Mind if I ask you a few questions then....

Have you heard how the fishing is in this section of river?

What time of year would you recommend to catch both numbers and some size?

What are the minimum boat specs that I would need? (boat length, motor (electric/gas), etc.)

How much does a non-resident fishing license cost in TN?

And finally, would you care to fish that section of river sometime?  lol    ;D

LOL RW wheres the Largies at?  

SPEEDBEAD,

* I don't know the Tennessee River on the east side of the state.

* So, I don't know if or when you should go.

* Any size boat will do, the river originates somewhere close to Knoxville and is not big and dangerous.

* An out-of-state license is $28.

WhiteMike1018,

Where are the largies?

Well, largemouth bass are found throughout the Tennessee River system, but the reservoir of note is the Big G, near Birmingham, Alabama. Guntersville is one of the top bass lakes in the country and a favorite on tour. This particular lake is probably the main reason Birmingham was voted Bass Capital of The World last year in Bassmaster's magazine. The nominated cities included Orlando, Nashville, Dallas and several more.

Surprising, hun?

Thanks. Not sure about the trip...

you realize that the world record smallmouth is pretty close to 11 lbs and some od oz's right? so if you caught a 10 lb smallie it would be probably the second larges one ever caught if not definitly in the top 5 .. now ive been fishing along time and i am not saying that 10 lbs is impossible but ..... then again hey we are all fishermen right?

C-dav, RW is chasing the record as we speak. He fishes in the general area where the record was caught, so it is not out of the question that he had his hands on one that large.

awsome catches

The World Record Smallmouth is 11 lb 15 oz. The bass was caught by David Hayes at Dale Hollow Lake.

What is remarkable is the spread between #1 and #2. The second largest smallmouth bass also came out of Dale Hollow, 10 lb 14 oz. This is why the odds of anyone ever breaking the World Record are so extremely remote. The Hayes' fish was an annomally. To break this record I think you would have to catch a 10 1/2 lb smallie that had recently eaten a huge skipjack or gizzard shad. A 12 lb bronzeback is almost unimaginable.

The World Record Smallmouth is 11 lb 15 oz. The bass was caught by David Hayes at Dale Hollow Lake.

What is remarkable is the spread between #1 and #2. The second largest smallmouth bass also came out of Dale Hollow, 10 lb 14 oz. This is why anyone ever breaking the World Record is so extremely remote. The Hayes' fish was an annomally. To break this record I think you would have to catch a 10 1/2 lb smallie that had recently eaten a huge skipjack or gizzard shad. A 12 lb brozeback is almost unimaginable.

A PIG INDEED!!!

That won't stop you from trying though, will it?  

Haven't posted on here in quite a while, but your story got me typing.

RW....thanks for the read, good stuff.