Skip to main content

Smallmouth Size Increasing?

Smallmouth Size Increasing?

This one was taken yesterday, and we're catching smallmouths so big, they won't fit in the frame. (Actually, a little better camera work would help immensely, but it's no biggie.) Jesting aside, they do keep getting bigger every year. Suddenly, multiple 6-pounders are being weighed in at tournaments that never had any over 6 weighed in during previous decades — the Sturgeon Bay Open on Lake Michigan serving as a prime example.

Last year was undoubtably my best ever for smallmouth size over 6 pounds, and we caught them in a number of venues, including Chequamegon Bay, where my friend, guide Chris Beeksma plies his trade. "If it's over 21 inches long, it typically weighs over 6 on the Bay," he says. "They're pretty stout, here. They grow rounder instead of longer." The Bay is on Lake Superior, of course. Most people think lake trout and steelhead when the subject turns to Superior, but the smallies grow huge in several places along the South Shore.

It takes 22 inches or more on most of the inland lakes I frequent to top 6 pounds, with the possible exception of late fall and early spring.  But why are we suddenly seeing so many more that size than at any point in the past?


Some people say it's the gobies, but we have no gobies on these inland lakes. In fact, there are no invasive species of minnows on any of the lakes I'm talking about.

My theory is, smallmouths have had longer growing seasons over this past decade than at any previous point during my lifetime. Spring has been arriving earlier and winter setting in later than ever before. According to NASA, the 10 hottest years on record have occurred in the past 14 years, on a global basis, with 2005 being the hottest ever recorded. It certainly seems like smallmouths are putting on more inches and pounds per year in a band stretching from the northern reaches of Iowa north into Canada, to the far northern extremes of the natural range of smallmouth bass. In that part of the world, the weather is making conditions closer to optimum for growth. Too much heat may have the opposite effect, but in places like Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, extremes on the cold end of the scale — along with shorter spring and fall periods — historically worked against optimum growth.

Just a theory. Whatever's causing it, I'm not complaining. The chances for catching a smallmouth over 8 pounds in this part of the world certainly seem better than ever.


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

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

The swim jig should be a staple in every serious bass angler's arsenal. Legendary professional bass angler Mark Davis ex...
Learn

In-Fisherman TV Springtime Smallmouth SlamFest

The swim jig should be a staple in every serious bass angler's arsenal. Legendary professional bass angler Mark Davis ex...
Learn

Choose the Right Hooks for Your Harness Rigs and CATCH MORE FISH

The swim jig should be a staple in every serious bass angler's arsenal. Legendary professional bass angler Mark Davis ex...
Learn

Andy Montgomery's Strike King Skipping Buzzbait

The swim jig should be a staple in every serious bass angler's arsenal. Legendary professional bass angler Mark Davis ex...
Learn

Lew's Signature Series Bladed Jig Rod with Andy Montgomery

The swim jig should be a staple in every serious bass angler's arsenal. Legendary professional bass angler Mark Davis ex...
Learn

Hide Your Line--Camo Trick for Fishing Line with Bryant Smith

The swim jig should be a staple in every serious bass angler's arsenal. Legendary professional bass angler Mark Davis ex...
Learn

Pick the RIGHT Buzzbait Trailers with Andy Montgomery

The swim jig should be a staple in every serious bass angler's arsenal. Legendary professional bass angler Mark Davis ex...
Learn

The Strike King KVD Popping Perch is AWESOME with Bryant Smith

The swim jig should be a staple in every serious bass angler's arsenal. Legendary professional bass angler Mark Davis ex...
Learn

When to Fish a BIG JIG for Bass with Greg Hackney

The swim jig should be a staple in every serious bass angler's arsenal. Legendary professional bass angler Mark Davis ex...
Learn

The BEST Way to Trim A Jig Skirt with Greg Hackney

The swim jig should be a staple in every serious bass angler's arsenal. Legendary professional bass angler Mark Davis ex...
Learn

Prespawn Buzzbaits for BIG Largemouth Bass with Keith Combs

The swim jig should be a staple in every serious bass angler's arsenal. Legendary professional bass angler Mark Davis ex...
Learn

Keith Combs talks about the Strike King Rage Cut-R Worm

The swim jig should be a staple in every serious bass angler's arsenal. Legendary professional bass angler Mark Davis ex...
Gear

Swim Jig Secrets for Shallow Water Largemouth Bass with Mark Davis

In-Fisherman Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

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

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

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

Enjoying What You're Reading?

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

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now