Fish of the Week: Big smallmouth on southern Lake Michigan

Chicago-area angler John Gazda caught and released one of the largest smallmouth bass–23 inches and 6 pounds, 2 ounces–on southern Lake Michigan. He was fishing Indiana waters over the weekend with Capt. Ralph Steiger and using a Steiger Ice Poor Boy Erie Darter Jr.

Steiger said he had seen the fish three straight days, before they finally were able to hook it.

“Very proud, didn’t think this fish existed,” Steiger posted. “Time to catch her mama!”

There are many ways to send nominations for FOTW, the weekly celebration of big fish around Chicago fishing on the Sun-Times outdoors page each Wednesday: Facebook (Dale Bowman), Twitter (@BowmanOutside) or email (straycasts@sbcglobal.net).