Those of us who chase these elusive smallmouth bass know what a challenge looking for the plus sized fish can be. 

Despite being 2 days left in this year, 

my personal smallmouth bass campaign was over a several weeks ago.

Looking back at my best 5 fish bag this year gives me something to shoot for during the next one.

Managed 30.26 lbs in 2022 and that will be my target for 2023.

Would love to be able to get that one done in one day . . .

Either way, some pretty fish.

Fish Hard

A-Jay

 

Awesome!
 

I’m going to go out on a limb and say next year is going to be the year for you. This one already was. But next year, man, next year’s gonna be good. 

You are my hero.  Great year for you!

 

Footballs ? 

Great bass A-Jay. Some really nice fish!

A six lb average is very respectable. Well done. 

Congrats man! I’m hoping to catch one over 3 lbs next year myself! 

55 minutes ago, jitterbug127 said:

Congrats man! I’m hoping to catch one over 3 lbs next year myself! 

My best is 4-7

Maybe I'll be able to beat that in 2023. A-Jay you inspire me!

Absolute bruiser bronzebacks. 

Some giant smallies!

Atta boy, A-Jay!!! Absolute bruisers. I had an off year with the bronzebacks in 22, but I didn't target them much. My best five this year would go around 16#. Since catching my 6-4 and getting it mounted, I've kinda been on a mission to catch a LM over 7#. Ain't caught one yet, but my average size is way up, and I've seriously upped my heavy cover game over the past couple years.

 Then came muskiepalooza this fall, and I couldn't take my focus off of catching a four footer. I didn't get there, but I did catch 9 over 40", with the biggest being a 45". I covered a ton of water offshore chasing those esox, and I found some very smallmouth friendly structure. I dropped some waypoints I'll for sure revisit in search of smallies in 23.

2 minutes ago, T-Billy said:

Atta boy, A-Jay!!! Absolute bruisers. I had an off year with the bronzebacks in 22, but I didn't target them much. My best five this year would go around 16#. Since catching my 6-4 and getting it mounted, I've kinda been on a mission to catch a LM over 7#. Ain't caught one yet, but my average size is way up, and I've seriously upped my heavy cover game over the past couple years.

 Then came muskiepalooza this fall, and I couldn't take my focus off of catching a four footer. I didn't get there, but I did catch 9 over 40". I covered a ton of water offshore chasing those esox, and found some very smallmouth friendly structure. I dropped waypoints I'll for sure revisit in search of smallies in 23.

I would have thought if it was smallmouth friendly structure they would have jumped all over your A rig. East TN smallies have finally moved offshore after the freeze and they love those things (according to anyone but me ) 

1 minute ago, TnRiver46 said:

I would have thought if it was smallmouth friendly structure they would have jumped all over your A rig. East TN smallies have finally moved offshore after the freeze and they love those things (according to anyone but me ) 

I was surprised I didn't get into any smallies myself with that thing. I was throwing it rigged with 3.8 and 4.3 Keitechs. Downsizing the baits will probably help with the smallmouth. The structure was crawling with muskie though, and will be again in the early spring, but hopefully I'll be able to find some brownies on it late pre-spawn and through the summer. One ledge near the dam has me particularly excited. We'll see come April.

25 minutes ago, T-Billy said:

Atta boy, A-Jay!!! Absolute bruisers. I had an off year with the bronzebacks in 22, but I didn't target them much. My best five this year would go around 16#. Since catching my 6-4 and getting it mounted, I've kinda been on a mission to catch a LM over 7#. Ain't caught one yet, but my average size is way up, and I've seriously upped my heavy cover game over the past couple years.

 Then came muskiepalooza this fall, and I couldn't take my focus off of catching a four footer. I didn't get there, but I did catch 9 over 40", with the biggest being a 45". I covered a ton of water offshore chasing those esox, and I found some very smallmouth friendly structure. I dropped some waypoints I'll for sure revisit in search of smallies in 23.

Totally The Term of the Day !

Nicely Done and they were some insane fish as well !

A-Jay

Absolutely incredible ???? You deserve it. If you see a boat following you around next year just ignore it. 
Congrats 

Awesome job!  Caught a bunch of 3-5 pounders this year. A few right around 6 one over 6. I went out today on the susky. Main river was 33 degrees with ice/ slush flowing down the main channel. I fished a creek mouth that was 36-37 but, got a big ol goose egg for the day. 

Most people would consider one of those fish a bucket list deal, congrats!   

 

From watching your videos of some of these, and then those pics.....seems you've locked down on at least two locations that you're finding the big fish at.

 

Lake Menderchuck is safe though, not enough intel provided, and I live too far away ?

Any one of those fish could have eaten my pb smallie. Of course, that’s gonna change this year. I’m going to spend less time in small creeks and try to frequent large rivers and lakes a bit more. 2022 was pretty awful for me, fishing-wise. I have a feeling 2023 will be better

A good season there for sure @A-Jay!

I didn’t get quite as high of a total for my best five, and only put the top three on the scales this year, but I’d say my best five were right about 28lbs. Caught a ton of 3-5lb fish throughout the summer, mainly on my favourite home water, Georgian Bay, but the best five all came in less than 12 hours of fishing over three days in October. It was at my second favourite smallmouth haunt, the Elliot Lake region of north central Ontario where my parents live. Best two fish were 5.8 and 5.7 lbs, and we got probably 10 more between 5 and 5.5lbs with a bunch of “smaller” ones in the 4-5lb range. It’s one of the only areas in our province where bass season is open year round, and I keep telling myself I gotta get up there in April/May when they’re at their biggest weights of the year, just as they slide shallow to feed before they spawn in June. Maybe this year I’ll get a day or two to sneak up there and finally find that 7lber, I know they’re around cause I’ve lost two in the summer up there that’d be every bit of 7. 

44 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Most people would consider one of those fish a bucket list deal, congrats!   

 

From watching your videos of some of these, and then those pics.....seems you've locked down on at least two locations that you're finding the big fish at.

 

Lake Menderchuck is safe though, not enough intel provided, and I live too far away ?

Thanks ~ 

Big fish spots can be like buried Treasure Chests

and Timing can be the key that can open those chests.

Since I have to make my own keys, I guard them both pretty closely.

And still wish every angler that happens across any treasure chest

the very best of luck. 

A-Jay

6 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Thanks ~ 

Big fish spots can be like buried Treasure Chests

and Timing can be the key that can open those chests.

Since I have to make my own keys, I guard them both pretty closely.

And still wish every angler that happens across any treasure chest

the very best of luck. 

A-Jay

I'm reminded of the younger aged gentlemen who found the actual spot where is dad caught the 10lb Erie SM.   That dude searched for a long time for that spot and used the most advanced electronics.    There is a huge financial and time investment with most honey holes.    I doubt that's the last massive SM he catches from that location, but his boat will be a marked target after that catch and publicity.   He'll have drones following him lol. 

19 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

I'm reminded of the younger aged gentlemen who found the actual spot where is dad caught the 10lb Erie SM.   That dude searched for a long time for that spot and used the most advanced electronics.    There is a huge financial and time investment with most honey holes.    I doubt that's the last massive SM he catches from that location, but his boat will be a marked target after that catch and publicity.   He'll have drones following him lol. 

Maybe ~

Has happened to more than a couple of big fish hunters (of various species) over the years.

Folks following them around, waiting outside their homes, chasing them around the lake.

All to catch another anglers fish - weak salad if you ask me. 

Noting like that has happened to me yet but I haven't posted up a 10 lb brown bass video either.

Chances are double powerball slim I would even ever see a fish like that.

However, if I ever chose to even post something, let's just say that there would need to be some careful consideration on how, when & where I did it.

Other wise it's just not worth the hassle.

A-Jay

 

 

You did quite an amazing job this year @A-Jay. For many people those would be fish of a lifetime and you're able to catch many of these in just a single year! I caught my PB smallie this year in August up in the northeastern point of Minnesota. Didn't get a weight but it was 18" with a large gut. That bronzeback put up a huge fight on my light spinning setup. Good luck on achieving your goal next year

8 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Has happened to more than a couple of big fish hunters (of various species) over the years.

Folks following them around, waiting outside their homes, chasing them around the lake.

I've told my muskie guide buddy that if he were alive today, Elvis would be jealous of the crowds he draws. He'd set up on a huge offshore school of shad this past Nov. and Dec. and have his clients casting for fish, and would soon be surrounded by other boats just outside his clients casting range. It's just shameful behavior IMO. 

8 hours ago, A-Jay said:

All to catch another anglers fish - weak salad if you ask me. 

Absolutely. Nothing to take pride in there. Finding them and figuring out what they'll bite is the hard part. Crowding someone else and copying them takes no skill. 

5 hours ago, T-Billy said:

and would soon be surrounded by other boats just outside his clients casting range. It's just shameful behavior IMO. 

Lol that's a normal day here walleye or crappie fishing.  They're called "vultures" or "tail pipers."