World Record Bass In The United States

[FishStalkerGuy]

Next smallmouth record will come from Idaho

[lakebouef5]

Private lake where they are being fed and raised to be the next record.

This has been going on for 40-50 years , and nobody has come close, especially in the south. Texas has amazing big bass in most of their lakes, supported by stocking genetics from only the biggest bass. But Texas has not come close to even 20 lbs, and neither has Florida. A bass in warm water does not live as long as bass in colder water. California just happened to have the perfect place to raise world record type bass. Those deep mountain lakes are colder. A bass will live a long time without spending a lot of energy hunting food. Add in the trout stocking they used to do, and those bass were like overweight people being spoon feed high protein twinkies. Texas record just over 18 lbs has been around since the 90's. The pure number of big bass caught over 13 lbs would suggest they could do it, but with that many already caught over the years, would also suggest those bass have a ceiling. A place like O H Ivie may break 18 lbs...but I do not believe they will ever see a 20 lb bass there. Fun watching it all though.

[Mark Perry]

Probably a lake most have never heard of

This.

[Mcjenson]

This has been going on for 40-50 years , and nobody has come close, especially in the south. Texas has amazing big bass in most of their lakes, supported by stocking genetics from only the biggest bass. But Texas has not come close to even 20 lbs, and neither has Florida. A bass in warm water does not live as long as bass in colder water. California just happened to have the perfect place to raise world record type bass. Those deep mountain lakes are colder. A bass will live a long time without spending a lot of energy hunting food. Add in the trout stocking they used to do, and those bass were like overweight people being spoon feed high protein twinkies. Texas record just over 18 lbs has been around since the 90's. The pure number of big bass caught over 13 lbs would suggest they could do it, but with that many already caught over the years, would also suggest those bass have a ceiling. A place like O H Ivie may break 18 lbs...but I do not believe they will ever see a 20 lb bass there. Fun watching it all though.

Totally agreed. The gap even between 20 and 23 is huge, and Texas hasn’t really came close to a 20.

smallmouth record still has quite a jump too. Idaho is getting mentioned a lot, but they haven’t cracked a double digit yet like Erie did. And the jump from a 10 to 12 is huge for a smallmouth.

[StumpDonkey]

Next smallmouth record will come from Idaho

I agree but we may both be a bit biased

[Basshunter67]

Dixon lake Southern CA.

[ManxFishing]

I say CA for Large mouth
And Lake Michigan or Erie for SM

[Basshunter67]

Eastman lake central ca. FSLB introduce in1980
Or Los Banos creek Reservoir. Big Bass in that small lake. 15 + few years ago. 5mph speed limit big bass boats trolling motors only

[fishnfireman]

Smallmouth-- I have no idea.
Largemouth -- Not in the USA

[vaw121]

Do the Great lake's Smallmouth actively feed and grow year around, even in the longer winter month's ?

This year they did.

[jigheadworm]

You have to wonder if either one will ever be broken considering how many yrs have past and the amount of pressure put on fish.Most world records are genetic freaks and don't come along very often.

[Bronzefly]

World record smallmouth is swimming somewhere in the great lakes... sorry Tennessee

No need to apologize! Until it's caught, Tennessee will keep enjoying the record... and the one for Walleye too

[jbassman87]

To an extent, I'm sure. Imagine if Dale had goby!

I was kidding with a biologist here about a lake needing goby's to help with growing smallmouth. The look he gave me was priceless.

Smallmouth still might come from TN
Largemouth I don't see it happening anytime soon
No love for the spotted bass? Those are growing big in CA the last I heard.

[contium]

I would surprised if California produced a world record LMB at this point. Lakes aren't what they used to be. And I don't think the genetics are either.

[grayline]

At a golf course in florida near you . all that fertilizer, frogs and lizards

[Mcjenson]

I was kidding with a biologist here about a lake needing goby's to help with growing smallmouth. The look he gave me was priceless.

Smallmouth still might come from TN
Largemouth I don't see it happening anytime soon
No love for the spotted bass? Those are growing big in CA the last I heard.

I haven't heard of a giant spot coming from california in a little while. I think those fisheries are very boom / bust dependent on kokanee populations. The Idaho lakes are similar.

[DaveBrabec]

The drought definitely effected the fish here at Clear Lake and statewide. Numbers are down. Not many 12” fish in the lake currently. Pretty common to catch 6 pounders No Trout and shorter season than farther south. 17 pounder is the record here. That was over 20 years ago. Tons of pressure. I have heard of about 5 over 11 this year. Lots more Shad and Hitch than previous years.

[ProVle]

No need to apologize! Until it's caught, Tennessee will keep enjoying the record... and the one for Walleye too

That Smallmouth was caught in Ky! https://premierangler.com/every-stat...allmouth-bass/

[Delta Bass Fool]

I just watched a video with Cooch saying how the big fish live in deeper water.

[ttranger]

I would not be surprised to see a record LM come from a smaller under-the-radar lake with less pressure. The next record SM will probably come from the Great Lakes just due to the exceptional growth they show there. Next record Spot could come from a variety of places.