Big Indiana Bass

If you've spent any time fishing our rivers and streams for smallmouth bass, then you likely know that the benchmark by which all smallies are compared is that "magic" length of 20 inches. Anything less is simply a nice fish. Anything greater is an accomplishment, very similar to the 10-lb. benchmark we commonly use for largemouth. Cliff Gerwick just crushed that standard over the weekend by landing this 22" smallie, and on a fly rod no less. Cliff was fishing Sugar Cr. using a topwater popper, and after a few heart-pounding runs, was able to subdue the beast. Cliff stated that the fish completely engulfed the popper. A quick photo on the damp streambank, and then this smallie was babied back into the river to fight again another day.