Kip, I went fished with my Dad in Michigan, May 2009, in Lake Paradise...Smallmouth City! I'm 34, spent my 1st 31-32 years in LA, so I'd never caught a Smallmouth before. I had my camo waders so I got in the water...my Dad was in a little boat. He didn't catch quite as many as I did, but he was catching better size fish. IMHO, Smallmouth are like the Redfish of Freshwater. They'd just about pull the scales off of a Largemouth of the same caliber. Healthy Largemouth definitely hold their own, but not with the Spunk/Vigor/Pep as Smallmouth. Look at the size of the Tail on that Seat Filler! Talk about Turn Water!
Sorry to Thread-Jack, Andy Sir!
Big-Smallie-On!!!