The 25lb Bass

[WRB]

** Moderator Note **

Let's stay "generally" on topic. This isn't about the ethics of bed fishing

or how much "fishing seasons" suck.

-Kent a.k.a. roadwarrior

Global Moderator

Lake Dixon is all about bed fishing and Dottie was caught off a bed every time she caught. I don't have a problem with that, it's just not for me and a few other trophy bass fisherman. Bed fishing is a major part of this topic. I will end my participation on the thread. Thanks Matt and everyone else, it's time to fish.

WRB

[Muddy]

He has spoken again from the mountain.

It shall be written, on what ever they %#$* they write it on.

[Mattlures]

Tilapia have almost the same nutritional value as trout. A tilapia food base could absolutley compete with a trout food base. Plus trout are only stocked for about 1/3 of the year. then the bass have to eat regular food. A lake that had year round Tilapia has a better food source then 4 months of trout. If Mexico has produced big fish but the general theory is that that they groy to fast and burn out. If this is true then a Tx lake that was managed for the sole purpose of growing worl class fish could produce a 20lb bass

[Muddy]

Hey Matt: are they saying that the main reason Texas Lakes can't produce a 20+ fish is because to many fish over 15 are taken or killed?

I am asking this because I fished there and it is huge. I looked up some of the lakes you fellas have talked about many of them are the same size if not smaller than Mauch Chunk, my home lake.

I would think that the pressure on big bass would be less on the big Texas Lakes because there should be more bigger fish. I am getting confused by this part of the discussion.

I am interested in this because

1. I want to get a 8+ out of the Chunk this year

2. Me and Bruce have found 2 , highly unpressured ponds , with big fish and I would love my first DD

Dominick

[Mattlures]

Muddy they are not saying it, I am. The size of the lake is the least important factor as long as its big enough.

Its actualy not that complicated. For a bass to reach its potential it needs...In this order

#1 Genetics

#2 inviornment It needs the right climate. It needs no competition from stripes or spots. It needs the right food sources in abundance

#3 It needs to be able to live long enough to get that big.

#4 Proper management. One of the reasons that the small lakes in So Cal produce big bass is they do not have large populations of bass. the spawns are not overly succesful and the populations are lower then our bigger lakes which helps big bass get bigger. We have bigger lakes that when they were young lakes produced giant fish, now they dont. To many small bass competing with the big ones.

Ponds are ususaly bad for growing big bass because the bass usualy out compete thier prey and the pond becomes unballanced.

It all depends on the ballance in your ponds. I assume that your talking about big ponds that have a good balance though. If you catch a lot of skinny fish there is a good chance that the lake is unbalanced and the big bass are on the decline.What you want is lower numbers of bass but you want them fat and healthy, thats where you should find some bigger fish. Dont go by lake records.  Evey lake out here has a record of over 18lbs but many of them havent produced a 15lber in over 20 years. Base your chances on recent lake history

[Muddy]

Got it Thanks Matt. We have 2 large ponds, one on private property( with permission) one is part of a mine reclamation project. Everyone walks past it on the way to the larger filled in stripping pit, but me and Bruce have caught some big guns there and we are working on getting a small boat/inflatable to get to a huge stand of visible timber on the inaccessible side.

[Mattlures]

One thing I forgot to mention is In our small lakes with giant bass the fishing can be brutal. The fish are smart and super preasured and hard to catch. In contrast our bigger lakes are much easier. the bigger the lake = bigger population = easier fishing. Of course that how it is out here becuase the little lakes get just as much presure as the big ones.

[Jaheff]

Now you tell me..

Thats why I had to trout fish at the same time.

[Mattlures]

Jaheff, Dixon aint easy!! I have never went to DVL but that would be where iwould go to catch a lot of good fish or even hodges. Dixon, Poway, Jennings, Murray, = hard but has a few monsters. Hodges, Otay, El Cap, San V, = easy but not many big fish. Otay is improving though. DVL has the best of both worlds. It hasnt produced monsters yet but it will soon and it has a lot of good fish in there

[Jaheff]

Matt,

I don't live in Esco any longer.I'm in Arizona now.

I put over four years on Dixon, that's were I learned to bass

Fish.I would not trade my experiances of that for anything.

I could take what I learned at dixon and catch pure numbers

at DVL went there twice,Second cast first time 4.7 om an MM111.

Hodges was my favorite local lake.

You can understand Dixon open 363 days a year thats were I had to

go if I wanted to wet a line.Hodges open 7 months a year and only on

Weds and weekends.I had no choice but Dixon, most days.

[Jaheff]

ok, that sounded a little stupid.But

who else here would not take a 4.7

their second cast on a new lake you

never fished before?

[cart7t]

I have posted this 100 times but I will do it again. The biggest difference between Cali and everywhere else is we let our giants go so they become word class fish. This story about Dottie is the ultimate example of how that works. Mike caught her at 20 12 and released her. Do you think sh would have beeen released in TX or FL if sombody caught a 20lber there. Nope she would have been kept. Not only did Mike release her but then Jed released her at 21 11 and look what hapened......She grew to 25lbs. This is the biggest difference in Cali and the other possible staes. Untill they release all thier giant bass they will probably never produce a 20lber. This type of thing is common place out here in Cali. I honestly dont think a single person has asked me if I released my 17 lber. You know why? becuase they dont have to ask. Its a given that she went back. Its the same thing with all the trophy hunters. Do you think Mike keeps his fish? Of course not. Ok now answer this. If I 15-20lb bass was caught in Tx or Fl what are the chances of the angler just taking pics weighing her and putting her back?Probably extremely low. Its going to the SAL program or on a wall. TX cant get out of its own way. Thier motto should be "lets grow them big but take them out before they get too big"

Let's face it.  The CA guys fishing are fishing for THE fish.  Somebody in TX or FL is fishing for a fish.. over 10lbs, over 12, over 15.  Somebody snares a 20lb bass and the world stops turning in either of those states.  

I just dont' think you guys, 4biz, you matt or fish chris really understand just how BIG those fish you guys are holding up in those pictures are to about 98% of all the fishermen in this country.  A fish in the 14-15lb class anywhere south of the Mason Dixon line would be the same to us as a 20lb plus fish to you guys.  I find it completely normal that somebody in someplace other than CA would take a 20lber and keep it for whatever use they saw fit.  

[Mattlures]

Yes it would be normal and no suprise. My main point is that in order for a fish to reach its 100% potental it cant be kept at 95%. If sombody in TX or FL catches and keeps a 15lber they removed a potential 20lber. Verry few bass anywhare have all right stuff to get to 15lbs. and even fewer of those 15's can get to 20. I belive if Texas and Fl released all or even most of their teen bass we would see some hight teen fish coming out of those states.

Trust me I realize how blessed we are with the size of these bass. I also hunt deer and we have some of the smallest deer in the country. I see those pics of monster bucks and I think thats exactly what those bass fisherman from other areas feel when they see the giant bass from here.

My lifetime bass fishing goal is 20lber. I dont know if the WR is a realistic goal but I feel there is a small chance that I may someday get my 20

[Catt]

matt you are aware that no every 13 + bass in the state of Texas are entered into the ShareLunker program? As matter of fact it is not even a high percentage

I personally know of 3 last year from Toledo Bend & 2 from Rayburn all were close to or over 15# & yet little to no one heard of these bass. Just like y'all out in California there are plenty of Trophy Hunters here in the south we just don't get all the media coverage y'all get.

When bass in the 20# class start appearing from Texas remember y'all were warned so don't act all surprised

[roadwarrior]

We'll see...

I hear this all the time about Lake Erie and St. Clair smallmouth.

The locals think they will produce the next World Record. Their

fisheries are the best in the world for numbers and many big

brown fish. However, until the region pops out a few 10s, there

is -0- chance of a 12.

Florida and Texas face a similar hurdle. Until these states produce

a few 20s, talk of a World Record is premature. Big, even giant bass,

are one thing, THE biggest bass is quite another.

8-)

[hawgchaser]

A 25 pound bass is like bootfoot here in Ar. I have landed several 10lbs+ bass and truly can't comprehend a 20lber. Personally I like the current record and hope if the record is broken, it brings a great story.

[FD.]

I don't know about Texas, but Florida's chances are slim.  We have the right conditions  but we have a problem.  Thousands and thousands of anglers coming to Fl every winter to sit and watch bobbers over shiners and catch the 10 plus fish and take them back home to where ever.  We will never have a shot at the record until regulations stop this from happening.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

I have landed several 10lbs+ bass and truly can't comprehend a 20lber.

Don't get me wrong, a record is a record and is certainly an honor, but in all reality,...it's only a 20+ lb fish.  I would bet in your part of the country a 40lb cat isn't rare.  It's all relative, not too hard to comprehend at all here in Ocean country where a rigged bait can weigh as much as 5-6 lbs.

[SudoomFisher]

What kind of fight to these giant bass give when you hook them?

[Mattlures]

A giant bass fight is like a vintage Mike Tyson fight. but then they quickly tire after 3 rounds comparred to other fish who fight all 15 rounds hard. A giant bass fights smart, they do everything they can to get off. They dont just pull and run. If you give them drag then there is a good chance you will loose them. If you let them jump there is a good chance they will throw your bait. Stick them hard, fight them hard , atempt to controll the fight, and end it as soon as possible. Get to agresive and she will break you off, get to carefull and she will hang you or throw you. It is the most exciting 2-3 minutes in fishing. I also fish big saltware and its cool but its not the same. You never know your going to land a huge bass untill its actualy landed. A big saltwer fish is different, You know you going to win. it may be much mor phyisical and a lot longer but the outcome is generaly predictable.

[Bass_Akwards]

If the next WR is caught by bed fishing while the fish is near or about to spawn, will it be chaos due to the differing opinions about fishing for spawning fish?  

Isn't that how Dotty was caught once or twice before?

[roadwarrior]

If the next WR is caught by bed fishing while the fish is near or about to spawn, will it be chaos due to the differing opinions about fishing for spawning fish?

Isn't that how Dotty was caught once or twice before?

Glenn just closed a thread on bed fishing. Any reference to this

"controversy" will be deleted.

-Kent  a.k.a. roadwarrior

Global Moderator

[Bass_Akwards]

Doh!  Sorry!

[flechero]

If the next WR is caught by bed fishing while the fish is near or about to spawn, will it be chaos due to the differing opinions about fishing for spawning fish?

Isn't that how Dotty was caught once or twice before?

Glenn just closed a thread on bed fishing. Any reference to this

"controversy" will be deleted.

-Kent a.k.a. roadwarrior

Global Moderator

Not to mention you had to lock your own thread a little while ago!   ;D  Careful folks, they are in the locking mood!  

[The_Natural]

As far as the Trout vs. Tilapia, it is my understanding that trout are significantly slower and easier for bass to catch.  This why bass are able to gorge themselves on them.  

As far as fighting a big fish, I've never fought a 'teener, but my biggest fish have all come up rather easily...only to see the boat and make a massive surge towards the bottom.