My biggest smallie

June 25, 2013

Scott Tuft

Valparaiso IN

As usual you catch a trophy fish when you least expect it. I was on a very relaxed guys fishing trip to Burt Lake Michigan. We had just weathered a storm that quickly rolled through the lake and wanted to fish some more. We pulled up on a rocky point, had the radio blaring, were laughing and having fun. We had already caught a couple of 3.5-4 pounders when I hooked this beauty. I knew that I had a larger fish on because of the drag. When she jumped near the boat, we all knew how special a fish it was! I landed it, measured and let her live to fight another day!

Species: Smallmouth Bass

Date Caught: 05/30/2013

Kept / Released: Released

Region of Catch: Region 1

Length: 23

Recent Videos

Destinations

In-Fisherman Classics: Road Hunting Big Manitoba Pike

Destinations

In-Fisherman Classics: Road Hunting Big Manitoba Pike

Al and James Lindner locate and catch huge Manitoba pike after locating them visually. Burning bucktails is a great presentation to trigger big pike into eating. During spring and fall, and water temps hit 50 degrees, big pike move shallow and feed heavily. This is a neat look back on how to locate and catch big northern pike. They also talk about water temperature tolerance and how it's important to pay attention to water temps. How does this info play to today's pike and muskie fishing efforts?

Learn

In-Fisherman Classics: Understanding Northern Pike Behavior in Warming Water

Learn

In-Fisherman Classics: Understanding Northern Pike Behavior in Warming Water

Dave Csanda discuss how pike attitude changes as the day wanes on and water temps increase. There are some tricks to catching pike as activity changes, but there's always a way to catch them when they are showing themselves. Does this insight still play in today's modern era of pike fishing?

Gear

In-Fisherman Classics: Muskie Mechanics and Why We Chase Muskies

Gear

In-Fisherman Classics: Muskie Mechanics and Why We Chase Muskies

Al Lindner talks about his early muskie memories and how to find and catch more muskies. Lots has changed over recent decades in the muskie world, how does this information measure up today?

Destinations

In-Fisherman Classics: The Perfect Muskie Spot

Destinations

In-Fisherman Classics: The Perfect Muskie Spot

The In-Fisherman crew talks about finding key structural elements that offer all the necessities to attract and hold baitfish, that in turn brings in the muskies. Muskies are known to take advantage of key spots, almost the exact same cast, time after time. Finding those spots used to be a bit more difficult, and trolling was a great option to understanding how the structure plays out. Nowadays, we have updated mapping and sonar options to shorten the learning curve. Good info that still holds true today? Let us know what you think below!

Learn

In-Fisherman TV: Ripping Big Rubber on Lake St. Clair with Spencer Berman

Learn

In-Fisherman TV: Ripping Big Rubber on Lake St. Clair with Spencer Berman

In-Fisherman TV host Thomas Allen nails a giant Lake St. Clair muskie on the figure 8 with Spencer Berman looking on. Ripping big rubber requires specialized equipment and focusing on the right water. Lake St. Clair is a huge place, and one of the finest muskie fisheries on the planet. This is a quick look at the process and a big 50-inicher.

Learn

In-Fisherman TV: Late Fall Trolling Tips for Lake of the Woods Muskies

Learn

In-Fisherman TV: Late Fall Trolling Tips for Lake of the Woods Muskies

There's little doubt that Lake of the Woods is one of the finest muskie fisheries in the world, and it offers an adventure of a lifetime. Spencer Caruso owns and operates Limitless Expeditions in association with Uncle Mark's Outpost near Big Narrows on legendary Lake of the Woods. Trolling up big fall muskies takes some specialized equipment, big forage-mimicking baits and understanding contours. The duo puts in the work and a few fish in the bag.

Learn

In-Fisherman Classics: Primetime Pike and Peak Periods

Learn

In-Fisherman Classics: Primetime Pike and Peak Periods

Al Lindner talks about focusing on the right time to target big northern pike. Shallow water northern pike are the pinnacle of the experience, but timing is key to finding and catching them. The In-Fisherman crew talks about when and where to focus your efforts to maximize you catch rates--pike movements are easier to predict than you might realize.

Learn

In-Fisherman Classics: Targeting Muskies and Pike with Crankbaits

Learn

In-Fisherman Classics: Targeting Muskies and Pike with Crankbaits

The In-Fisherman team discusses how to employ deep-diving crankbaits for weed-holding muskies and pike. In cold water, you need to match your retrieve to the attitude of the fish, and pick a color that makes sense in comparison to the forage base. Ron Lindner and Dan Sura talk about a few rigging options and presentation tactics to catch numbers of muskies on cranks.

Learn

In-Fisherman Classics: Speed Trolling for Big Muskies

Learn

In-Fisherman Classics: Speed Trolling for Big Muskies

Does color matter? How fast can you retrieve a bait? How big is too big for muskie lures? How fast does a muskie feed? All good questions that the In-Fisherman crew has answers to. What's interesting is the discussion inside this video about bait size and feeding speed, as we know now and gear has evolved to accommodate larger baits, muskies will eat huge presentations that can be near impossible to cast. It's neat to see the early days and then compare it to muskie fishing techniques today.

Fishing

NEW Loomis GLX BASS Rods: Jig Worm and Drop Shot Rod Actions with Josh Douglas

Fishing

NEW Loomis GLX BASS Rods: Jig Worm and Drop Shot Rod Actions with Josh Douglas

Loomis Pro Josh Douglas introduces two of his favorite rod models within the redesigned GLX BASS lineup, the 891S JWR Jig Worm Rod 863S DSR Drop Shot Rod. When it comes to presenting finesse baits to hefty smallmouth bass and stubborn largemouth bass, these two rods are immediate go-to's. Douglas explains why these two feature-rich spinning rod actions are unique and highly effective for targeting bass anywhere they swim. From the bass-dense waters of his home state of Minnesota to Florida, Texas and everywhere in between, Douglas makes it clear why you need these two rods in your arsenal.

Learn

The Qualified Captain Podcast: Boater Recounts High-Speed Ejection and Epic Survival Swim

Learn

The Qualified Captain Podcast: Boater Recounts High-Speed Ejection and Epic Survival Swim

After a close call in the frigid waters of Minnesota's Lake Minnetonka, Jack Doty is urging fellow boaters to avoid the mistakes that nearly cost him his life.

Gear

This Svivlo baitcast reel won't backlash. We tried!

Gear

This Svivlo baitcast reel won't backlash. We tried!

Co-founder and CEO Patrik Zander joins In-Fisherman publisher Todd Ceisner to break down the new baitcast reels from Svivlo, a Swedish brand that just may have figured out how to eliminate backlashes altogether with its patented CastGuard auto-tuning technology.

See All Videos

Buy Digital Single Issues

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Buy Single Digital Issue on the In-Fisherman App

Other Magazines

Game & Fish

In-Fisherman

Florida Sportsman

Fly Fisherman

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

2023 Fly Fisherman Destinations

Buy A Copy

2023 Fly Fisherman Destinations

Buy A Copy

2023 Fly Fishing Made Easy

Buy A Copy

2023 Fly Fishing Made Easy

Buy A Copy

2023 Catfish In-Sider Guide

Buy A Copy

2023 Catfish In-Sider Guide

Buy A Copy

2023 In-Fisherman Bass Guide

Buy A Copy

2023 In-Fisherman Bass Guide

Buy A Copy

2023 Kayak Fishing Fun

Buy A Copy

2023 Kayak Fishing Fun

Buy A Copy

2023 In-Fisherman Bass Guide Gear Box

Buy A Copy

2023 In-Fisherman Bass Guide Gear Box

Buy A Copy

See All Special Interest Magazines

More You May Be Interested In

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All In-Fisherman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?

Subscribe Now

In-Fisherman's Esox Week 2024!

Subscribe & Save.

My biggest smallie

Recommended

Video That May Interest You

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Buy Digital Single Issues

Don't miss an issue.Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Other Magazines

Game & Fish

Game & Fish

In-Fisherman

In-Fisherman

Florida Sportsman

Florida Sportsman

Fly Fisherman

Fly Fisherman

Special Interest Magazines

2023 Fly Fisherman Destinations

2023 Fly Fisherman Destinations

2023 Fly Fishing Made Easy

2023 Fly Fishing Made Easy

2023 Catfish In-Sider Guide

2023 Catfish In-Sider Guide

2023 In-Fisherman Bass Guide

2023 In-Fisherman Bass Guide

2023 Kayak Fishing Fun

2023 Kayak Fishing Fun

2023 In-Fisherman Bass Guide Gear Box

2023 In-Fisherman Bass Guide Gear Box

More You May Be Interested In

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get Digital Access.

Not a Subscriber?

Get a Full Yearof Guns & Ammo& Digital Access.

Get the Newsletter

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.