I don't want to spend this thread speculating about weight or size. I don't know the guide service, and this definitely isn't me trying to offer advertisement.

 

Simply, she's an absolute tank, period.  I'd also imagine that since it was caught on the fly and in VA that it's a river fish.  That fish, in a river, on the fly.  I feel like this is why we fish, right? Like, I'd be pretty cool spending the rest of the float sipping whisky and enjoying the scenery.

 

Whoa.......

Those river giants are a thing of beauty! Good for him. 

Super Smallmouth ~

And on a fly rod no less

Congrats to Mr Strife

A-Jay

Good to see there's still some monsters lurking in VA.  Almost certainly the New, although I haven't heard about this one yet.  Like everyone else said, congrats this guy.

Beautiful smallie.

My 7-6 measured 22x17 so I'm sure that fish at 25.25x17.5 would go over 9lbs.

The world record at 11-15 was 27x21.66.

Tank of a smallie.  Congrats Mr Strife,

 

So, the guide is the guy who invented the Gamechanger.  An articulated streamer that's been made to catch anything that swims. Imagine a swim bait made of maribou or synthetic fibers that just sorta "breathes" on the pause. 

 

This catch is awesome. 

 

 

I don't know if I can believe this, but this catch was somewhere on the James, according to some members in my fishing club, who are more linked in fishing-wise than I am.  I can remember the my younger days, before all the fish kills, when the James was the big fish river rather than the New.  

Outstanding!

 

Congrats.

On 9/15/2019 at 2:52 PM, Turkey sandwich said:

So, the guide is the guy who invented the Gamechanger.  An articulated streamer that's been made to catch anything that swims. Imagine a swim bait made of maribou or synthetic fibers that just sorta "breathes" on the pause. 

 

This catch is awesome. 

 

 

Had to look them up and those are some awesome looking baits

 

That's a monster!

On 9/27/2019 at 3:33 PM, BassNJake said:

Had to look them up and those are some awesome looking baits

 

Yep. They're not the easiest to cast and take a while to tie, but they're killer!

On 9/15/2019 at 7:21 AM, CountryboyinDC said:

Good to see there's still some monsters lurking in VA.  Almost certainly the New, although I haven't heard about this one yet.  Like everyone else said, congrats this guy.

I know where it was caught. I got a picture of it sent to me the next day. Actually have fished for trout only a couple miles from the spot it was caught. Buddy of mine is “in the know” in the fly fishing scene, and it’s nowhere near where you’d think it would be... 
 

There are a few monsters near that size in the James, but they’re smart and they’re not in easy spots to get to. 

On 11/7/2019 at 10:24 PM, Fairtax4me said:

I know where it was caught. I got a picture of it sent to me the next day. Actually have fished for trout only a couple miles from the spot it was caught. Buddy of mine is “in the know” in the fly fishing scene, and it’s nowhere near where you’d think it would be... 
 

There are a few monsters near that size in the James, but they’re smart and they’re not in easy spots to get to. 

Smallmouth living near trout get really big in TN. You can actually buy trout and fish with them for smallies legally, it’s quite fun and they are only $5/dozen for 4-6 inch trout 

 

Man that’s a nice smallie. 

Beauty

On September 15, 2019 at 8:47 AM, Dwight Hottle said:

Beautiful smallie.

My 7-6 measured 22x17 so I'm sure that fish at 25.25x17.5 would go over 9lbs.

The world record at 11-15 was 27x21.66.

9.34 lbs. using L X L  X G /1200 = WT in lbs.

difinately a giant smallie.

Tom

WOW

nuff said 

Not often you see a smallmouth bass over 25 inches in length. Does he have a picture of this smallmouth bass on a fish ruler? Congratulations to Brian for catching a beautiful smallmouth bass.