As I read of everones favorite presentation, lure and fish memories.I find my self envious of the southern strain of bass untill I remember a trophy is relative only to the time and place and method of the catch.

 With that in mind my trophy fish will be over 6Lbs.

Caught without use of a

net

live bait

braided line

These are my trophy rules anyone else have rules?

My rules would have to be, (since I have caught your fish by your rules), anything over 8lb's with only plastics (NOT spinnerbaits, crankbaits, worms and senkos plastics), just normal line as well, and from the shore.

If I had a boat the last rule would not apply to my rules, but to catch a hawg like that from the shore is something....in my eyes anyways.

i ytold myself 10 pounds would be the limit to mount a trophy, but after talking to many old timers who never caght a 10 lber, changed my mind,i caght a 9 lber and had it mounted,before that my biggest was 5. u also hae to consider where u fish. a 10 lb in ca wouldnt be considered a trophy, but it is in ga

For a couple of years now my "trophy" standard has been 8.5 lbs.  I have come close a couple of times and have considered having a reproduction made of a 6.5 lb'er that I pulled in last year and have measurements and pictures of, but I am still holding out.

I would prefer the "right" six numbers on a Powerball ticket, but I would settle for a 12 lb smallmouth. I'm also fishing for a 40 lb 6 oz brown trout, a 20 lb rainbow and a 25 lb 2 oz walley.

Otherwise, it's a plastic replica for me.

I am starting to wonder if it will ever happen for me. I have taken pictures of plenty, but am missing having a mount in the worst way.

My number has been 8 plus, and have caught a few over 7 and a bunch over 6.  Living in Ohio, getting a chance once maybe twice a year to take a trip south to FL, GA, TX, AL...I will soon give in to a lower number.

I will say, there is something in me that says one caught on a live shiner in FL would make me feel guilty looking at it on the wall.  Think it will have to be an artificial catch to make me feel 'worthy'.

By the way, Roadwarrior, what's the weight of those two smallies in your picture. Those two are gorgeous in color.  Just curious.

State record here in Delaware is a little over 10 lbs....So, if I could hit something over 8 I would be happy!...No live bait is my only basic rule. I don't fish with braided line anyhow unless I was in heavy cover during a tournament, and that wouldn't be in my home state anyway. Within a pound of the state record would be a trophy I guess!

10Lb's and in the boat...pic and #'s...release and replica.....................I guess those are my rules

My trophies would be a 10+ largemouth, a 6# smallmouth, and a 3+ crappie. I have a 4.5 Ky bass and a Lg mouth at 6 on the wall and a 1+ bluegill. Your area determines what is a trophy. Most guys around here wouldn't think of mounting the fish I did but I have fished all my life and those are the biggest ones I have caught. Set your goals were you can reach them then as you do move them a little higher.

ball_coach_1,

I sent you a PM. The fat one was just over 7 lbs, the long one a shade over 8.  Both were caught on the Tennessee River, 1/15/05.

Although I have caught a lot of fish between 5 and 10 pounds, I still get extremely excited when I catch one in that size range. I caught a 6.5 pounder today. While this is not one I would consider mounting, it is still a trophy fish in my opinion. I can't wait to hit the water again in the morning.

I have never had a fish mounted, but I have always said if I catch one 15 pounds or better I will get a replica mount. The fish would have to be caught on an artifical lure. I've gotten close with one a little over 13 pounds, which I released. Some of our lakes are capable of producing fish of this size. At a lake near my home a guy caught a 16 plus last year while bream fishing.

7 & 8 pound smallmouths, that's awesome.  I've never caught a smallmouth.

I always told myself 8 lbs if caught from my area of Illinois I did get one 8 lbs in Missouri and let it swim.

I often frown when I see bass under 6 lbs mounted. But it all depends on the angler and his level along with where they were caught and how old. If it was a 3 year old I'd mount his first fish or atleast a replica of it.

I'm looking for that 8lb plus smallmouth no matter how I catch it, and looking for double digits in a largemouth on an artificals!

Biggest largemouth was almost 9 pounds and I released her, and also released a smallmouth just over 6 pounds!

I do have a 3 pound crappie mounted. Only fish that I've had mounted so far!

I guess my trophy sized largemouth would have to be over 13.  I would probably still release her, but that would be a nice mount.