Best place to catch a monster

[Johnpenguin]

I have decided I am going to go on vacation this summer and I don’t know where to go quite yet. The goal is to catch a new pb largemouth bass. My pb is only five pounds(not even 4.71). I can go anywhere within the United States, so does anyone know of any great places?

[CroakHunter]

Best chance is somewhere with florida strain lmb. Although I have caught lots of northern strain over 5lbs. Texas would be my choice because of the diversity. Somewhere like lake fork

[NittyGrittyBoy]

Lake Toho or Stick Marsh, Fla live Shiners. 

 

Set your PB high. 

[slonezp]

Loch Ness

[N Florida Mike]

Rodman reservoir

[Koz]

Go to Florida and hire a guide to take you out. Be prepared to pay big bucks for the live bait (and the guide) you'll need to catch your PB.

[flyfisher]

I'd find a spot to beat your PB with a smallmouth

[HeyCoach]

Lake O

Guntersville

 

What was the lake in North Carolina, I think, that the MLF was at a few weeks ago and everybody was pulling out 6 pounders and up?

[WRB]

Driving distance or flying to destination?

Summer in Florida isn't the prime time IMO if hoping for a DD, lots of high% places to top 6 lbs. if willing to fish at night. Live bait isn't necessary you less you prefer using it. 

There are some good giudes that fish Clear lake, Berryessa and the Delta that could meet your goal and nice area to vacation.

Texas has lots of good lakes like San Rayburn, Toledo Bend, lake Fork etc and closer to home then California.

Tom

[Mike L]

Florida 

Texas

California

 

If you decide on Florida I'd go Stick Marsh

Toho

Big O

The waters are low on Okeechobee right now but coming up. 

If you decide to go there do a search on guides as I listed a bunch awhile ago. 

All of them I know and have fished tournaments with most of them. 

 

Good Luck

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[WRB]

Summer period the big girls have scattered and prey is abundant making it difficult to garentee catching big bass. The OP's bench mark is low, not requiring a DD so he should have a good opportunity to reach his goal (if hiring a good guide)  at dozens of good bass lakes. 

Narrow it down to a few preferred locations and we can make more suggestions.

Tom

 

[hawgenvy]

Summer is beastly hot in Florida and Texas (90-100). I won't fish July, August, or September in Florida except at sunset, and then only if there's a significant breeze.  I'd go to California or Mexico if you want a chance for a summer giant without frying quite as badly. If you don't mind 100 degrees go to Texas. If you don't mind 95 degrees with humidity, gnats, and mosquitos go to Florida, Georgia, or Alabama

[Manly Studson]

Florida and South Georgia are great places to fish. The swamps have good-sized LMB. Okeefenokee and Okechobee are good.

[greentrout]

a monster is 10 lbs. plus ... still the big three: impoundments in texas, california and florida ...

 

best odds to do so ...

 

good fishing ... 

[Harold Scoggins]

7 hours ago, Johnpenguin said:

so does anyone know of any great places?

Uh huh, yeah I do. Down here yonder on the OK/AR border. You know how to paddle?

[NittyGrittyBoy]

10 hours ago, Manly Studson said:

Florida and South Georgia are great places to fish. The swamps have good-sized LMB. Okeefenokee and Okechobee are good.

No Bass in the Okeefenokee. ?

[BassNJake]

17 hours ago, Johnpenguin said:

I have decided I am going to go on vacation this summer and I don’t know where to go quite yet. The goal is to catch a new pb largemouth bass. My pb is only five pounds(not even 4.71). I can go anywhere within the United States, so does anyone know of any great places?

If you look north they catch catch some huge smallies in your backyard.

 

I've been to Chickamuaga about 15 times and my personal best is from an electric motor only lake in Ohio

[Catt]

I'm gonna suggest a bassresource family member.

 

Contact Josh @Bass_Fanatic Sikes, he guides on Toledo Bend & Sam Rayburn. Not only will he put you on big momma but he teaches how to use electronics to read structure & then fish it effectively.

[Allaroundfishing]

14 hours ago, HeyCoach said:

Lake O

Guntersville

 

What was the lake in North Carolina, I think, that the MLF was at a few weeks ago and everybody was pulling out 6 pounders and up?

That was back in march, jordan and falls lake were really hot same with harris, I fish all of these lakes and they can be good to you but you can also go out and fish for 10 hrs and not have a bite...  Right now the bite down here is off but a few of the thursday night tournaments have had fish over 8lbs weighed in.

[Johnpenguin]

9 hours ago, BassNJake said:

If you look north they catch catch some huge smallies in your backyard.

 

I've been to Chickamuaga about 15 times and my personal best is from an electric motor only lake in Ohio

Ya my pb smallmouth is 6.56(from Erie), while my pb lmb is 4.71. That’s why I need to bump up my pb lmb ASAP lol

[CrankFate]

All I can say is there are lots of places around you with fish over 6. A 7 is realistic. The problem may be that if you are fishing large bodies of water the fish aren’t where you are fishing. I have caught many fish 5-7 lbs in small ponds. Not from skill. From fishing them until I caught something. I bet there are way more 5-10 pound bass near you than me. I say go to Florida in September, because that’s where I got my PB. Or somewhere else with no winter.

[Hower08]

John penguin where are you located at

[Johnpenguin]

1 hour ago, Hower08 said:

John penguin where are you located at

Cleveland ohio

[Hower08]

Head an hour south to portage lakes and beat your PB no need to travel all over the country to catch a largie over 5#

[Johnpenguin]

27 minutes ago, Hower08 said:

Head an hour south to portage lakes and beat your PB no need to travel all over the country to catch a largie over 5#

I don’t have a boat. Plus I want to experience new types of fishing. I’ve decided I’m going to fort pierce, fl. Hopefully I can land some big ones there.