Question

[Brendan Duffy]

This is probably a really stupid question and I know there are so many variables and factors that must be considered. But I am wondering how rare or common it is to catch a 5lb. bass. When you fish and catch a five pounder how big of a deal is it? Do you go beserk? Or is it somewhat expected when you head out to fish? I know its a hard question to answer, all I ask for is your opinion or thoughts.

[basser223]

a 5lb bass every trip is what I usually get

[florida strain]

5lbs.. is a solid fish..i get pumped up when i get one . although somewhat common around here.

[roadwarrior]

On my local ponds, one 5+ every 1 1/2 hours on average.

Big water is completely different. One or two per trip would

be fine! My best day ever on the Tennessee River was in

January, 2005: fifteen smallmouth, eight over 5 lbs. The

following Saturday I caught the fish in my avatar. Here are

some of the pics:

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

8-)

[.dsaavedra.]

i shx brix over a 5lber

[WRB]

A 5 lb LMB is a good size bass anywhere, it's a big bass for NY. I know bass anglers who have never caught a bass as large as 5 lbs.

WRB

[Grey Wolf]

a 5lb bass every trip is what I usually get

In Maine ??????????????

[Raul]

How rare or common ..... depends a lot on the lake for me, in my everyday lake 1-2 5ish lbers per trip is common, but there are a couple of small lakes where catching 2-3 12-13 inchers per trip is a real deal, let alone a 5 pounder.

[moundhill]

i think location is important.  here in se ohio a 5 lb bass is a great fish!  i go crazy when i catch one.

[Brendan Duffy]

On my local ponds, one 5+ every 1 1/2 hours on average.

Big water is completely different. One or two per trip would

be fine! My best day ever on the Tennessee River was in

January, 2005: fifteen smallmouth, eight over 5 lbs. The

following Saturday I caught the fish in my avatar. Here are

some of the pics:

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

8-)

OH MY WORD! One every 1.5 hours! It's funny because my bass fishing world is no where near this productive and I still find myself enthralled by it.

[kms399]

I get maybe 2 a month and since I only get to fish for 3 months that's not that many still haven't broke 6 lbs yet.

[lmoore]

Down south a 5 lb bass will be much more common than up North.  I think this is going to be  tough question to get accurate answers to because I notice that a lot of people have a really hard time judging bass.  I've seen a guy mount a bass that "had to be 8 pounds" when really it couldn't have been more than 4-5.

[Nitrofreak]

On my local ponds, one 5+ every 1 1/2 hours on average.

Big water is completely different. One or two per trip would

be fine! My best day ever on the Tennessee River was in

January, 2005: fifteen smallmouth, eight over 5 lbs. The

following Saturday I caught the fish in my avatar. Here are

some of the pics:

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

8-)

Awesome !!!!! Thanks for the pics!!!

On my favorite lake I usually pull out 2 to 3 five pounders on an 8 hour day which is not as successful as I would like to be but most are 3 to 4 pounds and Still makes for a fun day!!!

But my opinion is that each one you catch at 5 plus pounds is now and always will be a thrill and you should always expect to catch one.

If you don't at the very least expect it you won't be prepared for it when it does happen.

[basser223]

a 5lb bass every trip is what I usually get

In Maine ??????????????

oww yeah there are some huge fish up here my pb is 8lb 4oz

[Red]

I know 5lb bass are common in Texas.  However they are not common for me...yet!  I have caught a few and I get all bent out of shape and excited, shakin so bad the pics turn out crappy!  But I love every minute of it.  I get excited when I catch any fish, but when I feel that weight of a good one, there is nothing like it.  My favorite moment is when I feel that one single solid "tap" and I just know it is a good fish even before I set the hook.

[CAdeltaLipRipper]

5 lbs is the weight where u can start calling a bass big. We get one probably every hand full of trips to the delta. We don't really try and use bigger baits to get big bass. I think weve got more 6 to 8s out of the delta so far than 5s.weve lost a lot of 5s. The people over here who know the delta like their backyard catch big bass all the time.

[Glenn]

It really depends on where you live. In my neck of the woods, a 5-pounder is a pretty big dang deal!

Here's a 5-10 (mine) and a6-13 (Keri's) caught on the same weekend. Something that I've never experienced around here in my 40+ years of fishing:

Conversely, Keri and I caught a 7 1/2, 8.1, and 9.1 pound bass on the same day on Lake Fork, Texas a few years ago!

Location is everything.

[K_Mac]

I don't catch them often enough. : I get excited every time. I have managed to figure out a couple of local lakes to the point where I expect to catch a 5# each trip. I don't always, but I target bigger fish.

Fish over 6# are are another story. Only one in the last several years. That is the threshold around here where they get pretty rare, esp. in public water. I do talk to people on my local lakes that catch 6 and 7 pounders all the time...:-? ;D

[Big Tom]

I have been bass fishing seriously for about four years now.  I haven't caught a five pound large mouth yet.  I am getting to where I feel relatively confident that it is only a matter of time before I do catch one. 

[burleytog]

A better question would be 'How many people catch a verified 5 pounder?'.

[Scorcher214]

If you live in the northern area of North America, anything 5lbs and up is freaking sweet well at least here in Michigan. I think our state record is 11.94lbs, that was back in 1934 so its needing to be updated :

[Diablos]

Come to Massachusetts. A 5lb might as well be a world record.

[Boogey Man]

In the places I fish a five pounder is a good fish. I started seriously bass fishing in '94 or '95 and I could count the ones I've caught on both hands. My personal best was 5lb 9oz.

[rat-l-trapper]

Last year I got like 2 over five and this year i've got 1. I expect to catch at least one more in the fall. A five pounder's a big one for Oregon, but they're around.

[roadwarrior]

A better question would be 'How many people catch a verified 5 pounder?'.

Here's an answer, but I'm not sure what it's worth: 495.9 fishing

hours per 5 lb bass.

http://www.bigindianabass.com/big_indiana_bass/how-common-are-5-pound-bass.html