Well, let me first start by saying this is not my fish, it's my father in law's fish that I took the pic of. I have been teaching him how to fish over the last few weeks. He recently bought a house on a lake, and was anxious to learn fishing, so I happily obliged. We went fishing yesterday, and this is nicest of what we came up with. Needless to say I was astounded when he hooked this pig...I had all I could do to get the net to get this thing in the boat! ;D I was real proud of him...

It measured 21.5" and was about as big around as a football. I didn't have my scale, so I'm not sure what she weighed. She was a little banged up from spawning, and already had a little hole in the corner of her mouth where she was hooked up once long ago. We were fishing in about 4' water on a rock flat off of a point. It was caught on watermelon grub attached to a 1/4 oz jig head.

Any ideas on how much she weighs?

She looks spawned out, so I would say she might go just over 4 pounds.  

She looks spawned out, so I would say she might go just over 4 pounds.

I would agree with that estimate. My Dad caught one a few weeks ago that was spawned out and also 21.5". That one weighed 4lb 2oz.  

On average, 21.5" would be around 4 lb 13 oz.

Source: NYS Dept of Environmental Conservation

Regardless of the weight, CONGRATULATIONS!

That's a beauty.

Thanks guys, I appreciate the info.  I thought she was about 4-5 lbs, but wasn't too sure.  I'm happy to say we released her right after this photo, and she swam away strong.  

My father in law asked me "was that considered a big Smallmouth?".  I told him 'I've been fishing now for over 25 years, and I still haven't caught one that big, so yeah, it's considered big'.  I think I was more excited than he was...

great fish!

NICE!

Nice one.

Great small mouth! I'd guess just around the 4 lb. mark or so. Hard to tell when a fish is extended out, away from the body like that. It distorts things (in the fisherman's favor!) She is spawned out and may have gone close to 5 lbs. earlier in the year.

Congrats on a fine catch!