Y'all got any big smallmouth pictures?

[TurbineBlade]

I'm going through smallmouth virus pulmonary syndrome (SVPS) a bit at the moment.  Bringing them up on topwaters is about as exciting as a weekend with batman, and batman has no super powers -- only determination!  This past Friday I had 2 decent ones throw the #2 popper on the jump.  Hook was sharp....don't know what happened.  Neither hurt like the one from 2 weeks ago.  

Then I "guided" Beth around from the stern, watching her catch 'em on heddon torpedoes and zaras all over the place.  If there's something in spin fishing I miss aside from my secret Jiffy carp bait, it's heddon torpedoes.  

I know there are some smallmouth fanatics on here -- anyone have some good ones to show?  If I don't catch a big one the rest of the season, I figure I can at least see some ;).

What about tackle?  I've been favoring an old Fenwick ff857 with a short-head, 8-weight line which makes shooting 40-50' casts in front of the boat extremely easy.  Plus, when you miss a good fish, you can slap the water with the fly rod like an angry idiot (to really impress your wife) without as much fear of breakage ;).  

Gene

[Houli]

I picked this one up last Friday in my neighborhood on Goose Creek .... best of the year so far. Caught on a white size 4 popper.

[Andy Thomas]

Emily and I took a trip on the James with Matt Miles last Sunday.  Water was a little low but Matt worked hard and put us on some great fish.  I'd highly recommend a trip with him if you have the opportunity.

Pictures courtesy of my wife (except for the one of her).  

On Monday, June 29, 2015 at 1:55:18 PM UTC-4, TurbineBlade wrote:

[Misha Gill]

You're in luck! I was just sorting through old pictures and new where to find a few hogs.

[TurbineBlade]

Nice fish folks!  Man, I wanna get this week over with --

Gene

[Melser Bonilla]

@ Elys Ford

[namfos]

Those are real bruisers, Misha!

Mark

[Nick F - Gaucho Fly]

Here's a couple of other contenders... Both on  a CK crawdad pattern

On Monday, June 29, 2015 at 1:55:18 PM UTC-4, TurbineBlade wrote:

[Nick F - Gaucho Fly]

this was supposed to be #2

On Monday, June 29, 2015 at 1:55:18 PM UTC-4, TurbineBlade wrote:

[TurbineBlade]

Beauties guys -- I gotta get into a few of those.  I was just casting in the school field across the street, trying some lines on my fenwicks.....I hate work!

Gene

[Luke M.]

Just got back from my annual trip to quebec for smallmouth (and pike and walleye, but mostly smallmouth).  First time I went that I only used the fly rod.  Here's a sampling:

[Misha Gill]

Nick - love the clawdad. Have caught a ton of big smallies on that fly. I also like that second shot of yours... I take all my smallmouth pics these days with my fingers not in their mouths. Don't get me wrong - I'll still lip em. But I think they look better with their mouths in their natural position. Meaner, somehow. More badass. 

[Nick F - Gaucho Fly]

Thanks! Need to get out and catch some new ones this year.
I agree about the pics. Tough fish to get a decent photo of and lipping them feels like putting them in some kind of MMA maneuver...