Biggest Michigan bass?

[12poundbass]

The current state record in Michigan for largemouth is 11lbs 15oz (hence my name) it was set in the 30's? On a lake less than 20 minutes from my house, either way it got me thinking. My PB is 5.5. A 12lb bass in Michigan is un fathomable to me! However I heard years ago that the DNR shocked a lake in my area and there was a state record in there. I took it as hear say, then a couple years ago I was talking to a park ranger and he said the same thing about a lake that's attached to the one I had heard about 10 or so years ago! Urban legend, bs, possible?

  What have you caught as far as LM's go? What have you heard other people catch? Do you think there are 10 pounders in Michigan? Do you think this 80+ year old record will ever be broken? Thanks and fish on!

[A-Jay]

My Michigan PB is right at 7lbs caught in up here in Otsego County from a trout lake. (report link below)

I really have no idea whether a 12lb plus LMB lives in any of the waters I fish regularly - I guess there could be but I haven't seen anything close to that.    I'll admit that I'd be pretty excited to catch one and just as surprised.

 Just for a size reference - this is a only 10.7 from south of the border.

This one could have eaten my best lmb last season which was a 6lb fish.

A-Jay

 

 

[12poundbass]

22 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

My Michigan PB is right at 7lbs caught in up in Otsego County from a trout lake. (report link below)

I really have no idea whether a 12lb plus LMB lives in any of the waters I fish regularly - I guess there could be but I haven't seen anything close to that.    I'll admit that's I'd be pretty excited to catch one and just as surprised.

 Just for a size reference - this is a only 10.7 from south of the border.

This one could have eaten my best lmb last season which was a 6lb fish.

A-Jay

 

 

Holy smokes that's a nice one from south of the border. Your 7 pounder was super nice! If you got it out of a trout lake that says a lot right there. I read a long time ago that's what they feed the bass in California is trout. So if your 7 pounder is munchin on trout all day and she only gets to 7 pounds, that says a lot right there. What I wouldn't give to tie into a 7 pound bass in Michigan. Way to go!

[dajuice89]

I don't think that record will ever be broken. Ive never seen anything close to that size or even heard of anything close to that size in Michigan lol

[RyneB]

IV only fished michigan once, last year on a family trip to Traverse last year. Caught my fair share of 2-4 lbers. this was my biggest of the trip and was happy to catch it.

[nascar2428]

Simply based on the fact that the smallmouth record was broken in September and now stands at 9.98 lbs. A largemouth record for Michigan could be lurking just about anywhere.

[brgbassmaster]

There is definitely 10lbrs people catch fish every year especially around the spawn up to 8lbs so there has got to be 10 lbrs. Ya they aren't common. But they are there. Think of the thousand of lakes we have. Just up north below the bridge where my wife is from there are probably 100 lakes that u can't get a boat into. Where u need 4x4 and a kayak. And we go out there and catch 5lbrs I'm sure there are lakes like that all over the state. One lake we kayak 1/4 mile up stream to get in. That is the only way. I've caught some nice ones out of there . Going back this year with the heavy artillery lol. Here are my two biggest Michigan bass caught same trip 20 min apartin October of 2015 on MS slammer wake bait. Both over 6. 

 

 

[12poundbass]

33 minutes ago, brgbassmaster said:

There is definitely 10lbrs people catch fish every year especially around the spawn up to 8lbs so there has got to be 10 lbrs. Ya they aren't common. But they are there. Think of the thousand of lakes we have. Just up north below the bridge where my wife is from there are probably 100 lakes that u can't get a boat into. Where u need 4x4 and a kayak. And we go out there and catch 5lbrs I'm sure there are lakes like that all over the state. One lake we kayak 1/4 mile up stream to get in. That is the only way. I've caught some nice ones out of there . Going back this year with the heavy artillery lol. Here are my two biggest Michigan bass caught same trip 20 min apartin October of 2015 on MS slammer wake bait. Both over 6. 

 

 

All I ever fish are small state land lakes or small public lakes with little to no boat traffic or fishing. The biggest I've caught so far is 5 lbs 8 oz.  I couldn't imagine a bass double that size swimming around Michigan waters. I'm not saying there aren't but I'm thinking they're few and far between. I'm going to keep searching for them though.

[brgbassmaster]

There was a 9lb smallmouth caught last season and those don't get as big as largemouth. Like I said they are few and far between but they are there. Even in Arizona where I live now where plenty of 10+lb fish have been caught you only see a couple per year. 

[markinny]

i used to live in michigan. i now live in n.y. state. the state record there is 11lbs.  4 oz.it would seem to be the limit in weight in the north. down south with the long summer, there have been 14lb. or larger bass in states like texas,fla. etc.my p.best. 8 lbs, 3 oz.

[Shadow93]

I used to live in Southwest Michigan. About 10 years ago, my buddy caught a 9 pounder slow-rolling a spinnerbait on a small, non-commercialized lake. Biggest one I've seen in the state thus far.

 

Do I think that there could be a 12 pound bass or two in Michigan somewhere? Sure. Do I think they will be caught in a tournament setting, or even a major lake? Absolutely not.

 

These old bass are probably living happily in farm ponds that are inaccessible to the general public.