I showed a 5-10 smallie to some locals on Pickwick down near Florence, AL a few years ago and they weren't impressed. Dang it now boys that's a good fish, where's the love? After I turned her loose they said unless one was in the high 6's or over 7 it didn't get all that much attention around there.

The TN river and it's chain of impoundments has to be one of, if not the best all around freshwater fishery in the country. Dale and others are good for huge smallies, Fl and TX have the trophy largemouths, but all around the TN river system is hard to beat.

All that said, I'd still bet Dale produces the next record brown fish. I believe the record's already swimming around in Dale, and there's a bunch of excellent anglers chasing her. What'll prolly happen though is some kid will catch the record smallmouth while crappie fishing off a dock.