Mattlures

No it is not the same plastisol. There are many diferent foms for diferent uses.

The swimbait has probably accounted for more fish in the top 100 than any other single bait and it is definaly my big fish catcher

Avid the reason that fish should be on the list is exactly what Craig said. It does exist . It was weighed photographed and video'd. It is in fact the largest bass ever documented. I am not saying Mac should get the world record. Actualy I agree with him not submitting it and He should not get the record. The record is Perry's until sombody breaks it and certifies it properly. BUT the fish does belong on the list of the biggest bass caught. If for no other reason then the scientific data. Another fish that was not on the list was Paul Duclos's 24lber. had he weighed on on a real scale he might be the record holder. At the very least he would be in the top 5 There is no doubt after looking at his pics that his fish was over 20 and I personaly believ it WAS 24lbs

Lane I am not knocking Texas or the SAL program. I think Texas is doing the right thing I also believe it produces more fish over 10 then Cali or Florida. I think the SAL is a great idea and has worked and does work BUT...........I think it is detrimental to the very top end fish. I think it is one of the biggest reasons you dont see 18+ lbers come from texas Cart the reason you see the big fish kicked out in bunches is because of the cycles our lakes go through. Castaic used to produce a ton of giants but now there are stipers and it is done as far as 20lbers go. There are a lot of factors that cause lakes to peak and decline. A lot of know which lakes are ripe and we focuss on them. I wish the list was current because a lot of monsters have been caught in the last two years out here including Macs 25.1

Catt You are correct. Northern strain dont get tha big. Florida or southern strain were introduced I believ in the late 60's into 1 lake. from there they were stocked into a lot of Ca. lakes throughout the early 70's. They havent stocked them since. Many of our lakes will go through cycles and peak and kick out some monsters but Stippers and Spotted bass will destroy a lakes chances at huge fish in a matter of a few years. another huge reason for all these giant fish that is often over looked is they are just about all released. those 16-25lbers were probably all caught when they were 13+ but released to get bigger. I honestly believe this is why Texas has so few very top end fish. I think if the SAL program stopped or at least just gave credit and a replica when a fish was documented and quickly released you would see a higher top end coming from Texas.

Read the whole article and you will see what it takes to make that list. It was written in 2004. That would explain a lot of fish that would be on there. Like I said it would even be more Mike Long lopsided if it were current. Someone asked if were on steriods? thats funny because a couple years ago he was thicker than he is now and I swear he could easyly be mistaken for Mark Mcguire. Even now that he has lost some wieght he looks like him. I will try and contact Terry and see if I can get an update.

No list that I have seen is current and complete this is just the best on that I know of. It was written by Terri Battisti a well know outdoor writer who has been tracking huge bass catches. There have been other 20 lbers caught. Mac's 25 and Mikes 21'5 were not on the list becuase they were caught just last year and the list is not current. Mike Long would have at least 5 more fish on that list with 2 being in the top ten if it were up to date. Fish Chris Has an 18+ and Iam not sure why he is not on there, maybe he caught just after this list was published. Supermat , Matt Allen has caught the same fish as Fish chris and it wieghed 17+ so yes there are a few fish that made the list more than once. Macs 25.1 lber is also Mike Longs 20.75 and Jed's 21. California has produced several fdish over 17lbs in the last 2 years that are not on here either. I would love to see the current list. It would even be More Mike long dominated with 3 fish in the top 15. Also something else is starting to happen out here. A lot of guys are keeping quiet when they get a monster. They dont want the pressure at their lake so only the "in croud" hears about it. If you guys would like to read the whole article here it is No list that I have seen is current and complete this is just the best on that I know of. It was written by Terri Battisti a well know outdoor writer who has been tracking huge bass catches. There have been other 20 lbers caught. Mac's 25 and Mikes 21'5 were not on the list becuase they were caught just last year and the list is not current. Mike Long would have at least 5 more fish on that list with 2 being in the top ten if it were up to date. Fish Chris Has an 18+ and Iam not sure why he is not on there, maybe he caught just after this list was published. Supermat , Matt Allen has caught the same fish as Fish chris and it wieghed 17+ so yes there are a few fish that made the list more than once. Macs 25.1 lber is also Mike Longs 20.75 and Jed's 21. California has produced several fdish over 17lbs in the last 2 years that are not on here either. I would love to see the current list. It would even be More Mike long dominated with 3 fish in the top 15. Also something else is starting to happen out here. A lot of guys are keeping quiet when they get a monster. They dont want the pressure at their lake so only the "in croud" hears about it. If you guys would like to read the whole article here it is http://www.westernbass.com/dotcom/library/view.html?id=2544

List of the biggest documented bass ever caught. Note this list is about 2 years old but is much more accurate than any other list I have ever seen posted. Do you guys notice one guy that stands out? Count how many times you read the name Mike Long. Also since this list he has caugh a 19.11 out of Mission Viejo a 21.5 lber and at leat two more 17lbers that I have seen the pics of and that have been weighed in at the docks. There have been others caught by Mike and diferent guys that were not documented That are not on this list BTW this is not my list I just though I wouuld share. Table 1: All-Time Largest Documented Bass Rank Pounds Location State Angler Date 1 22.25 Montgomery Lake Georgia George Perry 6/2/32 2 22.01 Lake Castaic California Bob Crupi 3/12/91 3 21.75 Lake Castaic California Mike Arujo 3/5/91 4 21.70 Dixon Reservoir California Jed Dickerson 5/31/03 5 21.19 Lake Casitas California Ray Easley 3/4/80 6 21.01 Lake Castaic California Bob Crupi 3/9/90 7 20.94 Lake Miramar California David Zimerlee 6/23/73 8 20.86 Lake Castaic California Leo Torres 2/4/90 9 20.75 Dixon Reservoir California Mike Long 4/27/01 10 20.25 Lake Hodges California Gene Dupras 5/30/85 10 20.25 Lake Miramar California Johnny Garduno 3/25/90 12 20.13 Big Fish Lake Florida Fritz Friebel May 1923 13 19.88 Dixon Reservoir California Mike Long 2004 14 19.63 Lake Baccarac Mexico Bruce Knutsen 1/17/93 15 19.50 Lake Miramar California Keith Gunsauls 3/7/88 15 19.50 Lake Casitas California Randy Crabtree 4/9/02 15 19.50 Dixon Reservoir California Mac Weakley 5/20/03 18 19.40 Ikehara Dam Japan Kazuya Shimada 4/22/03 19 19.25 Lake Miramar California Chris Brandt 3/22/98 20 19.19 Lake Wohlford California Steve Beasley 2/3/86 20 19.19 Lake Morena California Ardon Hanline 2/17/87 22 19.06 Lake Miramar California Sandy DeFresco 3/14/88 23 19.04 Lake Castaic California Danny Kadota 1/8/89 24 19.03 Success Lake California Larry Kerns 1/27/01 25 19.00 Lake Tarpon Florida Riley Witt 6/21/61 26 18.94 Lake Isabella California Keith Harper April 1984 27 18.86 Lake Castaic California Danny Kadota 2/12/88 28 18.81 St. Johns River Florida Buddy Wright 4/12/87 28 18.81 Lake Isabella California Joe Weaver Feb. 1984 30 18.75 Lower Otay Lake California Bob Eberly 3/9/80 30 18.75 San Vicente Lake California James Steurgeon 2/26/81 30 18.75 Lake Castaic California Manny Arujo 1/25/91 30 18.75 Lake Kaweah California Nai Seathan 3/15/01 34 18.70 San Pablo California Victor Barfield 3/22/01 35 18.69 Lake Casitas California Bill Beckum 1/15/80 36 18.63 San Vicente California Doug Crandall 1979 37 18.62 Delta California Galen Jensen 2/10/02 38 18.56 San Vicente California Bobby Sandberg 1976 38 18.56 Lake Castaic California Bob Crupi 1/27/92 38 18.56 Don Pedro California Rod Martin 4/9/03 41 18.55 Lake Murray California Mike Long Dec. 2001 42 18.25 Dixon Reservoir California Mike Long 2004 42 18.25 Lower Otay California Unknown March 1980 44 18.18 Lake Fork Texas Barry St. Clair 1/24/92 45 18.15 Natchez State Park Mississippi Unknown 12/31/92 46 18.13 Dixon Reservoir California Mike Long 2003 46 18.13 Lake Poway California Mike Long 2002 48 18.10 Lake Poway California Mike Long 1998 48 18.10 Lake Murray California Mike Long Feb. 1999 50 18.00 Lake Perris California Will Steel 12/29/02 50 18.00 San Pablo California Rob Belloni 5/3/03 50 18.00 Lake Murray California Mike Long 2000 50 18.00 Mission Viejo California Mike Long 2002 54 17.95 Lake Murray California Mike Long March 1999 55 17.75 San Vicente California Unknown March, 1982 56 17.69 Lake Hodges California Unknown March, 1985 57 17.67 Lake Fork Texas Mark Stevenson 11/26/86 58 17.64 Lake Fork Texas Stan Moss 4/1/89 59 17.63 Lake Fork Texas Jerry New 8/28/90 60 17.50 Lake Poway California Mike Long 2000 60 17.50 Lake Poway California Mike Long 2001 60 17.50 San Vicente California Unknown March, 1979 63 17.25 Dixon Reservoir California Mike Long 2003 63 17.25 Lake Hodges California Unknown March, 1985 63 17.25 Lake Poway California Mike Long 1999 66 17.19 Lower Otay California Unknown Jan. 1985 67 17.13 Lake Poway California Mike Long 1998 67 17.13 Lake Poway California Mike Long 1999 69 17.11 Lake Murray California Mike Long March 1999 70 17.08 Lake Fork Texas Troy Coates 2/26/91 71 17.06 Lake Miramar California Mike Long 2000 71 17.06 San Vicente California Unknown Feb. 1979 73 17.05 Lake Murray California Mike Long March 2000 74 16.89 Lake Fork Texas Bryan Turner 2/8/93 75 16.88 Lower Otay California Unknown Feb. 1981 76 16.75 Lake Fork Texas Steve Trepkus 3/8/90 77 16.63 Lake Fork Texas Flo O'Brien 2/28/99 77 16.63 Lake Poway California Mike Long 2000 77 16.63 Lake Poway California Mike Long 1999 80 16.56 San Vicente California Unknown Jan. 1980 81 16.54 Lake Fork Texas Bill Reed 2/27/91 82 16.50 San Vicente California Unknown May, 1981 83 16.45 Lake Murray California Mike Long March, 2001 84 16.44 Lake Fork Texas Chris Adams 3/10/96 84 16.44 Lake Miramar California Unknown April 1973 86 16.41 Lake Murray California Mike Long March 2000 87 16.38 Lake Poway California Mike Long 1999 88 16.25 Lower Otay California Unknown Feb. 1982 88 16.25 San Vicente California Unknown Nov. 1979 88 16.25 San Vicente California Unknown March 1982 88 16.25 Sutherland California Mike Long April 2001 92 16.19 San Vicente California Unknown Jan. 1979 92 16.19 San Vicente California Unknown March 1981 94 16.13 Gibbons Creek Texas Troy Johnson 1/15/88 94 16.13 Sutherland California Unknown April 1989 94 16.13 Lake Poway California Mike Long 2000 97 16.12 Lake Fork Texas Jim Harrell 3/22/02 98 16.06 Lake Fork Texas Tom Hallum 3/9/88 98 16.06 Lake Hodges California Unknown April 1985 100 16.04 Lake Fork Texas Gasper Cardinale 2/29/92 101 16.02 Possum Kingdom Texas Scott Tongate 10/13/89 102 16.01 Caddo Texas John Merck 4/13/92 102 16.00 Cuyamaca California Mike Long 2002 102 16.00 Lake Poway California Mike Long 2002 102 16.00 Lake Poway California Mike Long 1999 102 16.00 Mission Viejo California Mike Long 2001

Cart7 you only argument is "I think so" or "In my opinion" and considering the source that's a pretty weak argument! Your knowledge of trophy hunters is miniscule. T hunters have won major tournaments. Like I said before John Kerr won the US open the first time he ever fished a pro event. Lake mead is in a different state and is defiantly NOT his home waters. Mike dominates the local tournaments. These are large events. Bill Seimental also wins a lot of large tournaments. Byron who is a swimbaiter has won many tournaments and fishes on the big tour. He is not in the top ten but give a season without basscenter and we will see how good he does. I give you examples; you give me "I think so" Well now I will give you my opinion and back it up. I believe a top tournament guy would have an incredibly hard time flying to Cali and catching our big fish. Here is why. First they have honed their skills. They are the best at what they do they have spent most of their life fishing for small bass. These are the type of anglers who can adjust but it is very difficult for them to learn how to fish all over again. Fishing for big bass is like fishing for a different species. If you keep that in mind it is easier to learn. However these guys have thousands of hours on the water and they know how to catch fish. Tournament sized fish. It is very hard for an old dog to learn new tricks. I think it would be easier to teach a younger or less experienced fisherman to catch monsters than it would be to teach a top pro. At some point all that knowledge they possess would start to creep in and they would doubt the "new" techniques and revert back. Now to back this up. KVD has caught 2 bass over 10 lbs. only 2 now I don't care were he lives he has fished in probably every state and many tournaments in Texas and Florida. You honestly think he has NEVER tried to target big fish? I don't think so. If he came to Cali he may or may not be able to catch monsters. I think he would struggle and go back to catching keepers. He would probably stick a few but he would NEVER even come close to the top trophy hunters. Now you think that a Top tournament angler could adjust easier just because they can adapt to different water. First off every T hunter that I know started out by catching small fish. At some point they got good at it. In the rest of the country the natural progression is towards tournaments. This is where you can compete and show how good you are. Well out here its different. You might get more fame, glory, and respect by being able to catch big fish consistently than by winning tournaments. A lot of the trophy hunters do both. They focus on big fish during the best seasons and when they are just fun fishing and fish the tournaments in-between. Kendammit you are absoluty correct. Mike Long is a freak. He is the best trophy hunter alive and he is also very dominant at the tournament level he fishes. There are no others as good as him. There are a few trophy hunters that are real good but Mike is at a whole other level above them. I am just trying to get as good as that little group. The average guy who targets big bass is usually just a good angler that has caught a lot of smaller fish and want to catch bigger fish. They are by no means great. I fall into this category. Yes Mike fishes his home waters. Why would he go anywhere else? The biggest bass in the world live here and he knows it. I am sure he could go to Texas and Florida and use his knowledge of big bass behavior and be very successful. Now just to clarify I have said this many times. I believe Mike Long is the greatest bass fisherman ever. But I don't think trophy hunters are better than tournament guys. I actually think the top say 10-20 tournament guys are the best bass fishermen in the world with the exception of Mike. But after those top guys the top T hunters are up there.

bassmasta7 Ish responded exactly how I expected. He is a class act.

Swimbaits are the #1 tool out here but Randal is absolutly correct. Mike L caught a 15lber on a 5in Senko and a 17lber on a jig(not spwaning and in deep water) this year. But he did get his 21.5 on a swimbait Yeah I wasnt going to get sucked into this one either but I just cant help sometimes!

I have 3 of them and absoluty love them. You are talking about the VS right? I also have 2 Shimano Calias's believe it or not there is not a big diference. The price is definatly the biggest diference in the two. I will have to admit that the shimano is slightly smoother but you have to fish them both for a while to notice the slight diference. I have had my VS'S for two seasons now and they are all perfect with no problems at all. I believe they are the best low pro's for the money.

One thing I would suggest is, instead of having a new account mention the name of your PS member. You could have your PS guy give you a list and dates of what stores he contacted. What this does is helps him sell your products to the stores. Istead of him going to the stores and "selling" your product, he can go into the stores and recomend your product because of the results he has had with your baits. It just creats a little diferent angle for you PS member.

bassnut1276, Mike does not fish the national tournys. Not becuase he isnt good enough but because he doesnt want to. Fishing the big tours is not all that great. It seems to me like an almost miserable life. Constant travel and presures and obligations. Mike has young kids a wife and makes a good living. Yes he fishes southern Cal tournies but thses are not "club" T's these are W.O.N wich is the biggest tour out west and there are usualy at least 50 and usualy more boats per T. Aaron Martins, Dean Rojos, and I believ Kline and Yelas all fished the W.O.N. its not quite the FLW or BASS but its probably right under them. If you havent heard of him google him. The last #s I remember were, his biggest was caught in 06 at 21.5lbs #2 was 20+lbs and he had about 12 between 18-20lbs He catches so many big fish its unreal. Nobody even comes close. He has all the major sponsors and has been on the cover of tons of Maggazines. He does not get the same attention as the big T guy's because the media is controlled by the big tours. look at the TV coverage. ESPN, Bassmaster magazine FLW. They focuss on thier sport. Thats were the money is. Next time you run into Rojas or Martins or Ish ask them about Mike L Again I dont want anybody to think that I am putting down T guys. I am not I am simply defending the Hunters.

Wow I still cant believe how uninformed some of you still are Cart is just plain wrong and obviously has no clue what goes on out here in trophy hunting land. Months without a bite? Who? A newbie maybe, but even then he will still get bit if he puts in his time. Craig is almost right except he said Mike Long only does so so? Have you seen his resume? He completely dominates the tournament scene in southern Cal. He consistently wins large tournaments by several pounds over the next place. He has also won many tournaments fishing by himself or his very young son in the larger TEAM tournaments. Mike Long is in my opinion the greatest bass fisherman alive. Bill Siementel also consistently wins tournaments. He is also a well-known trophy hunter. If a trophy hunter was to go out and catch one fish a month and only get a couple bites well then he is no where near as good as a top tournament guy but this is not the case with the best trophy hunters. Mike probably averages about 30 bass over 10lbs in a year. With 10 being the minimum. He has caught almost 60 bass over 15lbs! Also while he is out hunting for these giants he catches tons that are small to him, 5-9lbs. When most people make this comparison they only have their own experience to go by and most fish tournaments. Many have tried to trophy hunt but give up because it is to hard for them to reteach them selves. Also people only consider the top end tournament guys. You are talking about the best there is. There are millions of tournament guys out there. KVD his largest bass is only 11lbs. He has fished everywhere and is arguably the best tournament guy there is. Besides Mike Long he is probably the second best angler alive but 11lbs? You would think after all his years and overwhelming amount of time on the water he would have caught a few teens by now. This just goes to show you that the tournament guys are the best at catching small fish. There is nothing wrong with that either. If I were on tour I would play the odds and fish for a limit. Wait no I wouldn't! I would get killed. My only chance would be to go for broke. Cart7 thinks it would be easier for a great tournament guy to adjust to trophy hunting then visa versa. This shows his knowledge of the subject. Not much! It is extremely difficult for a tournament guy to unlearn everything he knows and change the way he fishes. I don't know of any tournament guys who consistently catch fish over 10lbs but I know a few T hunters that can completely dominate tournaments. Mike Long's partner John Kerr WON HIS VERY FIRST PROFESSIONAL TOURNAMENT!!! The us open on lake mead fishing against all the big name pros! Now absolutely by no means am I putting down any tournament fisherman especially the top guys. I have great respect for them and several of them are my friends but I do take a little offence when somebody discredits the top trophy hunters. 99 times out a 100 this is just ignorance. BTW I am not even close to being as good as them!

I get alot of great pics sent to me of good bass caught off my baby bass. I also prefer to fish them late spring throught the summer.

Manny I would definatly rather throw Raul's bait. I bought a couple of those storm waterdawgs and have not gotten bit. It could just be the funky colors but I am pretty sure I could get a fish off of Raul's. Hey Raul what is it an Evergreen, Jackle?

Well then it could be one of mine on the back of the tail mine had MATT going downward with the t's conected. The only other one I could think of is a 3:16 but you said no letters. It wouldnt be an osprey because they say Osprey on the tail.

Although your rod is not ideal it will still work fine. My baby bass is small and it fishes small. The lead inside is only a 1/2 ounce the rest of the weight comes from the plastic. Your rod wouldnt work that great for my gill though.

No not many people use the ospreys anymore. They were hot for a while but the fish learned quick not to eat them any more. I asume your bait is an SR plastics. Does it say SR7 or SR9 on the back. BTW if it does its a good bait and should be waked just barly under the surface. I make my own version(discontinued) and I get a lot of bites at night on it

Thanks guys for believing in my baits but I gotta agree with Raul. I dont think that bait is to big at all but personaly I dont like the looks of it. I would rather just throw an M.S. slammer. Now they arent verry impresive looking either but they are PROVEN!

Mike Long!

In pursuite of giant bass by Bill Murphy