its not a "certified" world record. It still shows you how big bass can get and its bigger than any other one caught. Just because it didnt meet the standards to be the official record (just cause it was fowl hooked) does not take 5 pounds off of the fish. Its still 25 pounds. oh and by the way when i said the 22 of 25 biggest have come from california i wasnt trying to brag for california i was just saying 24 of the 25 biggest bass have come from the US while japan is the only other country on there that has a fish in the top.
Correction, they have THE fish ON TOP.
No other fish matter at this point, IMO, only the next fish that is bigger.
Dottie was a great looking fish, but it's still not the record. Argue until you are blue in the face, doesn't matter to me.
There is a reason Mike Long, Mattlures, WRB and other Cali bass guys don't "officially" report their big catches:
1. They don't want people knowing where the fish are being caught.
2. If it's not "The One" then who really cares if it's certified or not?