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I was in the store yesterday, where the 10 lb smallmouth that Mr westmoreland caught hangs on the wall. so I asked this guy working their, would it be ok if I took a picture of the fish. the guy was very nice, and said he didn't mind at all. so I took a photo of the big smallmouth. thought some of you guys would enjoy seeing the photo. it sure was a nice catch. I think most everyone would like to boat one like that.[url]http://i892.photobucket.com/albums/ac124/waterdog101/DSCF0576.jpg[/url]
A good photo of a very nice fish.
I met Billy Westmorland a few times in the early 80's when I was first getting serious about bass fishing and thought that he was a very nice person, once he even gave me a couple of buzzbaits after talking to him at a restaurant in Celina. He is a true legend in bass fishing but I was most impressed with how he took the time to discuss fishing with someone starting out.
[QUOTE=rangerjohn;425085]A good photo of a very nice fish.
I met Billy Westmorland a few times in the early 80's when I was first getting serious about bass fishing and thought that he was a very nice person, once he even gave me a couple of buzzbaits after talking to him at a restaurant in Celina. He is a true legend in bass fishing but I was most impressed with how he took the time to discuss fishing with someone starting out.[/QUOTE]
I know what you mean, I to talked with billy a few times. he was an ok guy in my book.
[QUOTE=waterdog101;425075]I was in the store yesterday, where the 10 lb smallmouth that Mr westmoreland caught hangs on the wall.[/QUOTE]
Goooooodness...Shoo-wee!! 10 lbs of smallmouth! That's somethin' right there...Personally for me, I truly do not believe there's another smallmouth in Dale that's gonna break Mr Hay's smallmouth record fish...but I do believe there are smallmouth in Dale today that are over eight pounds. Biggest one I've caught personally was a true solid 6 pounder.
I walked in that store a couple years ago in a hurry. Just wanted to buy some tackle and head out. When I saw that fish I literally couldn't move. The guys behind the counter laughed and laughed.
The late great Billy Westmoreland caught 2 smallies over 10lbs. There have been on 7 smallies on record over 10lbs and Billy is credited with #6 and #7 on the list. This fish can be seen at The One Stop in Celina Tennessee. The other and larger of the 2 that Billy caught was given to a local restaurant and when it was sold several years ago, the new owners did not know what they had and threw the mount in the trash can. The fish that is at The One Stop is the same fish that was caught by Billy with his brother Bobby in the boat. The story that Bobby told me is that they were fishing in Mitchell Creek and were not having a very good day when Billy turned around away from the bank and fired a cast out in the middle. Bobby asked Billy just what in the world was he doing. Billy eased up on the jig and then set the hook and said one word to Bobby as he set the hook, TROPHY. Billy was not telling a fish story because what a trophy it was.
Billy Westmoreland, the greatest Smallmouth Fisherman there ever was, is or will be. I would have loved to meet him and think of him every day as I pass by my Smallmouth wall in my living room that holds Billy's picture that was taken a few weeks before his death and the plaque that we won in December 2009 at the Horse Creek Smallmouth Invitational Billy Westmoreland Memorial Tourney. Like I said last winter, the money is all gone but the plaque that John and I have will last forever.
I hear there was a smallmouth caught at Cumberland last year that weight in at 11 lbs. Is there anything to this story?
I hear of big ones caught at the Big C but few are ever certified. If there was an 11 that was caught, it would have been the 2nd largest EVER if it was properly weighed on certified scales.