List of the biggest documented bass ever caught

[Mattlures]

Avid I do agree with you kind of. I guess it is not fact because it was not a certified scale but consider this. The fish was caught in front of witnesses including the ranger. It was put on a stringer and they went out and called their lawyer. the lake is only around 80 acres. They only went out a little ways but definatly in clear view. Nothing was done to the fish. They brought the fish to the dock and weighed it withan accurate didgital scale, I know it wasnt certified but that doesnt mean it is not accurate. The weighing was captured on video for the whole world to see. The scale stopped at 25.1. Basscenter checked the scale and found it to be accurate. Now I guess you could argue that this is not fact but its prety darn close and I bleive it is reasonable proof. It is the biggest bass ever caught that has been documanted. Duclose's fish is a much better argument for you. his being weighed on a bathroom scale becuase he couldt find any other one and he was worried about the fish dying. He subtracted his weight from the total to get 24lbs. Now obviously the IGFA could not grant him the record because that in fact was not an accurate way to weigh the fish. It could have been 26lbs or 21lbs. I do believe that is was AROUND 24lbs but that is just not good enough for the IGFA or me. The IGFA did make a statement about Macs 25.1 saying the would definatly consider it even though the scale was not certified because off all the proof. They never got the chance.

On a side note this thread has remained fairly tame. Quite impresive considering how passionate many of us are with the subject of big bass and the world record.  

[KYbass1276]

Just to let people know that there where certified scales at the dock where wheatly and friends where standing for a couple of pictures. Thats what the park ranger who was being interveiwed by bass center said. I think I would out of my own curiosity would have weighed it on that scale.

[cbfishalot]

THE MOST IMPRESSIVE THING ABOUT MIKE LONG IS HE MAKES THE LIST WITH 5 DIFFERENT LAKES!!!!!

Paying someone to not fish for the world record bass.........$1000

Fishing rod.......................................................................$350

Fishing reel......................................................................$250

Tackle......................................................................$100Parks pass.......................................................................$10

WEIGHTING YOUR WORLD RECORD BASS WITH A $1.99 SCALE PRICELESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just say no to drugs!!!!!

[Glenn]

Lot's of questions about catching the big girls and how to certify them.  These articles should help:

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/be_prepared.html

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/certify.html

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/Record_fish.html

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/trophy_bass_fishing.html

Enjoy!

[Guest avid]

Avid I do agree with you kind of.

LOL  Mattlures you are a great guy.  I really like your posts (and your lures ain't bad either  )

Earthworm -

Forget about a certified scale for a moment

Sorry, but I cannot forget about that the scale was not certified.  This is the centerpiece of my argument.  I simply cannot accept that these guys who are dedicated WR hunters had this bass located and identified. Made arrangements to be there specifically to catch the WR and did not bring a certified scale.  It's absurd, and I don't buy it.  Sorry.  

I'm also tired about hearing about the conditions involved around "certifying" the Perry bass as the WR.

The guy did all that was required at the time.  IGFA accepted it.  

End of story.

Avid has spoken  

PS - I think the argument that Mike Long should be considered one of the all time greats of bass fishing is an extremely important point.  We are so bombarded with media hype about tournament pros that we are being brainwashed into not accepting other standards of greatness as valid

[Ky_Lake_Dude]

31 of those bass were caught by Mike Long.

[earthworm77]

George Perry's record was accepted long after the fact by information provided by a third party. There were no photos and we all know the dimensions are suspect. In my law enforcement career this was defined as hearsay and couldn't stand in a court of law. I do not believe Weakley's fish should be the record based on the circumstances surrounding the foul hooking of the fish however, there is no doubt based on photos, the weighing and video that this is the largest bass ever recorded. If it was 25.1 or 24.9 who cares? At least we will always have the proof that this giant was caught. Any naysayer to the Weakly fish must consider the lack of physical evidence regarding the Perry bass. There is not even a photo. How can anyone admantly defend a position without proof?

I am passionate about this sport since I make a good living at it, I certainly do not see the questionable record as a good measure of what this sport is about, what it stands for. I'd like to see the meat and potatoes and have there be no question that a record truly was caught. As far as standards, everything about the current record is a gray area. You have no photo, you have no witness, the fish was eaten before it could be examined, you don't want to question Perry's integrity but he did claim three different lures caught the fish so appraently he did have something to gain by misleading people, his photo never surfaced, you know, the one he said he would give the lure company if they threw him some lures. That is extortion by the way. I think Perry knew exactly how to manipulate the people he had to. In his era, there may not have been the millions to gain but since he was referred to as a poor farm boy, anything he could gain might seem like a windfall to him.

Forgive me for sheding the doubt in this but there really is little more than someone saying it happened and it being in the records as the only proof we have that it actually occurred. That's not enough for me. I'm not naive enough to just accept it. Obviously the standards to legitimze a record were nil back then. If you are Ok with that cool. But to attest that Weakley's fish wasn't weighed on a certifed scale and doubt that weight after seeing the fish for yourself, how can you believe in any facet of the Perry story? It lacks any physical proof. Even if you believe in the nostalgia of the good 'Ole South holding the record, you have to see that there are holes everywhere regarding this fish story.

[buzzbaitfool12]

Earthworm..I have no pictures of my greatgrandfather...does this mean he did not exist ;D..When the bass was caught by Perry, food was more important and there were no kinkos or photoshops or cameras that are as available as today..It just was not that important to take pictures at this time..I was not alive at this time and I can only believe what is told..They weighed this fish on either a meat scale or post office scale and cannot remember which one it was..

[Master_Hunter_1977]

I would like to have the time to spend that much time on the water as mike long has to achieve that stat.  It for sure is a huge feat.  

Scott

Tight lines to all

[roadwarrior]

Craig,

No I don't think you are the "only one," but this was beat to death on another thread that we both participated in. This thread is NOT about Perry's fish.

-Kent

[phisher_d]

How about a list like that for smallmouth?

Out of In-Fisherman magazine, January 2002.

10 lbs. 14 oz.  John Gorman, 4/24/69, Dale Hollow, TN

10 lbs. 8 oz.    Paul E. Beal, 4/14/86, Dale Hollow, TN

10 lbs. 8oz.     Owen F. Smith, 1950, Wheeler Dam Tailwater, AL

10 lbs. 2oz.     Archie Lampkin, 1951, Hiwassee Reservoir, NC

10 lbs. 1oz.     Billy Westmorland, 1972, Dale Hollow, TN

9lbs. 13.5oz.   Andy Anderson, 1954, Birch Bark Lake, Ontario

9lbs. 12oz.      David Lindsay, 1971, South Branch, WV

9lbs. 10oz.      Mike Curry, 1989, Pickwick Lake, TN

9lbs. 6oz.        Terry Dodson, 2001, Lake Jocassee, SC

9lbs. 5oz.        Randy Van Dam, 1993, Lake Erie, OH

9lbs. 4oz.        W.F. Shoemaker, 1906, Long Lake, MI

Record in limbo*:

11lbs. 15oz.     David Hayes, 7/9/55, Dale Hollow

*wasn't a record at the time the mag was printed.

I don't know how many of these fish have been certified, I haven't even heard of most of these guys, just thought some of you might be interested in seeing this.

[Ky_Lake_Dude]

I'm not bashing George Perry, but isn't it strange that Georgia only makes the list one time? In theory, it seems like a state would have to produce a number of 18, 19 and 20 lb bass if it were to produce a 22 lb 4 oz fish. Interesting, hun?

From what I know several 10-15 lbers are caught every year out of Georgia

[Ky_Lake_Dude]

George Perry's record was accepted long after the fact by information provided by a third party. There were no photos and we all know the dimensions are suspect. In my law enforcement career this was defined as hearsay and couldn't stand in a court of law. I do not believe Weakley's fish should be the record based on the circumstances surrounding the foul hooking of the fish however, there is no doubt based on photos, the weighing and video that this is the largest bass ever recorded. If it was 25.1 or 24.9 who cares? At least we will always have the proof that this giant was caught. Any naysayer to the Weakly fish must consider the lack of physical evidence regarding the Perry bass. There is not even a photo. How can anyone admantly defend a position without proof?

I am passionate about this sport since I make a good living at it, I certainly do not see the questionable record as a good measure of what this sport is about, what it stands for. I'd like to see the meat and potatoes and have there be no question that a record truly was caught. As far as standards, everything about the current record is a gray area. You have no photo, you have no witness, the fish was eaten before it could be examined, you don't want to question Perry's integrity but he did claim three different lures caught the fish so appraently he did have something to gain by misleading people, his photo never surfaced, you know, the one he said he would give the lure company if they threw him some lures. That is extortion by the way. I think Perry knew exactly how to manipulate the people he had to. In his era, there may not have been the millions to gain but since he was referred to as a poor farm boy, anything he could gain might seem like a windfall to him.

Forgive me for sheding the doubt in this but there really is little more than someone saying it happened and it being in the records as the only proof we have that it actually occurred. That's not enough for me. I'm not naive enough to just accept it. Obviously the standards to legitimze a record were nil back then. If you are Ok with that cool. But to attest that Weakley's fish wasn't weighed on a certifed scale and doubt that weight after seeing the fish for yourself, how can you believe in any facet of the Perry story? It lacks any physical proof. Even if you believe in the nostalgia of the good 'Ole South holding the record, you have to see that there are holes everywhere regarding this fish story.

Yes there is a photo of the WR bass,it was in the June 2006 Bassmaster Magazine.

[roadwarrior]

phisher_d,

Thanks! I have never seen that list.

All the more amazing that David Hayes' fish stands so far above the pack. BTW, he still has the skin mount of that giant!

[earthworm77]

spnerbat101-no, there is a photo in the June 2006 Bassmaster of a fish claimed to be the record but George Perry is not in that photo, I've researched this for quite sometime in order to become skeptical about it. Since this list goes to 16's, all fish under that size are irrelevant, 10 to 15lbers don't make the cut.

[BASSMACHINE]

Perry's fish is the record reguardless of any ones doubt. It is number one so we should not even be questioning it's exsitance. 22lbs 4oz is the mark. Until someone catches a largemouth bigger, it will remain number one in the record book. Why would anyone want to bash a man for an astounding accomplishment ,especially since that man is no longer alive to defend himself.

[Matt Fly]

Cali fishermen have just has many fish being eaten as any were else.    14 years of watching Asain fishermen keep everything, and I mean anything and every thing.    

You must first have the ingridients to grow such bass for them to be caught.     We have beaten this horse to death many times.

You have the longiest growing season in the US.     You have deep waters that offer warmer temps that don't stop bass from growing in the southern Cali lakes and resorvoirs during Winter.

I don't care, you add northern temps to the mix, and you are no different than the rest of the US.

Why is Tx, Fla, Mexico and Cuba always listed as possible WR locations, its has some of the longer growing seasons..

Why has Northern Cali not weighed in a 20lber?   They have plenty of trout!!!!!  

Maybe the weather up north doesn't allow them to grow 365 days a year as the milder climate does down south.

Matt

[Matt Fly]

I wanted to add some other factors as well.

They say the fish are more pressured in southern Cali, but, most San Diego lakes are fish from sun up till sun down, thus no night fishing ever!!!!!!

Some lakes that produce those hawgs are only open to skiing only on certain days.     Can you imagine having a lake that is only open to fishing 3-4 days a week, then skiing only for 3-4 days?

No trot lines, means no live bait, means no loss of bass due to being caught on trotlines like other states.

NO lake houses, or in another words, no lake property owners on the lower So Cal lakes, which means that fishing is still limited to day light hours only!!!!!

Just think if night fishing was legal, how much pressure those So cal lakes would get.

matt

[earthworm77]

I haven't begun to bash Mr. Perry. Just pointing out the inaccuracies of the record. You are right it is the record but that doesn't mean I have to like or even accept it in my mind. Nor does it mean that I can't question its authenticity or the facts behind it. There is little solid evidence behind it so I will continue to question it until more proof is provided or until someone from California breaks the record this year.

I'm sure if Mr. Perry was alive, he would decline to answer questions or take a lie detector test about the catch as he did before his passing, so nothing would be accomplished by that. Strange that a man questioned about his catch did nothing to clear up the facts when he was alive.

[Captain Cali]

Bob Crupi should hold the World Record.

That works for me! In my mind, Crupi does hold the world record. 8-)

[earthworm77]

Agreed about the Crupi fish. its funny about some of the scams. The Trew fish looks tiny in compaison to some of the legit big fish. I can't believe that someone tried to pass it off as a record.

[roadwarrior]

Craig, the fish in your avatar could be anything you want it to be!

Man, I'm not exaggerating, that is a GREAT picture. Size, lighting, contrast, angle and the way you have it held...That's what a "pro" is all about. I'm glad you weighed and posted this fish, it just demonstrates all the reasons you are so passionate about the Perry fish.

[earthworm77]

That fish is a 10-7. I looked up a Florida 15-5 through the Fish and Game commision and it looks small compared to my photo, I'm not saying it is smaller in weight but it really does matter how the photo is shot. Take the Trew fish, I think we could compare my photo to it on any site where nobody knew the real weights and most would say the one I'm holding looks bigger. I do not know the true weight of her fish but I do know she is a tiny women so it can't be close to the claimed 20+ lbs. If I'm not mistaken I think they said it was a new World Record. An educated guess would be about 8 or 9 lbs.

Brother Kent, I'm no Pro. But thanks. Are you putting a hurting on those mid winter smallies yet?

[roadwarrior]

Nope. Too many variables on the Tennessee River. For awhile TVA wouldn't give us any water and now they have opened the flood gates! I had a BIG trip planned this weekend which we had to cancel. Man, I really feel the pain of that old saying, "That's fishing!"

Back on topic,

Bassmaster or In-Fisherman did a VERY detailed analysis of the Trew fish and came up with a number of around 18 lbs, max. As we all know, pictures can be misleading, both too small and too big. Craig's fish was a pig and a true trophy for most of us, but the picture just blows me away.

ONLY 10-7?

That's too bad. :'(

[earthworm77]

Only 10-7 but we can call it 15 if you are more comfortable with that. lol