Are the Bass getting smaller?

[david in va]

It appears to me that the biggest Bass were caught  in the 70s,80s and 90s . I wonder why. sure there are big fish caught every year , but not like it used to be.

More pressure, or not enough.

 I do know around here there are not as many fisherman as there use to be. Less time to fish more work time. It was more farms here in that time frame , a lot of weekend fishing.

 Thoughts/

[scaleface]

  I know lots of lakes that dont have near the quality fish they use to .

[Dwight Hottle]

Florida state record Shoal bass 5.2 lbs caught June 2016

 

Washington state record largemouth bass 12.53 lbs caught Aug 2016

 

New York state record smallmouth bass record tied 8-4lbs caught Aug 2016

 

Montana state record smallmouth 7.4lbs caught May 2016

 

South Dakota state record smallmouth 7.3 lbs caught May 2016

 

Tennessee state record largemouth 15.20lbs caught Feb 2015

 

Rhode Island state record largemouth 11.2lbs caught May 2016

 

Virginia state record hybrid striped bass 15-13lbs caught March 2016

 

Michigan state record smallmouth 9.98lbs caught Sept 2016

 

These records would suggest that bigger bass are being caught recently. I sure there are more records caught within the last few years that I haven't listed.

[J Francho]

To me, I think I see a shift.  Look at the thread with the "legendary US lakes."  Many of those lakes listed have been written about for decades, and receive a ton of fishing pressure.  Contrast those lakes with the lakes where the recent records Dwight cites above.  I'll say this, aside from the past two years being difficult, fish seem bigger in my neck of the woods.

[fishballer06]

To also add to the mix... How many times has the world record spotted bass been broken in the past two years?

[Team9nine]

It's certainly a mixed bag, and both sides have valid points in the discussion. In the case of the largest bass on the planet (LMB), that was a window of time (late 70s through early 90s) that opened up due largely to genetics and the introduction of Florida strain bass into Cali (and arguably TX and TN to a lesser degree).

 

Also, technology (and media) in a variety of forms has increased the pressure tremendously on both the fish and the best fisheries in the country. 

 

On the the plus side though, catch and release has almost become dogma among bass anglers, so more fish are being released to continue growing. Largely gone are the days of huge stringer shots. Additionally, and not being political, climate change is definitely extending the growing season in several parts of the country, and cool water species in particular (spots, smallies) seem to be benefitting. 

 

There are other factors that could be mentioned like the Clean Water Act in the 70s, invasive species (think Lake Erie and smallies/walleye as an example), genetic engineering, and social media, among others. It all makes for an interesting study.

[Catt]

Last year on Toledo Bend 139 double digits were caught during 3 months of the spawn, this years is off to a great start.

 

Ryan Pinkston of Center, Tx caught this 14.62-pound largemouth Saturday while fishing in the Bass-N-Bucks tournament on Toledo Bend Reservoir...he had a 36 # stringer.

[david in va]

2 hours ago, Dwight Hottle said:

Florida state record Shoal bass 5.2 lbs caught June 2016

 

Washington state record largemouth bass 12.53 lbs caught Aug 2016

 

New York state record smallmouth bass record tied 8-4lbs caught Aug 2016

 

Montana state record smallmouth 7.4lbs caught May 2016

 

South Dakota state record smallmouth 7.3 lbs caught May 2016

 

Tennessee state record largemouth 15.20lbs caught Feb 2015

 

Rhode Island state record largemouth 11.2lbs caught May 2016

 

Virginia state record hybrid striped bass 15-13lbs caught March 2016

 

Michigan state record smallmouth 9.98lbs caught Sept 2016

 

These records would suggest that bigger bass are being caught recently. I sure there are more records caught within the last few years that I haven't listed.

 

 

I have just noticed a  like of big largemouth here where I fish , it has been a long time since I had a 6 pounder dancing on its tail

 

[J Francho]

Same for me, but I chalk it up to me.

[geo g]

I'm sure lakes go through cycles depending on weather, food supplies, and other variables.  Its probably a normal cycle with weather the main condition.  We have had warmer then normal weather conditions in the south east, and higher then normal water levels.  Conditions beyond our control, so just make the best of it, and enjoy being out with mother nature.  I don't sweat what I can't control!

[Columbia Craw]

I recall Greg Hackney commenting on this issue and he said something to the effect, bass populations and size have never been better.  BASS pro's were content to "Mark Davis" the fish and contend for AOY with a 14 inch average.  Not anymore.  Aging reservoirs became reborn with hydrilla and other vegetation and populations and size surged. 

 

My home lake is not that big. It used to be a sought after destination in my region.  Not anymore.  Grass carp depleted the vegetation, water quality went in the dump, sediment impacted spawning areas and the fishing is far from what it used to be. The problem is mother nature can't fix what man ruined. Lakes with a stable biology continue to pump out quality fish.  Habitat, habitat, habitat. Guys like Catt, Dwight, AJay and so on are blessed to have such great habitat to fish.

[soflabasser]

Interesting subject.I would say that bass are more pressured now than ever in the past,but there are more opportunities for people to catch trophy bass,especially if you are willing to travel for fishing.This year alone there has been more than 5 bass over 13 pounds documented in Florida,including a 15 pounder caught from a kayak( all from Central/North Florida).Other states have been having better than average bass fishing with many state records being broken in the past couple years.

[N Florida Mike]

3 hours ago, soflabasser said:

Interesting subject.I would say that bass are more pressured now than ever in the past,but there are more opportunities for people to catch trophy bass,especially if you are willing to travel for fishing.This year alone there has been more than 5 bass over 13 pounds documented in Florida,including a 15 pounder caught from a kayak( all from Central/North Florida).Other states have been having better than average bass fishing with many state records being broken in the past couple years.

I tend to agree with you about there being plenty of big fish out there.Where I would tend to disagree is the pressure.In the 80s in N Florida you had a better chance of being run over by a truck pulling a bass boat than the chances you had of catching a cold! I mean bass boats were everywhere! Now I uncommonly see one.Of course,my area has changed from mostly rural to mostly suburban in the last 40 years.But still...I occasionally fish or go by lakes I fished in the past.I rarely see anyone fishing.Its like  a non bass fishing twilight zone or something now.I can't tell you ONE of my old bass buddies that still fish with any regularity.One of them sold his bass boat and took up golf,of all things .

So to get back on track,I believe the fish are there but largely aren't being pressured anything like they were.Talking N Florida now.

[RoLo]

9 hours ago, fishballer06 said:

To also add to the mix... How many times has the world record spotted bass been broken in the past two years?

 

Your point is well taken, but the spotted bass may not be the best example.

The world-record spot was set by Lewis Smith Lake, Alabama at 8-lb 15-oz in 1978.

However, spots transplanted in California have been in an "inhouse" competition as it were,

not unlike the largemouth bass saga. I have a strong suspicion that if man never intervened,

Lewis Smith Lake might still be holding the spotted bass world record.

 

Roger

[MIbassyaker]

Michigan smallie record was broken twice in the last two years, in 2015 and again in 2016, after holding steady for over 100 years. In totally different waters.

[BassObsessed]

My home state LMB record was broken twice in the last few years.

[WRB]

Spotted bass were introduced to California in 1939 but those were northern strain spots not Alabama or southern strain Spotted bass that where introduced to lake Perris in 1980's. Similar LMB that were northern strain originally in 1890's, the Florida strain being introduced to California in 1959. Other states like Texas followed the success of FLMB and many records started to be established during the 70's, 80's and 90's until the populations stabilized and so did the records. New populations are being discovered along with new records being established.

Another big bass factor was the introduction of big swimbaits becoming more popular for bass.

Nearly all my giant bass were caught between 1968 to 1998, a 30 year period. The reason has more to do with big bass populations where I was fishing were at peake levels and fishing pressure was not neatly as sophisticated as it is today. Big bass anglers during that time period were live bait anglers, few specialized using lures.

Live bait anglers tend to anchor and are less mobile than lure anglers that can move around easier, can be a big advantage. Catch and release has become the norm, so more big bass get released than they did, however there are far more skilled bass anglers on the water today than ever before. More fishing pressure equals fewer giant bass being availble...catch 22.

 

Tom

[iceintheveins]

Some lakes and rivers, a few, are better now than they were years ago. A lot of that is the boom and bust cycle. Everywhere though, bass are getting more difficult to catch due to anglers getting better and having more tools at their disposal, such as better sonar, better boats, better baits ect. But sadly, a big part of the problem is what I like to call "legalized poachers," ie people who keep a nicer bass or several of them just because they can. In these cases, fish and game agencies need to step in and greatly limit the amount of mature bass that can be kept, but they often don't, especially out here in the west where ecological purists in our fishery departments unjustly view bass as an invasive species. Bass aren't for eating IMO. That's what medium sized crappie, perch, walleye, small catfish, and some other smaller fish are for!

[Bluebasser86]

There was 2 10 pounders caught on the same day from the same lake here in Kansas last weekend (our state record is only 11lb 12oz). One was caught on a limbline set for catfish. Both were kept and eaten. 

 

Don't come to Kansas for big fish, the state does a pitiful job managing for bass. 

[soflabasser]

10 hours ago, N Florida Mike said:

I tend to agree with you about there being plenty of big fish out there.Where I would tend to disagree is the pressure.In the 80s in N Florida you had a better chance of being run over by a truck pulling a bass boat than the chances you had of catching a cold! I mean bass boats were everywhere! Now I uncommonly see one.Of course,my area has changed from mostly rural to mostly suburban in the last 40 years.But still...I occasionally fish or go by lakes I fished in the past.I rarely see anyone fishing.Its like  a non bass fishing twilight zone or something now.I can't tell you ONE of my old bass buddies that still fish with any regularity.One of them sold his bass boat and took up golf,of all things .

So to get back on track,I believe the fish are there but largely aren't being pressured anything like they were.Talking N Florida now.

 

Thats odd that there's less people bass fishing North Florida now than 30-40 years ago since there's more people living in that area of the state compared to 30-40 years ago.I did some further research and found that 7 documented bass over 13 pounds (documented by FWC so these catches are official) have been caught this year in Central/North Florida,with the biggest one being the 15 pounder caught from a kayak in North Florida(these bass where caught from January-February).It is very possible that more people have caught +13 pounders this year,but these people have not sent this information to the state at this moment.

[N Florida Mike]

Many people up here fish,but they do saltwater.People that used to bass fish have gotten into red fishing.Theres also

more variety in saltwater.For that reason,I do see a lot of boats going that way.Also,we don't get much in media about bass fishing here.3/4 of it is saltwater.You have to dig to find out true reports.Of course,the  mom and pop bait stores all seem to struggle ( many have gone under ) ,so the reports by some of them are inaccurate/ inflated to get folks to come fish there.

My theory on big bass ,at least where I live,is that most people catch and release their fish,and there's less people overall fishing so that should equal more hawgs.I also think that many bass fisherman are fairly secretive about their catches , which I totally get.

I also believe that the famous lakes/ rivers up here got SO much pressure in the 70s,80s and into the 90s that these lakes got largely fished out and people just quit going,after several trips with little or no result.These folks passed this negativity on to their kids so now  they don't bass fish much anymore.

As for me,I quit going to large water bodies and started fishing smaller ones,so my results were much better than they had been.

[8pt172]

The size of fish is very similar to that of the Whitetail deer.  Genetics, food, and age.

 

With respect to the LMB in California, the giants are actually a cross of a Florida Strain and Northern Strain LMB.  The F1 generation produces exceptionally large offspring... Each generation after that produces fry that will be smaller in size.  This is a genetic phenomena that can be easily seen when crossing a Tiger and a Lion...The offspring are bigger than either the Lion or Tiger.

 

So the window to catch the Giant LMB of California maybe closing in the current lakes that are producing the 20lb + fish.  

 

The SMB of the Great Lakes Region are getting bigger because of the Goby.  They have an umlimited supply of high protein food that allows the SMB to maximize their genetic potential....similar to a whitetail deer that has unlimited food and low social pressure.   

 

[slonezp]

28 minutes ago, 8pt172 said:

 

 

The SMB of the Great Lakes Region are getting bigger because of the Goby.  They have an umlimited supply of high protein food that allows the SMB to maximize their genetic potential....similar to a whitetail deer that has unlimited food and low social pressure.   

 

Maybe...maybe not. Decreased stocking of salmonoids in Lake Michigan has caused a rebound in the alewife populations My personal experience is perch, alewife, and golden shiner patterns outproduce goby patterns on Lake Michigan. Not saying gobies haven't had an affect on size, just that they may not be the only reason.

 

Devils advocate: Maybe C&R has had a detrimental effect on the size of bass. More bass in the ecosystem=less bait. I fish a landlocked lake that doesn't have a strong baitfish population and most of the bass we catch have big heads and skinny bodies.  The lake is managed by the village and is 100% C&R for bass. I've filleted crappies out of that lake and the crappies are cannibalistic because they have nothing to eat. Another nearby lake is C&R from ice out to May 31st, has a thriving bluegill population and although the lake doesn't hold huge numbers of bass, their tummies are always full.

 

 

[A-Jay]

16 hours ago, Columbia Craw said:

Lakes with a stable biology continue to pump out quality fish.  Habitat, habitat, habitat. Guys like Catt, Dwight, AJay and so on are blessed to have such great habitat to fish.

 

And I never take it for granted. 

Couple of thoughts; I do not fish the Great Lakes from Michigan.  But the proximity of them to many of the waters that I do frequent, has seen the introduction of zebra mussels & gobies into them.  Both have had an effect, good or bad in the long run has yet to be seen.  However short term, cleaner water & more readily available high protein soft finned food has meant fatter smallies for sure.

 Best producing waters for me though are still the ones that are for the most part 'off the beaten path', meaning two-track access roads several miles long, 10 plus miles from a highway and dirt ramps.  Few of these have the above mentioned infestation but still offer pretty fertile habitat.

The fact that there's usually little in the way of mapping available doesn't hurt my feelings at all either.

A-Jay

 

[Catt]

18 hours ago, Columbia Craw said:

Lakes with a stable biology continue to pump out quality fish.  Habitat, habitat, habitat. Guys like Catt, Dwight, AJay and so on are blessed to have such great habitat to fish.

 

Genetics!

Not every bass is genetically capable of reaching 10# status.

 

Past genetic research focused mainly on the female but the ShareLunker program is showing the equally important role of the male's genetics.

2014 Nacogdoches Texas, a lake record of 12.54 lbs was caught on Lake Naconiche; genetic research showed some interesting facts.

The mother was ShareLunker #370; 14.28 lbs from Falcon Lake.

The grandmother was ShareLunker #187; 14.05 lbs from Lake Fork.

The great-grandmother was ShareLunker #9; 16.13 lbs from Gibbons Creek.

Plus ShareLunker #305; 14.67 lbs from Lake Fork.

All 5 were from the same father; an almost 8 lb male.

 

Each female bass listed was hatched at the ShareLunker hatchery in Athens, Texas & stocked a fingerlings!