Wildcat Creek Wopper Smallmouth

[Slartybardfast]

I would like to start this story by thanking Dustin whose netting skill and furled leader tying skill made this bass possible. We met at Peters Mill at 7am this morning and headed to Wildcat creek park. Geared up and set out on this beautiful day. Water was low, slow and somewhat clear. I was throwing a popper that Gary Krebs tied for me as a tutorial when I bought his popper jigs and streamers that Dustin tied and gave to me. We were floating by a huge pile of trees that had been deposited on an outside corner right past the two houses you can see. Looked like great water and it turned out to be. I didn't see the strike but Dustin said the water erupted and that bass took it like he was the top of the food chain. I just heard it and knew immediately that I had a very large fish on my 5 weight. He was all over the place and I was praying he didn't snap the 4x tippet I had tied on. While I was trying to tire him out the canoe turned backwards in the current. The bass headed under the canoe then around the canoe then I thought all was lost. He swam right through some metal framework sticking up out of the water. Then he swam under the canoe again then around the paddle. All the while Dustin got out of the canoe with the net in hand trying to get a visual on him. We finally landing him and I was apprehensive to lip him because he was huge! In my excitement and concern for the bass after we snapped a photo I revived him and let him go without thinking to measure and weight him. We do however have some photos that we can approximate his length and I'm guessing between 22 and 24 inches.







I spent the rest of the float trip with this euphoric grin on my face and honestly didn't care about catching anything else. Dustin had several nice fish that day.





This last one he caught after we had reached the end on the float and waded out before packing up the gear.



What an absolutely incredible day fishing. Dustin is such a good fishing buddy and I always look forward to spending the day with him.

[barryl]

Leave it to you two to steal my thunder. Wow what a great fall this is shaping up to be. GREAT JOB GUYS!

[trent]

That is one helluva fish. I think Krebsie has another picture for his wall of fame/shame!

I figured the fishing would be off with the cooler temps. Clearly misjudged that!

[reelteacher]

What a fish!! John, you are the man! Great job fighting this fish. What was so funny about this was I had just been saying that there must be some absolute hog smallmouth in those logs and trees, but you'd never know it was there. It doesn't have to come out for anything, just hide with its mouth open and let food swim in. Well, that just shows you the hypnotic affect Krebsie's Rattle Popper has on Big Fish. John drifted that popper past this big dead fall in the middle of the current and BAM!! I wish I had that explosion on Video! It sounded like a toilet flush as it smashed that popper. And then the fight was on! John did a great job putting the fish on his reel and battled rod in one hand and paddle in the other. I just sat there awe struck, trying to figure out how I could net that monster. I jumped out of the boat and did everything I could to scare the fish half to death and break John's line, but the furled leader, tippet ring and 6# test tippet held. And I netted the fish with a huge sigh of relief. We took a few photos and released the fish without any measurements. A smallmouth that large in a stream is anywhere from 14-17 years old depending on the amount of forage available each year. I'm guessing that was a big female, although, you can't predict the sex of black bass by visual examination.
It's such a great feeling knowing that fish that large exist and appear to be thriving in this suburban fishery. Consider all of the contaminates, herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers and other crud this fish has had to endure in its life. A true testimony to the resiliency of God's Creation! WOW!

[krebsie]

John
Congratulations! That truly is a fish of a lifetime!! I was heading to Wildcat fly shop when your text pic. came over my phone. Chad was extremely excited for you and your fish, just to know that there are still fish of that quality in the Wildcat. He also gave me a chart to figure weights for River Smallies. An 18" fish will weigh 3 lbs, 19" 3.5 lbs, 20" 4 lbs, 21" 4.5 lbs, and 22" will weigh 5 lbs. Chad said that he has weighed hundred of fish over the years and these weights to measures seem to run exact. He said that lake fish are a whole different story though and showed me some pics of a 6 pounder that a recent customer caught. Chad said that this smallie had to have been a transplant from above the dam and not a life resident of the river. He said to tell you congratulations John, that is a beautiful fish!!
Dustin you need to post your fish first, then Johns whale. Your fish is an extremely nice fish but after looking at Johns first yours gets a little demoted. Ha Ha.
Sounds like you guys had one of those magical days that we all dream about, and hope for every time we go out on the water. Congratulations to the both of you. Your both great fishermen!!
Krebsie

[rstaight]

I'm setting on the resorts computer checking emails and then I come to TFF's site and see this!

One of girls working here looked over my shoulder and she was impressed. Said that would be one heck of a tournament fish around here.

That fish has to be on steroids! (quite possible out of the Wildcat) I just hope I can come close to something like that this week here in Pigeon Forge.

Nice fish, congratulations.

When are you guys going to take me with you so I can learn some of the secrets?

[Slartybardfast]

I post on the fishing buddy page whenever I'm planing a trip. Dustin and I talked about camping in the Tippecanoe River State Park on Friday Sept 4th and floating the tippy on Sat the 5th in search of pike and smallies. The more the merrier. I think our luck is in the amount of time we go fishing. Whenever we can get away with it.

[troutcharmer]

John,

That is one amazing fish. I can imagine if I had been there and / or caught it. Our ears would STILL be ringing. Great job and thanks for sharing!!

Monica

[Fishreleaser]

Congrats John,
It seams as thou all you have to do is go fishing with Dustin and you can catch a 20+ incher. He sure seams to bring us luck or get us in the right spot.
Thanks for sharing the Photo's

[Slartybardfast]

He was holding his mouth right!