[oucorry]

Where doew everyone think the next world record bass is going to come from?

The mexico lakes have a real good shot at producing the next record, but you can't deny how good some of the lakes in Caly are.

My guess is Clear Lake in California!!!

[oucorry]

Many people go to Florida to fish for that trophy bass but did you know that 4 other states have a bigger state record than Florida? Not only that but one of the states is said to have produced a new world record. Florida's record bass is 17.27 pounds, but others often cite an uncertified fish of 20.125 pounds (a fisheries biologist did not physically see the fish to certify it). Leaha Trew supposely caught a new world record largemouth in California. It weighed 22 pounds, 8 ounces, beating George Perry's 1932 record catch by 4 ounces. The problem is there was only one picture taken of it and it wasn't certified by a biologist or a California state fish and game offical.

Where is the next world record coming from? Florida, Georgia, Mississippi or Texas? More than likely it will be from California. Gregg Silks has already caught 2 bass over twenty pounds and says he has lost a world record fish of 24 pounds. Who is to argue with him since he knows what 20 pound plus bass look like? 22 of 25 of the largest bass ever recorded has come from California. The next world record bass in my opinion, is going to be from the lakes of San Diego water system. Just look at the stats:

Dixon: 21 pounds 11 ounce bass

Jennings: 18 pounds plus

Murray: 18 pounds plus

Poway: 18 pound 2 ounce

These are just a few of the lakes, all the lakes holds monster bass. Not only that, there are big bass all over California, Leaha Trew caught her bass in Sonoma County. While I am not taking anything away from Florida, as I have lived there and seen many 10 pound plus bass taken from there, California is growing bigger bass and people are catching them. Just check with the water district before you plan a trip as some have restrictions and are closed at certain times.

Charles E. White has fished for almost 50 years for bass from California to Florida. In his lifetime, it is estimated that he has caught over 6,000 bass. His biggest bass is a 12 pound 14 ounce that hangs on his wall in his office.

Charles has fished with people who have never fished for bass before and taught them how to become successful anglers and also has fished with the Pros in Florida. His website about fishing for bass is at: bass fishing saltwater fish cabelas.com at bassfishingweekly.com

[shortbus]

I can't even imagine what a bass that big looks like.

20 pounds really has to be pushing the limit. I know people have caught bigger bass than that, but every species has it's maximum size limit.

If the current record is broken by a pound or two, I would imagine it will likely stand for a very, very long time, as the current record has.

[oucorry]

ESCONDIDO, Calif. — Say it ain't so, Mac.
bb1.jpg



A day and a half after boating the heaviest largemouth bass known to mankind, Mac Weakley and his two lifelong fishing buddies decided to drop their pursuit of angling's most important world record.

"We want to let the 22¼-pound George Perry record stand, and we'll break it another time," said Weakley, 32, of Carlsbad, Calif., whose name has circled the fishing world since he boated a 25.1-pound largemouth bass early Monday on nearby tiny Dixon Lake in San Diego County.

If officially recognized, Weakley's bass would have shattered Perry's legendary standard — a fish so revered by bass enthusiasts that many thought its weight would never be eclipsed after it was taken in June 1932 at Georgia's Montgomery Lake.

Worry not, bass anglers, your cherished milestone appears safe … at least until Weakley and his close-knit fishing partners — Mike Winn, 32, of Carlsbad, and Jed ****erson, 33, of Oceanside, Calif. — catch another monster.

"We feel we are the favorites of beating this record," Weakley said, "whether it's this year or in 20 years."

Winn said the three angling amigos — best friends since kindergarten or as long as they can remember, whichever comes first — huddled Tuesday evening after he surfed the Internet and determined in a quick survey that general opinion over the catch was split roughly 50-50.

"It just feels like 50 percent want it to be the official record and the others don't," Weakley said. "With all the people we fish with and the other sportsmen out there who put in as much time, we don't want any negative feelings over it."

Weakley said there always will be controversy over a largemouth bass that appears primed to upstage the world record, and this week's catch certainly has proven that.

Among the issues:


The fish was not weighed on a certified scale.
It was unintentionally foul-hooked.
No measurements of length or girth were taken.
It was released.

However, none of these facts would have disqualified the fish from record consideration, according to Jason Schratwieser, Conservation director of the International Game Fish Association, recognized as the leading keeper of angling standards.

That the catch was weighed on dry land, witnessed, photographed and documented by video makes it eligible for record status, Schratwieser said. He also noted that a scale can be certified after the fact; only fish determined to be intentionally snagged are disqualified; and measurements are only required in lieu of photo or video evidence.

Still, the anglers came to a unanimous and definitive decision not to chase the record … and any riches in the form of sponsorships and guest appearances that may have been associated with the remarkable catch.

bb2.jpg
Jed ****erson maintains that the 21.7-pounder he caught in 2003 (above) at California's Dixon Lake is the same 25.1-pounder taken early Monday by his fishing partner Mac Weakley.
"It's 100 percent done," Winn said. "We all kind of collectively talked about it as friends and family, and we just decided there was so much controversy around it that we wouldn't pursue it."

"We don't want to paint a bad picture of anglers to the public," Winn explained. "We're not out to pull the wool over anyone's eyes."

Next time there won't be any controversy, Winn promised.

"We'll just go out and catch another big one and nobody will have anything to say about it," he said. "That way everybody can feel good about the catch being a record catch.

"And I don't have any doubt we will catch another big fish. We have a pretty good track record."

Indeed they do.

****erson already has the fourth-heaviest largemouth bass on record — a 21.7-pounder taken from tiny, 72-acre Dixon Lake in May 2003. Weakley has No. 15 on the list — a 19.44-pounder netted at Dixon 11 days before ****erson's behemoth. And Winn will be forever remembered poising for snapshots of this week's 25.1-pound Dixon denizen because Weakley was too nervous to hold the bruiser for the photo op himself.

But certainly not everyone is calling foul on Weakley's catch.

Many feel he clearly has earned the record, and he has gotten kudos from bass aficionados around the world — including the International Game Fish Association and Bassmaster magazine — for releasing such a marvelous catch to swim again and contribute to the gene pool.

"I support their decision. It's a shame they aren't going to get credit for it, because I think they deserve it," said Tony Smock, 52, Ranger Superintendent at Dixon Lake, who has worked here for 22 years and has known Weakley, Winn and ****erson since they started fishing the city-owned facility as 7-year-olds. "They have integrity."

"I'm really happy for Mac and really pleased to see all the notoriety coming his way, even if it doesn't count as a world record," Smock said.

Weakley said the various pressures he's been under since the catch was made public have been surprisingly intense.

"We're dealing with everyone out there and the respect of the sport," he said. "It's been tough."

But, ultimately, Weakley and Winn said, it wasn't their time to lay claim to such a hallowed record, and they're OK with it.

"I don't feel bad; it's part of life," Winn said. "You get people on the hate bandwagon and the people who approve it.

"Next time there won't be any controversy."


espnoutdoors.com

[oucorry]

I'll be interested on how Darkman stands on this question.

[shortbus]

Corry, can you imagine growing up fishing that lake all the time? 20 some years fishing that lake with your buddies...you ought to know that lake like you know yourself. Armed with all that knowledge and knowing you could set the world record any time out, with any cast...I can't imagine how awesome it must be for those guys to fish that lake. I wouldn't want to do anything else. It would become an obsession--having the record alone, not to mention the money that would follow it.

[birdman]

Those fish are sick!!! It's hard to believe there's bass that big lurking around. Could you imagine hooking into one of those on a tourney day and pulling it out in front of a crowd for weigh in? Darkman, when are you gonna hook into one of those brutes?

[Darkman]

I think it will be here in Cali.
there are a few variables to this...lakes change and for what ever reason the bass do too....take Castiac lake

the second biggest bass came out of there...Bob Crupi caught it on 8# test and a live crawdad, the came the Stripers...a more aggressive fish and pretty much killed any chance of a record catch...they are both after the stock trout that are there and like I said...the striper is just a more aggressive fish.

Casitas was up next they are still getting huge bass out of there..but the lake might be shut down to boater...that is a long story lol!!

Clear lake might have the record fish in it now...but that lake is HUGE and finding her ...you have to be one lucky fisherman..

San Diego is starting to slow down...still big fish out of there...but sooo much pressure there and the lake are tiny..and I mean tiny

here are my guesses

Amistad, Fork, Clear lake and Diamond valley...DVL is a fantastic fishery and they maintain that lake beautifully...I mean WOW

you can never ever count out Florida..

one thing I have learned is this...big fish fisherman a class all of there own
there thinking is 360 degrees of that of the normal fisherman...and then you have those who are above them all....Bill Siemantel, Mike long (a freak of nature i swear) and the Late Bill Murphy

and thats why the catch big fish and thats why the stand a better chance of cathing that one fish...I know Im getting of target but thats my take

the one fish tha Mac weakly caught...that fish was just not right LOL!!!