The Quest Out West!

[RayBob]

After reading an article in BassMaster about these "Monster Bass" out west, I've come to the conclusion that since the Florida strain of bass in not native to that region, the World record (when it is caught) should have an asterisk beside it.

What you think?

[macgyver]

Why because it was stocked? Just about every bass fisherie I know of had to be stocked sometime. I don't have a problem with that, and just remember a lot of those Florida bass were also stocked in Mexico, and lots of other lakes. California obviuosly has a great place for them to grow, and I imagine that some of the regulations also help the fish get bigger? So if it's caught in South Africa is it also going to have an asterick? I know it won't come from Indiana even if we had the Florida strain of bass(if they would even majke it through the winters). So I have no problem with wherever it's caught. You still have to catch it, and it still has to be able to grow that big. Now if it's not a true wild fish(an aqarium or pet fish) then by all means it shouldn't count. But since they now are doing DNA testing, it's pretty hard to grow it at home.

Lizards

[RayBob]

I see where you are coming from. I just hate the fact they are stocking these lakes every week during the winter with rainbow trout. That’s a hell of a lot of protein. Are there even any gators out there? If not they have no natural predators.

[zman]

I don't have a problem with stocking bass in regions they arent native to, and if they should reach a record in a natural setting thats fine by me. I do think the California stocking program is unatural, and because of this if a record bass is caught that is full of trout it will at least have an asterisk in my mind.

[dave_in_fl]

The books dont say florida strain largemouth bass, only largemouth bass. wouldnt be much of a "world" record if only fish that had natural bloodlines of the florida strain were eligible. I also don't have a problem with the trout stocking, my only gripe is that they dont do that near me ;D

[RayBob]

I wonder if a bass in my neck of the woods would strike one of those huge Trout replica lures?

[macgyver]

[quote author=Raiders4Life link=board=MessBoards;num=1110213397;start=0#5 date=03/07/05 at 13:21:00]I wonder if a bass in my neck of the woods would strike one of those huge Trout replica lures?[/quote]


Well only one way to find out. But remember, when fishing those, the guys pretty much won't catch anything or a HAWG, so if you don't have the patience for not catching anything, use smaller ones. I would also say, that you can paint them in shad, therefor matching what you have in FL. I know cullins8 does good work from what I've seen on his repainting of lures, so does Chip, and of course Robzilla. Lots of folks would do it for ya, for a price of course

Lizards

[mike0062466]

No asterisk. It's still a largemouth and living in the wild. Don't punish a record-setting fisherman because California has good conditions and a DNR that knows how to manage fisheries for big bass.

[gonefishy2002]

[quote author=Marty link=board=MessBoards;num=1110213397;start=0#7 date=03/07/05 at 19:53:30]No asterisk. It's still a largemouth and living in the wild. Don't punish a record-setting fisherman because California has good conditions and a DNR that knows how to manage fisheries for big bass.[/quote]
What he said.

I've noticed on other boards that most of the people that really have an issue with this are from Florida, what's up with that? ???

[zman]

There is an asterisk because I say so! ;D

We arent talking about the wild in the least. In the wild fish actually have to hunt for food. Animals like bass eat not just when they are hungry, they eat whenever they get a good chance. This means if they are given an unatural source of food, be it a mechanical fish feeder or a trout stocking program that is aimed at letting the fish gourge themeselves, you have created an unnatural situation with unnatural fish.

[catfishtonyd]

Do you realize that Largemouth Bass aren't "native" to almost anywhere outside of the South East US? They aren't "native" in lakes? They aren't "native" to farm ponds. If you fish for Largemouth Bass, chances are it was originally stocked. As a matter of fact the lake you fish in is probably man-made too.

Scroll down to the "Life History" section here.

http://elib.cs.berkeley.edu/kopec/tr...outh-bass.html

Sorry people. A world record is just that. A world record. You'd think for all the whinning that goes on about the trout stuffed bass, that the world record would be about 50 lbs by now. Ever since Dave Zimerlee caught his fish about 20 years ago, we've heard that California was "force feeding" trout to bass. If they are it hasn't worked, cause the record is still 22 lbs and 4 ozs. George Perry. Montgomery Lake, Georgia.

Frankly I personally doubt that record, but it's on the books. The fact that I don't believe it doesn't change it. You don't have to believe it if someone catches one out of a trout stocked lake in California either if you don't want to, but it's still going in the record book.

[Bassin_Dude]

odviously somethins happenin to not allow the bass to grow that big or the fisherman just cant catch them, because if theres a lake stock with trout u would think that the area the trout is put into would be full of bass just waiting for the next batch to come in and any angler can take a replica of a trout and throw it in there in get a ''hawg''. and they probally do that but they arnt gettin world record fish. so if one does come out of there then by all means its a world record and should be treated like that. so any angler over there is gunna have to work for that fish. cause its not like anglers are pullin out records there all the time.

[Big_Drew]

Back when i was a kid, mid-seventy's, There was an article in Fishing Facts magazine about bass in Honduras and Guatamala accompanied with underwater photo's. Â*They had several underwater photo's of bass they guestimated were around twenty five pounds and one that fisheries biologist were positive was a 30lb.+ fish. Â*Sure wish i still had that issue.

[Bassin_Dude]

basstech, just point me in the direction and u will see that bass on all the papers. ;D

[fredhatch]

Then again do bass grow that big being caught and tossed back in? Im a firm believer animals dont get that big by being stupid. Look at any category of fish or wildlife records. For the most part catching or shooting a record has been a lot of homework and luck. Im sure there is a record in Cali, Im also sure theres a record in some S American country or in Texas,Fl,Georgia, Carolinas. Any water could possibly hold a record. I know for a fact there is a canal near my home that is private property that has been getting stocked for ywears. Friend of mine fishes it pretty regularly and so does the semi-pro who lives on it. They have caught and released 12-15 pound bass, with some bigger ones not making in the boat. Who knows where it will come from? Whats gonna be funny is when some local yocal new guy catches it on a Zebco he bought at K Mart to fish with his kid for the weekend. 8)

[Bassin_Dude]

that would be halarious ;D some guy thats never fished in his life with his fancy new fishing clothes and his new zebco just fishin to impress his kid. that would be great.

[Big_Drew]

That would even seem typical. Growing up and even now sometimes, it seems it's always the the novice who gets the big fish. I could tell some (truthfull) stories about that. :-[ went fishing again yesterday and got skunked. Not even any shorts. first time since probably this time last year. :-[. They had thier first tournament of the year and 3 limits came in (buddy style...4 fish limit) and 14.6something pounds won it. Pleanty of boats blanked but I bet they all at least caught shorts.