beat the banks of my local river this time of the year, fishing the deep bends, and that's just what I was doing today. It's a small river, locals tell me all the time that there are no big fish in it, and I always get a kick out of that because I know better.

Anyway, I was throwing around an Eakins Jig, Green Pumpkin, with a matching Rage Craw I'd cut down a bit to fit the small jig better. (I can't find baby craws locally, but this works for me) Just about 15 minutes in, felt that solid thump, and set the hook on, and landed, a nice 20" bronze fish. I'd lost another 4+lbs smallie last month, and that memory had really been hanging with me, I didn't know if I'd have another crack at one that size for a while.

Just snail pacing jigs around is slow, concentration demanding fishing, but fish like that will always keep me coming back, year round.

Hate it when i lose good fish, it leaves me with a sick feeling in my stomach..ugh. Patience is the name of the game.

But good job ! I'm still waiting to catch my first smallmouth, wish me luck !

Congrats man! Sounds like a blast, glad you got another chance at a lunker

WTG on the PB smallie! I too am still looking for my personal first.

Congrats, 38SF!

A 20-incher is a big fish, so congrats. Isn't it weird how we remember the ones we lose more than the ones we catch, aka the wons?

Hate it when i lose good fish, it leaves me with a sick feeling in my stomach..ugh. Patience is the name of the game.

But good job ! I'm still waiting to catch my first smallmouth, wish me luck !

Thanks! And good luck, smallies sure are addictive. I don't normally let the losses get to me too badly, but losing a PB Smallmouth is tough. I'm a brown fish lover, I'd rather catch a 4lbs smallie than a 7lbs largemouth any day.

Congrats on your pb.

Thanks for the kind words everyone!

Nice size smallie

WTG on your pb