this is the biggest smallie i've ever personally seen. one of the guys in our group caught it up in the boundary waters (northern minnesota, we were maybe a half-mile from the canadian border at the time) many years ago. we didn't have a net, and it was my job to grab it on a slick rock bank. i fell into the water as i tried to lip it, but wound up cradling it and made sure it didn't get away. would have never forgiven myself. measured just a hair shy of 24 inches. two freaking feet of smallmouth. can you imagine? had to be seven pounds.
man, i miss the boundary waters. i've caught maybe a dozen smallies in my life of at least 20 inches, and all but two of 'em came in my three weeks (three separate week-long trips) i was up there. one in the missouri ozarks (black river) and one in the new river in southern virginia two years ago.
nothing in my experience compares to the boundary waters, though. seriously, it got to the point where we were almost disappointed in 18-inch smallies because they didn't hit 20 inches. that's how good the fishing was on those trips. i think i just talked myself into going back next summer.
yep, i did. ely, minnesota, here i come ...
