New State Record Bass

[*Hootie]

I knew that would get your attention. I want to pose a question for you to think about.

A scenario... you have a small community lake  you regularly fish. It hardly receives any

pressure at all. In fact, many days you have the lake entirely to yourself. And the bass

fishing is excellent.

 

Up to this point this is my exact situation.

 

Now say, one day you are fishing, and you catch a bass which are certain, without a

doubt is a new state record. Do you pursue it, and report it, knowing that if you do, your

lake is going to be the new local hotspot for who knows how long, to the point that you may not even

be able to find a place to park your vehicle, let alone fish.

 

Or do you just keep it to yourself, content with the knowledge that, you know you have surpassed

the state record. Would you be happy with that, or would you have to have the fame, notoriety,

the praise, addoration, and *** that would come with such an accomplishment. And possibly

a few free spools of line, some free lures, and what not. You know it has no potential monetary value

like possibly catching a world record.

 

I thought about this for some time before reaching my decision. I would just keep it to myself.

Don't get me wrong, all the hoopla would be nice, but NO, not on my favorite fishing spot. Simply

not worth it.

Anywhere else, I would pursue it in a heartbeat.

 

Hootie

[BrianinMD]

i would keep it to myself, announcing it gets nothing for you except some public attention which is worthless and could lead to the destruction of the fishing in that body of water.

[Bluebasser86]

I already have public fishing areas that few know about that I keep to myself. I'll show pictures of the fish from them but no way I'll share the location except for select friends I know can keep a secret. It's just my name on a piece of paper that nobody will know about.

 

A world record would be a different story though. 

[SPEEDBEAD.]

LOL, keep that stuff to yourself. They'll come out of the woodwork.

[Getfit74]

Why keep it to yourself, who says anyone has to know where ya caught it, lol. Shoot I catch a state record all my buddies would know. So man where did ya catch it, you know down the way around the bend:)

[flyfisher]

I know here in VA there are plenty of records and citations that are labeled as private ponds.  If i catch a state record i am going to try and get that sucker certified.  Yeah knowing you caught the record is cool and all but i would want it to be official.

[craww]

Is it a community lake as in you must live in the neighborhood to fish it? Ive seen lots of records listed under "private lake". That may be a good question for your DGIF.

I'm not much for tooting my own horn, but having an official state record (as long as the fish gets released in good shape) is a huge accomplishment.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

In PA, you have to declare where it was caught for it to be recognized.

 

There is already controversy around the current state record and where it was caught (can't be a private pond). If I was going all-out for a record, I wouldn't want there to be any doubt surrounding it. You also more than likely have to kill the fish to have it certified. That's a big obstacle for me.

 

Again, that being said, I would post the fish along with VALID photos that leave no question as to the weight of the fish. I don't care that the state recognizes it or not. If accepted as valid by my peers while keeping my location protected, that's all I'd really care about.

[Montanaro]

I'd take the record.

My spot already had 2 state records...just not real pressured.

[A-Jay]

I'm taking the fish, having the fish certified as the state record, and having the fish mounted - (a replica).

 

 As for any extra pressure this body of water may encounter after words, I'll deal with that as it comes.

During most of the season, I do fish mostly at night so I'd imagine if I were to take that fish it would be at night.   NO One, and I mean No One, fishes at night here - so the extra pressure may not even be a factor.

 

Of course, I'll conveniently omit the night caught fact during the documentation process.

 

Additionally, I'm getting old and sometimes I may get a little mixed up as to where I may have caught a fish.  There are hundreds of lakes all over the place up here, and they all look alike.

 

 

A-Jay

 

 

 

 

[slonezp]

I'm taking the fish, having the fish certified as the state record, and having the fish mounted - (a replica).

 

 As for any extra pressure this body of water may encounter after words, I'll deal with that as it comes.

During most of the season, I do fish mostly at night so I'd imagine if I were to take that fish it would be at night.   NO One, and I mean No One, fishes at night here - so the extra pressure may not even be a factor.

 

Of course, I'll conveniently omit the night caught fact during the documentation process.

 

Additionally, I'm getting old and sometimes I may get a little mixed up as to where I may have caught a fish.  There are hundreds of lakes all over the place up here, and they all look alike.

 

 

A-Jay

The problem you may have, especially at night, is keeping the fish alive long enough to have it certified. You may just end up with a skin mount.

[A-Jay]

The problem you may have, especially at night, is keeping the fish alive long enough to have it certified. You may just end up with a skin mount.

 

I have no intention of keeping the fish alive.  She's had her last swim.

I prefer a replica over the skin mount in both appearance and longevity.

 

A-Jay

[bigbill]

I figured this out already. I'd have to lie about where I caught it. Otherwise my smaller places would be so crowded they would shut them down. I weigh in all my bigger bass at a local deli. On his state certified scales. There adjusted by the state standards weights and measures. My last bigger bass was 6# 1oz. Exactly. My only problem the other fisherman in the store wanted the info about where and how I caught her. This bass gave me the best fight ever. She gave my topnocker a tour of the open water. She covered every square foot of the place. I didn't think she was going to tire out.

 

I do not tell anyone where I'm fishing too. They beg me too. I told my so called buddy. He told everyone. I told my son's buddy and he told everyone. Thank God this one place is so hard to catch fish you would swear there are no fish in it. If you bass guys here went there you would catch fish. We really have very few good bass fisherman here.

[shanksmare]

The Massachusetts state record was reportedly caught in Sampsons Pond in Carver. However, people who knew the record holder say it was caught in a little pond along the Agawam River chain. So do what the MA record holder did, modify the actual location of the catch.

[Scott F]

It happened in Wisconsin. A gentleman caught a smallmouth that was easily the record. He took it live, to a DNR office to have it weighed with the intention of putting it back to swim away. The DNR verified it, but he would not submit it for the state record because he did not want his name or the location of where he caught it known. Unfortunately, the fish did not survive.

[*Hootie]

I actually never considered telling a bunch of lies, but then....oh well.

How about you will or you won't. Does that change your decision?

Hootie

[*Hootie]

I have not intention of keeping the fish alive. She's had her last swim.

I prefer a replica over the skin mount in both appearance and longevity.

A-Jay

I also prefer the look of a replica rather than a skin mount.

Hootie

[mjseverson24]

i would just take a couple pictures one with a good accurate digital scale and let her go... only thing better than catching a trophy is watching it swim away after the catch... if it was in well known public waters i might go and get it certified, but a good livewell with and oxygenator and U2, some ice, and it is pretty easy to transport the fish a long ways, and still release her safely... 

 

Mitch

[F14A-B]

I couldn't agree more with what A jay says....

I have turned back nearly 100% of Bass in the

Past.... Spent easily over a hundred grand on

Fishing related everything....I am gonna claim the

Record plain and simple! I am also not at all opposed to keeping bass for the kitchen table..

I personally don't.... But anyone who does? Good!

I see no issues ! I prefer gills or crappie... To each

His/ her own.

[SirSnookalot]

I don't carry a scale nor do I care about a record, so the point is moot.  When I do catch a fish that is very significant in size I don't mind telling people where it's been caught, someone may have given me the spot.

[Jar11591]

I've always told myself if I catch a state record or possible state record, I would much rather release it unharmed than get the recognition.

[Bankbeater]

I would keep it to myself.  Some of the places I fish are already under too much pressure.

[slonezp]

I have no intention of keeping the fish alive.  She's had her last swim.

I prefer a replica over the skin mount in both appearance and longevity.

 

A-Jay

So I guess a fish fry is part of the plan.....

[Christian M]

I'd keep it to myself, the place would be trashed within a year if not.

[everythingthatswims]

In PA, you have to declare where it was caught for it to be recognized.

 

There is already controversy around the current state record and where it was caught (can't be a private pond). If I was going all-out for a record, I wouldn't want there to be any doubt surrounding it. You also more than likely have to kill the fish to have it certified. That's a big obstacle for me.

 

Again, that being said, I would post the fish along with VALID photos that leave no question as to the weight of the fish. I don't care that the state recognizes it or not. If accepted as valid by my peers while keeping my location protected, that's all I'd really care about.

No way would I kill a bass for a state record, a fish of that size doesn't deserve to be killed