So I was out tonight fishing, I had and hour so I thought maybe I could land a few. I brought only a few spinnerbaits and two packs of tubes. I was planning on just throwing spinners, but realized I was already set up for tubes. So I was wading and throwing up to the bank. About 15 minutes into the trip I hook a pig. I thought for sure it was a catfish because it went deep and would not come up. It was not for a few minutes until the fish showed itself to me. I realized it was a monster Smallie. It was at this point in time that I started to get nervous. After a few more minutes the battle was over and I was holding a 4.3# Smallie. She was 21 inches long, and will count for my personal best bass. (I know, kind of small, but its PA.)

I will post a picture, but I forgot my scale and camera at home so I had to drive 2 minutes to my house. She was weighed, measured, photographed and released. I REPEAT, SHE WAS RELEASED WITHOUT A PROBLEM. The picture was taken in my driveway. I made sure to speed the process along so I could get her back into the water. I had a few people telling me to mount it, and another wanting to eat it. I made sure to put her back where she came from. As I was putting her into the water she kind of chilled out for a few minutes, then swam away. I stayed in the water making sure she did not resurface for several minutes.

nice fish! Congrats!

Nice fish

You're right...she's a beaut!  Congrats!

And, yeah - Kudos to you for doing the right thing.  I'm proud of you   8-)

Beautiful fish.  Congratulations on catching your personal best!

Great fish, and Congrats.

Fine fish, great pic!

8-)

nice fish  where did you catch her???

Congrats on both the catch and the release.  

Great looking Smallmouth. Where you from in Pa?

Thanks all. I live in Pottstown, and she was caught out of the Skuykill River.

That is a nice fish you caught there.  Great picture

Nice river smallie. I can share your concern with thinking it could be a catfish. I hooked a giant this spring on a crankbait on lake erie and it turned out to be a 10.5 lb channel cat.

Beautiful looking fish... Congrats!  

  Congrats on your personal best. It's a beautiful smallie. You did the right thing releasing it. Now maybe you will catch her again when she's over 5lbs.

Thanks all. I live in Pottstown, and she was caught out of the Skuykill River.

o ok  i fish western PA for smallies   well congrats

Congrats on the PB !

And a "Honorable Mention" on all the extra efforts to ensure her survival with a successful release -

Way to ensure you have a healthy fishery in the future !

A-Jay

Very Nice Fish! Congrats on your new PB!

Beautiful Fish!! Congrats on the catch...

Very nice fish, congratulations. Thanks for giving someone a chance at catching a nice fish.

Tight lines  8-)

Nice fish!

Nice short story there Rockhopper, and good job getting that fish back to the water.  BTW, kudos to a new pb.