Whopper Ploppin' Big Spring Smallies

Oh, yeah. What do we have here? This is a tank of a smallmouth. First fish of the day on the Whopper Popper. Oh, I like it. Wow. So today is the very last day of May. Usually these guys are done spawning by now, but they haven't even started this year. I stopped at a couple of spots and checked out a couple of bedding areas from the bank, and they have fanned out the beds, but the fish weren't on them yet. So that tells me they are just getting ready to spawn. No bed fishing today, but I thought I'd give that Whopper Popper a try. I got the Perch 75 here. That one wanted it for breakfast. The quick length on this one. This one's probably a 20 incher. About 19 and three quarters. Nice quality fish to start off the day, though. So like I said, I stopped and checked out a few spots from shore. And actually, the fish seem to fan out their beds a couple of weeks ago, for the most part. We had two days where the temperature got up into the mid 70s and it's nice and sunny and calm out. The water probably warmed up quite a bit. They fanned off the beds and then the temperature dropped about 20 degrees for two weeks. They've just been waiting for it to warm up. Finally, today, it's supposed to get up to about 85 degrees, so they might actually spawn today. I wouldn't be surprised if they did. But they've got beds fanned out. They're not sitting on them yet, but they're hanging out in those general areas where the beds are. So that's what we're going to be doing today is throwing this Whopper Popper around some of those spawn areas. Oh, no. Almost big. Got you that time. Oh, this one's a monster. Come here, you. Come here, come here. Oh, yes. Thank you. Wow. Geez, look at the size of that smallmouth. Luckily, he gave me a second chance there. Missed him the first time, but he came back for it. Geez, that is a tank of a smallie. Twenty and about a quarter. Geez, look at that thing. That is nice. They are a little bit beat up. Look, I'm guessing that's just from fanning out the beds. Got him. Oh, yeah, it's another big one. Not a big one like that last one, but it's another quality fish. Come here, you. Geez, they are absolutely hammering that Whopper Popper today. That's another toad. Yeah, pre-spawn topwater action. I love it. You know, I don't even know if I would have tried that Whopper Popper today. Had one of my viewers not commented a couple of days ago that he hammered the smallies over in Maine on the Whopper Popper in 50 degree water, I believe he said. So thank you, Jacob Harrington, for the heads up to try out that Whopper Popper. I'm glad I saw that comment, because had I not, I don't know if I would have tied that thing on today. That is definitely what those fish are looking for. So thank you, Jacob, for the heads up. I definitely appreciate it. Look at this. This is another toad. Wow, look at that. Oh, man. Yeah, I figured I'd be bed fishing them out here today, but I'll take topwater. Topwater is more fun anyway. Oh, my gosh. Look at that one. We're going to get a measure on this one, too, because I bet that's another 20 incher. His nose up against the edge there and another 20. Just a hair over 20. Wow. Incredible. Wow. Oh, my gosh. Oh, this one's a tank. This one's a tank. Oh, my gosh. You come here. You come here. Thank you. He soaked my leg, but I don't really care. Oh, my gosh. Look at that fatty. Jeez. I'm guessing that's going to be number three over 20 for the day. Sorry about the lawnmower noise. We're about to endure. Jeez, look at that toad. That one slammed that lure good, too. That's all right. Another 20 incher. That's beautiful. Oh, what an awesome day. I got smally pee all over my leg. That's all right. It's supposed to get up to 85 degrees today. I might jump in for a swim at the end of the day. Gotcha. Oh, yeah. Where are you going, little buddy? Oh, that one's a tank. Get myself away from that tree a little bit. There we go. Come here, you. Hook's caught up in the net like that. Jeez, look at that chunk. I'm going to measure that one, too. Might be another 20. Nope, about 19 and a half. Jeez, we've been getting some toads today. What a pretty fish. And on top water, too, man. There's more fun way to catch them than that. Oh, yeah, I saw that one. Come on and get it. He's a big one. Oh, nice. Wow, look at that. Absolutely beautiful. Try not to get bass pee all over my leg. Stick her in the water here for just a second. We'll get a quick measurement and send him on his way. I'll just face him that way. I'm going to call that one another 20. He's right on the line there. Nice. Getting some hogs today, man. All right, we'll send him on his way. That's pretty cool. I saw that one come out and grab that plopper. Just a streak of darkness. Oh, I got that one through there. I'm not quite sure. Oh, yeah. Come here, you. Get my pliers out so I don't end up poking myself in the thumb here. Jeez, look at that one. That's got to be another 20 incher. That one is right at 20. Jeez, another tank. Absolutely beautiful fish, too. What is that, 20 number five for the day? Wow, that is awesome.