Super User Dwight Hottle Posted July 17, 2009 Super User Posted July 17, 2009 My fishing buddies & I have always considered the benchmark for a lifetime trophy largemouth to be 10lbs. Out of all serious largemouth fisherman probably only a small percentage actually achieve the 10 lb plateau. We have always considered a 7lber to be the benchmark for smallmouth. Once again only a small percentage of bass anglers achieve the 7lb plateau. Disregard your own personal geographic location favoring either largies or smallies. What do you consider the equivalency to be between lifetime trophy largemouth & smallmouth? Does a 10lb largemouth equate to a 7lb smallmouth regarding trophy status? What does a 8lb smallmouth compare to in a largemouth? :-/ Quote
Shad_Master Posted July 17, 2009 Posted July 17, 2009 A hypothetical answer - maybe I don't get to do much smallie fishing these days, so I couldn't really weigh in on that - but I have always set 8.5# as being a LMB that I might consider hanging on the wall or having a replica made. I think a lot of it has to do with where you are fishing - around here, 6# is pretty rare (although there are lots of stories that never seem to get backed up) but in south Texas for instance, 10# might be considered average. It's good to have a goal, but don't let other people influence what you are striving for, too much. Take stock in your situation and go from there. Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted July 17, 2009 Super User Posted July 17, 2009 Hey Dwight! We have almost the same thread running two lines down: What is "big"? 8-) Quote
Eddie Munster Posted July 17, 2009 Posted July 17, 2009 Hey Kent, Thinking about big Smallmouth bass, your avatar pic came to mind. Maybe we should have a Message Board Record for fish we've caught. Kind of a Wall of Fame thread or something. Quote
Super User WRB Posted July 17, 2009 Super User Posted July 17, 2009 Trying to compare apples to oranges is like comparing smallmouth and largemouth bass. When factoring in the difference between Florida and northern strain LMB you have another apple and orange comparison. Using record size bass; FLMB = 22-4oz. (22-5 pending). NLMB = 16-8 oz.(AL record). SMB = 11-15oz. Smallmouth is about 50% the weight of FLMB and 75% of NLMB. Using a 10 lb LMB as a goal makes since for NLMB and 75% of 10 lbs is 7-8 oz., for SMB seems realistic. However using 15 lbs for FLMB seems more realistic to me, then 10 lbs. My PB; 19.3 lbs FLMB 12.25 lbs NLMB 6 lbs SMB WRB Quote
Super User Muddy Posted July 17, 2009 Super User Posted July 17, 2009 Where did a record come from for FLMB vs NSLMB? : The IFGA only lists LARGE MOUTH BASS, what does AL mean next to Northern Strain Record? Your goal is hat ever you like, IF the biggest bass that live in your area are 8 lbs than 8 lbs is a trophy bass in your waters, do not let anyone else tell you different. Quote
Super User WRB Posted July 17, 2009 Super User Posted July 17, 2009 Where did a record come from for FLMB vs NSLMB? : The IFGA only lists LARGE MOUTH BASS, what does AL mean next to Northern Strain Record? Your goal is hat ever you like, IF the biggest bass that live in your area are 8 lbs than 8 lbs is a trophy bass in your waters, do not let anyone else tell you different. Used the AL, Alabama state record for NLMB, no offical separate records are kept, all largemouth black bass are considered the same fish, I don't agree and believe NLMB and FLMB are two different bass and should have separate records and realize that may never happen in my lifetime. Agree; use 75% of the state record weight where you fish is a good goal. If the record is 11 lbs 4 oz (NY), then a 8 lb 8 oz bass would be the goal. A 10 lb bass for NY is very close to the state and a rare fish, too high for vast majority of bass fishermen who live there. WRB Quote
Super User Muddy Posted July 17, 2009 Super User Posted July 17, 2009 Thanks, Has anyone every approached the IGFA to have this done? What about those hybrid, I think you and Matt called them intergrates( sorry forgot the exact term) of the cross between a NLMB and FLMB? Quote
Super User Dwight Hottle Posted July 17, 2009 Author Super User Posted July 17, 2009 Hey Dwight! We have almost the same thread running two lines down: What is "big"? Kent I guess I didn't get my point across very well. I'm trying to compare what is your biggest largemouth to your biggest smallmouth from a personal goal standpoint. When you aspire to catch a certain size largemouth as a lifetime goal how big of a smallmouth does it take to compare to it. In your avatar your holding a 7lb+ and a 8lb+ smallie. From a personal satisfaction point of view how big would the two largemouth have to be to equal your accomplishment with the smallies. Would you have to be holding a 12lber & 15lber? Bigger? Kent Quote
Super User WRB Posted July 17, 2009 Super User Posted July 17, 2009 I have lots of times. The IGFA response is it's too difficult for the average fishermen to be able to tell the difference. I guess we are too stupid to count lateral line pore scales; 59-65 NLMB, 69-73 FLMB. WRB PS;ntergrade is the cross between NLMB and FLMB. Every intergrade that I have scale counted was 69+ and should be considered FLMB, the purist can argue about the fly sht in the pepper. Quote
Super User J Francho Posted July 17, 2009 Super User Posted July 17, 2009 8 is about right for NY. I've only seen two fish bigger reported in the past five or six years on the local boards. One was a little over 8 and the other 9 and change, IIRC. In response to Dwight's original question my personal goal is to get over 8. I've broken through 7, with a 7-2, so the next logical step is an 8+. Last year, I had one fish in the 6 lb. class, and that came at the end of summer. This year, I already have three, 6-0, 6-1, and 6-8, two of which came on the same trip. Its been a hell of a year for me. For smallies, its much more incremental. My largest to date is 5-4. This year I caught my 2nd biggest at 5-0 during the spawn. I witnessed an ex-girlfriend catch the biggest smallie I've ever seen, a 6-4 back in the mid 90s. I'd like to break the six barrier on the smallie, but I suspect I'd have to fish Erie for it. I just don't think Lake Ontario is there yet. Maybe there is a beast wandering my neck of the woods. I'll take anything <=5 Quote
Super User WRB Posted July 17, 2009 Super User Posted July 17, 2009 The NY state record SMB is 8 lb-4 oz, lake Erie. 75% would be 6 lbs a good goal for a NY or PA smallie. WRB Quote
cabullwinkle Posted July 17, 2009 Posted July 17, 2009 If you are establishing your lifetime goal, I would go with what a trophy class really is. It is half the world record. So for a largemouth it is about 11 pounds. Not sure what it is for a smallmouth. Sometimes you don't hit your goal. But that is what creates your motivation. If you have an easy goal, then when you reach it, you can lose a little bit of motivation. Go for the glory. Quote
Super User WRB Posted July 18, 2009 Super User Posted July 18, 2009 If you are establishing your lifetime goal, I would go with what a trophy class really is. It is half the world record. So for a largemouth it is about 11 pounds. Not sure what it is for a smallmouth. Sometimes you don't hit your goal. But that is what creates your motivation. If you have an easy goal, then when you reach it, you can lose a little bit of motivation. Go for the glory. Go back and reread reply #4. World record SMB is 11 lbs-15 oz., or 6 lb is about 1/2 the weight. Where you fish; lake Casitas for example the lake record is 21 lbs- 3oz., 1/2 is about 10 lbs-9 oz, a decent bass at that lake but not noteworthy. 11 lbs would be close to most of the state records north of the Mason-Dixon line. How would like to have 21 lbs-3 oz as your goal at lake Casitas? That is what it's like for all those folks up in the northern states to catch a 11 lb bass. Comparing apples and oranges is the same thing as NLMB vs FLMB.! WRB Quote
Bassfisher10 Posted July 18, 2009 Posted July 18, 2009 As far as the 75% goal, in Georgia the record is 22 lbs 4 oz so 75% would be 16 lbs 8 oz that seems like a really high goal for Georgia now Quote
Super User Muddy Posted July 18, 2009 Super User Posted July 18, 2009 Thats his goal, just concentrate on your goal. My goal is not measured in pounds but raher smiles and good times with friends. Quote
Super User WRB Posted July 18, 2009 Super User Posted July 18, 2009 Thats his goal, just concentrate on your goal. My goal is not measured in pounds but raher smiles and good times with friends. Good goal to have and will try to keep that in mind. WRB Quote
Super User Muddy Posted July 18, 2009 Super User Posted July 18, 2009 WRB: Your goal is just as rewarding and valued as mine is. Just making a point to the Young man, that we all fish with different goals in mind. In fact some days , especially when I am by myself, learning something new, the goal is not all smiles Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted July 20, 2009 Super User Posted July 20, 2009 As I wrote on the other Big Fish thread, 5 lbs is where I draw the line: Re: What is "big" Reply #5 - Jul 10th 2009 at 09:10:56 Josh. wrote on Jul 10th 2009 at 08:47:37: 3lbs--Descent 5lbs--Big 8lbs or over--Hawg 5 lbs is where I draw the line, green fish or brown! The "ultimate trophy", not counting World Records, is a 10 lb smallmouth and in this region, 10 lb largemouth. Both are achievable. 8-) Quote
George Welcome Posted July 20, 2009 Posted July 20, 2009 Thats his goal, just concentrate on your goal. My goal is not measured in pounds but raher smiles and good times with friends. That should be everyone's goal! "My PB; 19.3 lbs FLMB 12.25 lbs NLMB 6 lbs SMB WRB " Would love to see pictures of some of those hogs! Quote
Lynx Posted July 21, 2009 Posted July 21, 2009 California Fish & Game Law Book Trophy Bass Guide Lines: LargeMouth Bass: 10LBS SmallMouth Bass: 6LBS Spotted Bass: 6LBS Quote
Super User SirSnookalot Posted July 21, 2009 Super User Posted July 21, 2009 If you want real a trophy fish you have to go where they're at. Just catching something that puts a nice U bend in the pole works great for me, no need to look for any records. Quote
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