This is the fantasy version of Mike's hypothetical question. If you could only catch one of these impossible fish, which one would it be and why:

60-inch pike
30-inch smallmouth
35-inch brook trout (for basspro!)
60-inch lake trout
40-inch walleye
6-pound crappie
5-pound bluegill

I'd pick the 30-inch smallmouth for two reasons. One, it would be fun to combine water skiing and fishing, as I'm guessing a smallie that size would yank me out of the canoe and give me quite a ride. Two, it might be worth the most money given bass are the most popular fish in the United States. My second would be a 60-inch pike. Google the world record pike and imagine another three inches. I'd see it in the water and say, "We're going to need a bigger boat."

That's an easy one for me. I would love to be the world record holder for the smallmouth bass.

5 pound bluegill. If those existed, that's about all I'd fish for.

quote missmolly: "I'd pick the 30-inch smallmouth for two reasons. One, it would be fun to combine water skiing and fishing, as I'm guessing a smallie that size would yank me out of the canoe and give me quite a ride. " "

lol... that's awesome, I think I'd pick the smallie for the same reason. Plus, I don't feel bad when I catch a large smallmouth.

quote hooky: "5 pound bluegill. If those existed, that's about all I'd fish for."

Such a beast would bend a rod so many times it would look like a spring!

Brookie for sure but the Bluegill would be a very close second.

A 40 inch walleye for me.

Heck, I have been trying for a 13 pounder ( aka Wally13) which would likely be in the 34 inch range ... but "YIKES" a 40 inch walleye ... how many pounds would that be?

Well, I looked up what the current world record walleye weight and length is and the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame and International Game Fish Association both recognize a 25-pound giant caught by Mabry Harper in 1960 on Tennessee’s Old Hickory Lake as the all-tackle world record. It was reportedly 41 inches long.

25 lb 41 inch world record walleye

Brookie! Marc

Walleye for sure!!!

quote missmolly: "This is the fantasy version of Mike's hypothetical question. If you could only catch one of these impossible fish, which one would it be and why:

60-inch pike
30-inch smallmouth
35-inch brook trout (for basspro!)
60-inch lake trout
40-inch walleye
6-pound crappie
5-pound bluegill

I'd pick the 30-inch smallmouth for two reasons. One, it would be fun to combine water skiing and fishing, as I'm guessing a smallie that size would yank me out of the canoe and give me quite a ride. Two, it might be worth the most money given bass are the most popular fish in the United States. My second would be a 60-inch pike. Google the world record pike and imagine another three inches. I'd see it in the water and say, "We're going to need a bigger boat." "

Not a bluegill, but what about a 5lb shellcracker......they are Redear sunfish.

GIANT Shellcracker

I'd be happy with just a 28 to 30" walleye!

Good question. I'll take the lake trout.

quote Wally13: "
A 40 inch walleye for me.


Heck, I have been trying for a 13 pounder ( aka Wally13) which would likely be in the 34 inch range ... but "YIKES" a 40 inch walleye ... how many pounds would that be?


Well, I looked up what the current world record walleye weight and length is and the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame and International Game Fish Association both recognize a 25-pound giant caught by Mabry Harper in 1960 on Tennessee’s Old Hickory Lake as the all-tackle world record. It was reportedly 41 inches long.


25 lb 41 inch world record walleye "

Dang it! I didn't make the walleye big enough. I wanted all the hypothetical fish to exceed world records. Okay, it's now a 45" walleye.

It wouldn't be safe to go in the water. The brookie all the way.

I did not catch it but seen a walleye measured about 37 inches long.

quote Pinetree: "It wouldn't be safe to go in the water. The brookie all the way.


I did not catch it but seen a walleye measured about 37 inches long."

Seeing such a fish would be such a thrill!

quote missmolly: "

quote Pinetree: "It wouldn't be safe to go in the water. The brookie all the way.



I did not catch it but seen a walleye measured about 37 inches long."

Seeing such a fish would be such a thrill! "

It was

Definitely the brook trout. I'm an addict, what can I say ?? Favorite fish to fish for and it would be even better if I could land it on a fly rod!

ok i'll chime in , gotta be the 35" brookie, but BP would text me and say, "Darryll that's a splake" ;)

It would have to be the Brookie. You couldn't ask for a better symbol of the far north, the clear mountain streams, the uncut forest, the great companion species of grouse and whitetails. Some of my best brookie memories feature fish way less than 6"--because they were so hardy to be alive and thriving in little itybitty mountain streams far from the the easy places to get to. And they take the fly when they should, where they should--if I do my part. And maybe this year I can take an Arctic Char that will almost be close to 35" on another planned trip to Alaska, by canoe. Brookies are just Char that stay home, or Char are just Brookies that, like folks here, just have to travel. I never met a Brookie I didn't like! I've shown this picture of my biggest Labrador Brookie before, but I just can't help myself!

quote sunnybear09: "It would have to be the Brookie. You couldn't ask for a better symbol of the far north, the clear mountain streams, the uncut forest, the great companion species of grouse and whitetails. Some of my best brookie memories feature fish way less than 6"--because they were so hardy to be alive and thriving in little itybitty mountain streams far from the the easy places to get to. And they take the fly when they should, where they should--if I do my part. And maybe this year I can take an Arctic Char that will almost be close on another planned trip to Alaska, by canoe. Brookies are just Char that stay home, or Char are just Brookies that like folks here, just have to travel. I never met a Brookie I didn't like! I've shown this picture of my biggest Labrador Brookie before, but I just can't help myself! "

The raindrops on the camera lens really put one there!

Look at that picture. One of the reasons we like trout so much is the environment and surroundings where you find them.Wild and beautiful.

Just my opinion, but ounce for ounce I think the bluegill is the hardest fighting fresh water fish there is. I have caught twelve and thirteen inch bluegill And they fight like they think they are a big fish, I think a five pound bluegill would attack your canoe if you could get it close enough to land it. Forget the net, bring a gaff.

quote mutz: "Just my opinion, but ounce for ounce I think the bluegill is the hardest fighting fresh water fish there is. I have caught twelve and thirteen inch bluegill And they fight like they think they are a big fish, I think a five pound bluegill would attack your canoe if you could get it close enough to land it. Forget the net, bring a gaff."

Remember those billy clubs they used to sell for muskies? You'd need a baseball bat for a big blue.

I want a smallmouth big enough to have to notify the FAA,to develop a flight plan when it jumps out of the water...

I would like to catch a northern so big it would take depth charges to get to surface!!!

I'd like to catch a brookie so big that when it jumped, people miles away would say, "Look at the rainbow!"

quote missmolly: "I'd like to catch a brookie so big that when it jumped, people miles away would say, "Look at the rainbow!" "

Your heart and mind are in the right place for sure!! "My heart leaps up when I behold a rainbow in the sky.." WW

quote sunnybear09: "

quote missmolly: "I'd like to catch a brookie so big that when it jumped, people miles away would say, "Look at the rainbow!" "

Your heart and mind are in the right place for sure!! "My heart leaps up when I behold a rainbow in the sky.." WW"

A brookie big enough to seem a rainbow would be your Heaven on Earth!

quote shock: "ok i'll chime in , gotta be the 35" brookie, but BP would text me and say, "Darryll that's a splake" ;)"

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOl
It is a Splake LOLOLOLOL

quote sunnybear09: "It would have to be the Brookie. You couldn't ask for a better symbol of the far north, the clear mountain streams, the uncut forest, the great companion species of grouse and whitetails. Some of my best brookie memories feature fish way less than 6"--because they were so hardy to be alive and thriving in little itybitty mountain streams far from the the easy places to get to. And they take the fly when they should, where they should--if I do my part. And maybe this year I can take an Arctic Char that will almost be close to 35" on another planned trip to Alaska, by canoe. Brookies are just Char that stay home, or Char are just Brookies that, like folks here, just have to travel. I never met a Brookie I didn't like! I've shown this picture of my biggest Labrador Brookie before, but I just can't help myself! "

Beautiful fish !

quote GirlOnARock: "Definitely the brook trout. I'm an addict,!"

Me too !

quote missmolly: "

quote mutz: "Just my opinion, but ounce for ounce I think the bluegill is the hardest fighting fresh water fish there is. I have caught twelve and thirteen inch bluegill And they fight like they think they are a big fish, I think a five pound bluegill would attack your canoe if you could get it close enough to land it. Forget the net, bring a gaff."

Remember those billy clubs they used to sell for muskies? You'd need a baseball bat for a big blue. "

:(

never thought of it before but it would have to be the 5 pound bluegill

I'd have to go with the walleye. The funnest and toughest fish I like to catch!

quote Basspro69: "

quote GirlOnARock: "Definitely the brook trout. I'm an addict,!"

Me too !"

I never stood a chance to love another after reading Robert Traver's "Trout Madness" as a teenager. I'm almost 70 now and still reread it often. It has driven my fishing life for over 5 decades. Well, that said, I think I'll go read it again now!

quote missmolly: "This is the fantasy version of Mike's hypothetical question. If you could only catch one of these impossible fish, which one would it be and why:

60-inch pike
30-inch smallmouth
35-inch brook trout (for basspro!)
60-inch lake trout
40-inch walleye
6-pound crappie
5-pound bluegill

Dad and I about 1960, at Brule Island Camp. I am going to give Dad credit because he had to bring the fish into the boat with his hands. It is not even close to 60", but the biggest Northern we ever caught. It was taken in the waterfall riffles on Vernon Lake. Our neighbor tried to stuff it, but we didn't preserve it properly.

How 'bout a 4LB 8.8OZ crappie (sadly, not mine):



IL record crappie - Sun Times

I caught a 3 lb Bluegill on ultralight a bunch of years ago. It fought like crazy. I could imagine a 5 pounder, but I would still go with the Brookie... Personal Best about 26 or 27 " up near Kuujuac...

I want to catch a big musky. Never landed one yet. Then catch another one. And another one... Throw in all the other fish on the side. Huge pike, walleye, I'll take em too.