Bass Fishing Capital Usa

[dwtaylor]

+1 on Ashland, WI. There are some absolute MONSTERS in there. The Wisconsin DNR has claimed that samples of 10 lb smallies have been seen. . I would like to go to Falcon sometime myself, my grandparents winter down in that area so I could combine it in a trip down there sometime. Maybe during spring break...

[piscicidal]

Any love for the land of 10,000+ lakes?

I think MN should have some kind of honorable mention for smallmouth. I lived in Minnesota the first 25 years of my life, living on the upper Mississippi just north of St Cloud. I caught more +5lb smallmouth before the age of 15, than I have +5lb LMB today. And Lake Mille Lacs is just ridiculous. We've had days with 15-20 fish over five lbs. We physically got worn out catching them....

[joebills78]

Central Florida

1. Thousands of lakes to choose from.

2. Today was 80 degrees, partly cloudy with a light breeze.

3. Yesterday was 80 degrees.

4. The lowest forecast high for the next 10 days is 71 degrees.

5. I got a flip flop burn on my feet last Sunday.

6. Did I mention it is January?

What the hell!!! Keep it quiet!! Its crowded enough down here!

[Hooligan]

Any love for the land of 10,000+ lakes?

I think MN should have some kind of honorable mention for smallmouth. I lived in Minnesota the first 25 years of my life, living on the upper Mississippi just north of St Cloud. I caught more +5lb smallmouth before the age of 15, than I have +5lb LMB today. And Lake Mille Lacs is just ridiculous. We've had days with 15-20 fish over five lbs. We physically got worn out catching them....

I firmly believe that the next WR brown fish will come from MN waters, one in particular. The density of fish is very low, the predator to prey balance is very good, they're a minimally targeted species on said lake, and the individual size structure is incredilbe. In fact, the size structure and year class on this body of water might currently be the best in the world. I've seen many studies on the lake, both in limnology and bathymetry, as well as in biomass and genetics and they go a long ways in confirming this thought process. While it cannot be absolutely proven that the record is currently there and swimming, the structure studies and sampling of the target species strongly suggest that it's more than a remote possibility.

I state Chequamegon Bay as the best because it's got more 6-8 pound fish than probably anywhere in the world, in terms of number of fish angler caught. They're just there, that's all there is to it. There are also several fish in the 8.5+ range that are caught annually, but none that have been a registered new record. There are several that have been released at well over the 9-1 marker that is the current record, some even having been weighed on certified scales but not otherwise verified.

MN gets the vote, but it's really one of those situations that it could take an eternity to get to the biggest of the big.

[scrutch]

I firmly believe that the next WR brown fish will come from MN waters, one in particular. The density of fish is very low, the predator to prey balance is very good, they're a minimally targeted species on said lake, and the individual size structure is incredilbe. In fact, the size structure and year class on this body of water might currently be the best in the world. I've seen many studies on the lake, both in limnology and bathymetry, as well as in biomass and genetics and they go a long ways in confirming this thought process. While it cannot be absolutely proven that the record is currently there and swimming, the structure studies and sampling of the target species strongly suggest that it's more than a remote possibility.

I state Chequamegon Bay as the best because it's got more 6-8 pound fish than probably anywhere in the world, in terms of number of fish angler caught. They're just there, that's all there is to it. There are also several fish in the 8.5+ range that are caught annually, but none that have been a registered new record. There are several that have been released at well over the 9-1 marker that is the current record, some even having been weighed on certified scales but not otherwise verified.

MN gets the vote, but it's really one of those situations that it could take an eternity to get to the biggest of the big.

Well, after that convincing argument, I stand corrected. I certainly thought nothing would come close to Erie for smallies. Time will certainly tell us.

Just might have to look up MNGeorge!

[Vinny Chase]

^{Well stated Hooligan! Largies, muskie, and walleye are just bonus up here, but yes the brownie fishing is unbelievable. For as good as it is, the primarily hunted fish is the muskie, walley, and pike, which leaves less preditors and prssure on the fish.}

^{Hooligan, I think you convinced me to go to Chequamegon Bay this spring!}

[piscicidal]

I firmly believe that the next WR brown fish will come from MN waters, one in particular. The density of fish is very low, the predator to prey balance is very good, they're a minimally targeted species on said lake, and the individual size structure is incredilbe. In fact, the size structure and year class on this body of water might currently be the best in the world. I've seen many studies on the lake, both in limnology and bathymetry, as well as in biomass and genetics and they go a long ways in confirming this thought process. While it cannot be absolutely proven that the record is currently there and swimming, the structure studies and sampling of the target species strongly suggest that it's more than a remote possibility.

I state Chequamegon Bay as the best because it's got more 6-8 pound fish than probably anywhere in the world, in terms of number of fish angler caught. They're just there, that's all there is to it. There are also several fish in the 8.5+ range that are caught annually, but none that have been a registered new record. There are several that have been released at well over the 9-1 marker that is the current record, some even having been weighed on certified scales but not otherwise verified.

MN gets the vote, but it's really one of those situations that it could take an eternity to get to the biggest of the big.

My parents have a cabin on a lake ~1hour north of Brainerd, MN that has many of the characteristics you are describing. I have fished this lake well over 1000 hours total (95% of the time for Walleye), and have caught exactly two smallmouth out of it. Both were over five, though. I know several people who have targeted smallmouth in this lake and have sm over 7lbs to show for it. Here's a picture of one...

My brother (a much more accomplished SM fisherman than me) claims the next state record (and perhaps world record) is coming from another lake nearby, very soon.

[roadwarrior]

I firmly believe that the next WR brown fish will come from MN waters, one in particular.

Great fishery, no doubt! However, until there have been several 10 lb fish caught, the talk of a new

World Record is premature. The current World Record and the second largest smallmouth were

caught at Dale Hollow. Number three is the Alabama State Record (10.8) caught on the Tennessee

River below Joe Wheeler Dam. The next World Record will be caught below Pickwick Dam.

[200racing]

birmingham,AL is a great fishing home base. just pull it up on a map and look at all notable bass fisheries within driving distance.you can even chase smallmouth in north alabama. you can get to the gulf easily for great saltwater fishing.

[Hooligan]

Great fishery, no doubt! However, until there have been several 10 lb fish caught, the talk of a new

World Record is premature. The current World Record and the second largest smallmouth were

caught at Dale Hollow. Number three is the Alabama State Record (10.8) caught on the Tennessee

River below Joe Wheeler Dam. The next World Record will be caught below Pickwick Dam.

This is true, in it's entirety. Dale Hollow is just one of those magical fisheries, no doubt about it. There haven't been any tens to my knowledge, and it's inlikely that they'd be unheard of. In part, though, I have to believe what the genetics and the studies tell about the lakes.

I'd also agree that a fish from below Pickwick would be a very good candidate. We've lost many, many big fish down there. My brother has a 9-4, my wife has a 9-0 (which dwarfs my biggest brown fish and I'm not afraid to admit it.) You make a very good case for it.

[roadwarrior]

9-4, 9-0 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Whoo-Hoo!

BTW...

This may be nothing more than an urban myth, but there is talk of a 12.5

being shocked and released. Do you know anything about that story?

[bigbassctchr101]

9-4, 9-0 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Whoo-Hoo!

BTW...

This may be nothing more than an urban myth, but there is talk of a 12.5

being shocked and released. Do you know anything about that story?

I've heard of a 12lb 8oz smallie being shocked out of Norris by TWRA. I am not sure if adequate data was taken to support that though. I heard it from a friend that worked at the tackle shop. Owner said he talked to one of the biologist. So, who knows??

[J Francho]

9-4, 9-0 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Whoo-Hoo!

BTW...

This may be nothing more than an urban myth, but there is talk of a 12.5

being shocked and released. Do you know anything about that story?

You mean this fish? I heard it was 9 lbs. on KBF, 11-3 on Facebook, and now 12-8 here.

Looks like a dead 6 to me.

[Dwight Hottle]

You mean this fish? I heard it was 9 lbs. on KBF, 11-3 on Facebook, and now 12-8 here.

Looks like a dead 6 to me.

6lbs-8oz per smalljaw

[roadwarrior]

Too funny!

I like fish so big that you don't even need to make up a story!

[scrutch]

I think I'd smile like that too if I caught that fish!

[Pete-K]

Anywhere within 50 miles of Pickwick Dam. Best of both worlds.. New State Record large Mouth turned back a couple of weeks ago above Pickwick Dam. And the World Record Small Mouth bass is near the dam also.

Pete

[Pete-K]

I've heard of a 12lb 8oz smallie being shocked out of Norris by TWRA. I am not sure if adequate data was taken to support that though. I heard it from a friend that worked at the tackle shop. Owner said he talked to one of the biologist. So, who knows??

TWRA also Shocked up a 16 lb 15 oz Large mouth a while back also. Less than two weeks ago one lake in particular was verified as the site of a lunker tipping the scales at 16-pounds, 15-ounces. And where is this fertile fishery located where the big hog sleeps?

Tn has plenty of big fish. I know one lake that there is double digit fish caught all winter long.

[Hooligan]

You mean this fish? I heard it was 9 lbs. on KBF, 11-3 on Facebook, and now 12-8 here.

Looks like a dead 6 to me.

That's not the one that I'd seen, in regards to RW's post. There's a pretty legit picture of a TWRA biologist holding a VERY large brownie. It's held in a horizontal fashion with another picture of it on the bump-board. In the pic it's stated as "well over the 11 pound mark" with no further information. The bumpboard pic shows the fish at being right around the 24-25" mark which wouldn't be out of question to get a weight in that range. It's not outlandish for me to envision a 24"x say...20" fish. A 24" fish could hit the necessary girth. I'd expect it to be more in that 25-26 range to hit those weights, though. The kicker, though, is that if you look at how those fish are typically built, they're short and fat; usually a couple inches shorter for the same weight for many of their counterparts.

I'll do some digging and see if I can find that picture again. It definitely is not the same as the one you posted, JF.

[J Francho]

I'll do some digging and see if I can find that picture again. It definitely is not the same as the one you posted, JF.

Please do! I'd love to see it.

[bigbassctchr101]

http://www.chattanoogan.com/2009/10/22/161452/New-Tennessee-State-Record-Bass-caught.aspx

16 pound, 15 ounce largemouth bass

I couldn't personally find anything about the smallmouth. I did see the picture JF posted several times with all kinds of different weights attached to it. Its going to be like the sturgeon picture lol (its been caught in every river in America lol)

Things like the link below are the things that keep me fishing. A world record can surely be caught out of any of our lakes if a thought to be extinct fish can go undetected for some many years.

http://therockyriver.com/declared-extinct-in-1985-a-blue-walleye-is-caught/