Best Northern Place To Break The 10# Mark 2024
tezz32 reply :
i want to break the ten pound mark for lmb only problem is i live in wisconsin so ill have to travel. what whould be the nearest place to do that along with the time of year to do it.
roadwarrior reply :
Nowhere north...
Falcon, Amistad, Choke Canyon, Lake Fork and several lakes in Mexico.
DDs are caught in other water, but you have almost no chance on a single
trip.
tezz32 reply :
Im willing to travel of course im saying in distance from wisconsin
WRB reply :
Clear lake CA is 38'57" latitude the Mason-Dixon line is 36'30" latitude, making Clear lake over 150 miles north of the north/south dividing line; it's your best choice by far!!......for a northern lake.
Tom
nvhsaccel reply :
Don't forget about lake el salto!
Rangerphil reply :
I am starting to think that if you have a decent size lake (80) acres and up that has good cover and stocks trout that you maybe be able to catch one even if it is up north. I live in southwest PA and there are a few lakes that I would bet have 10+ bass in it. I would love to have someone that knows how to fish a swim bait come here for a week and fish with me in these lakes. The state record is 11# 3oz and I bet that could be broken by someone who knows what they are doing!
Michael DiNardo reply :
I am from Southwest PA, where are these lakes? What I think RW was saying is that there is no real chance of it. Is there a bass bigger than 10 lbs swimming somewhere in PA for instance, probably. But when was the last time a 10 pounder was caught? If you travel to TX or Mexico for instance you can actually fish for a 10 that is almost certainly swimming in the water you are fishing.
Mike
Nice_Bass reply :
NMB over 10 are caught here in IL still...much more difficult than what it may be way south, but that is still really tough. You have them there in WI...Guy from IL just had his picture in bassmaster mag. with a fish over 10. was from about a 100 acre public lake.
Rangerphil reply :
I agree but he said he did not want to travel real far so I was giving him some ideas to look local for bigger fish. The lakes I was talking about was Dunlap and virgin run. They are continuously stocked with small trout and could hold bass of that size. They catch walleye of ten plus pounds out of Dunlap so I would bet the farm that the bass are getting that big!
slonezp reply :
Head to Lake Michigan. Make and break a goal for a 7lb smallie
ChrisAW reply :
On 5/1/2012 at 7:16 AM, slonezp said:Head to Lake Michigan. Make and break a goal for a 7lb smallie
Or St Clair, or Saginaw Bay. Both are amazing smallie fisheries. But they are big, you'd best have someone take you that can put you on fish.
outdoorsman110 reply :
x2 I've been to SaginawOn 5/1/2012 at 8:32 AM, ChrisAW said:Or St Clair, or Saginaw Bay. Both are amazing smallie fisheries. But they are big, you'd best have someone take you that can put you on fish.
WRB reply :
Did anyone read the title of this post "best northern lake to break 10 lbs".
Tom
slonezp reply :
On 5/1/2012 at 10:01 AM, WRB said:Did anyone read the title of this post "best northern lake to break 10 lbs".
Tom
Yes we did. This was the OP's reply. He doesn't want to drive far. Figured a monster smallie within driving distance would satisfy his need. We all know a 7lb smallie would be a better fight than a 10lb green bass anyday.
On 4/30/2012 at 9:39 AM, tezz32 said:Im willing to travel of course im saying in distance from wisconsin
deep reply :
On 5/1/2012 at 6:49 AM, Rangerphil said:I agree but he said he did not want to travel real far so I was giving him some ideas to look local for bigger fish. The lakes I was talking about was Dunlap and virgin run. They are continuously stocked with small trout and could hold bass of that size. They catch walleye of ten plus pounds out of Dunlap so I would bet the farm that the bass are getting that big!
If I were you, I'd keep quiet about it, and learn how to catch trophy fish. Maybe I'm a little too selfish?
Fish Chris reply :
Clear Lake ??? Good luck with that.
Don't get me wrong, I love Clear Lake for a lot of reasons, but a trophy (legit double digits) bass lake, it is NOT !
That lake is loaded with 5 to 8 lb'ers, maybe only second to the CA Delta. But the numbers start dropping way off between 8 and 9 lbs, and by the time you get to legit 10+ fish, they are VERY few and far between.
There are several little trout fed ponds only slightly South of Clear Lk. that would give you a WAY better shot at a DD bass. Granted, anywhere in CA is a long ways West, of the OP.....
Peace,
Fish
PS, You know why you hear about so many DD bass from Clear Lk. ? Because so many guys fish without a scale 
On 4/30/2012 at 10:32 AM, WRB said:Clear lake CA is 38'57" latitude the Mason-Dixon line is 36'30" latitude, making Clear lake over 150 miles north of the north/south dividing line; it's your best choice by far!!
Tom
tezz32 reply :
Thanks for the in put guys i do alot of smallie fishing and have gotten fish over six pounds but getting a ten pounder has a certain mystique about it that i want to achieve
Lucky Craft Man reply :
I would want to catch a smallmouth eclipsing the 7 pound mark over a 10 pound largemought anyday (though, this is not true for any largemouth over 20 pounds)
Michael DiNardo reply :
Deep, that's kinda funny, I get what you are saying, but there are many lakes in this area stocked with small trout. What is missing is the genetics to grow hat big. That is why TX has the 13 lbs club or what ever they do with really big bass. The genetics to grow that big is few and far between.
Mike
NBR reply :
Your chances are slim and none. Actually unless you move to FL,Ca or some other location your chances remain at slim and none and then they don't get great.
How many of you guys have actually caught a scale weighed 10 pounder?
Bluebasser86 reply :
There's a powerplant lake here in Kansas that kicks out a 10 pounder or two almost every winter, but that's out of thousands of fishermen spending tons of hours on the lake all year long to catch those couple of fish. My only DD fish was at Lake Comendero in Mexico. If you spend the money and make a couple trips to those lakes in Mexico or Falcon you will spend way less money than you will pursuing a northern DD bass. Plus the experience is something you'll never forget.
RoLo reply :
Based on your avatar Tezz, you already achieved your trophy walleye...kudos
I lived in New Jersey most of my life, and fished the northern states and Canada extensively. I now live in the deep south and can tell you firsthand
that the northern tier is characterized by quality bass fishing, a region known as the Bass Box. But any serious quest for double-digit bass involves a trip to the deep south.
In my view, it's vital to rule out opinion, sentiment and hearsay by referring to tourney results and documented records. If your target goal is an 18-lb largemouth bass, California is your 'only' choice. I should add however that your odds of success would be no better than winning the Mega Millions Lottery. To my knowledge, California hasn't certified a single bass over 18 lbs since Mar 2006, six years ago and counting.
In the state of Texas, 15 pounds represents a very stubborn weight-ceiling, as a matter of fact, Texas has only 'one' certified bass over 18 pounds. All the same, if your target goal is a 15-lb bass, then Texas is your best hope. Year-after-year, Lake Fork continues to produce an impressive string of Florida bass topping out at 15 lbs & change,
Now back to your question. The odds of landing a 10-lb bass are best by far in the state of Florida. No state even comes close, which should come as no surprise to anyone. The largest bass throughout the world are "ALL" Florida-strain bass, a fact that shouldn't be taken lightly. This means that outside of Florida the only waters possibly containing Florida-strain bass are those that were "transplanted by man".
It also means that the many thousands of waterbodies not stocked with Florida bass are simply out of the running.
In The First Place:
"Any" of the thousands of lakes and ponds in Florida are capable of producing 10-lb bass, and indeed most of them have. Bass in Florida tend to plateau around 12 pounds, but the state churns out an unparalleled volume of 9 to 12-pound bass throughout the year. Lake Okeechobee and Mexico lie south of the ideal latitude for long-lived bass, where bass tend to die prematurely of thermal burnout. For this reason, neither the Big-O nor Mexico have put a dent in the record books, where weights tend to plateau around 10 pounds. Nevertheless, this year and last year Lake Okeechobee spewed a dizzying amount of 10-lb bass and 30-lb stringers, a lake that lies in the native range of Florida-stain bass
In The Second Place:
A hundred years from now, Florida will still be producing double-digit bass, but the future of Florida-strain bass outside their natural range is not so certain. It's rarely addressed, but when any fish species is transplanted outside its native range it's susceptible to "Declining Genetic Vigor". With each new generation, the chromosomes tend to revert or malign. We've seen this in California where each waterbody in the limelight tends to poop-out over time, until the baton is passed to another emerging waterbody. Castaic produced the greatest number of Cali freaks, but its brief heyday lasted a mere 2-1/4 years between Jan, 1989 and Mar,1991. Castaic hasn't made news since March 12, 1991 (21 years ago). Miramar hasn't laid a golden egg since 1998, and Casitas hasn't been in the limelight since 2002. It's also beginning to look like Dottie closed the book on Lake Dixon.
Back On Topic:
If you're looking for a 10-pound bass, Florida has no equal. To be sure, Falcon Lake is currently riding the crest of Florida-strain magic,
but if Mother Nature has her way, the gravy train won't last forever. Since the *** of B.A.S.S in 1967, the all-time heaviest 5-bass stringer
was taken from Lake Toho, Florida in 2001 by Dean Rojas. In spite of the numerous tournaments held on the California Delta, Clear Lake, CA,
Lake Fork and Falcon Lake, the Florida stringer still retains the title. Dean's stringer weighed 45-lb 2-oz, an average of 9 pounds per bass.
By no means a fluke, Mark Davis weighed a 41-lb 10-oz stringer during the same Toho tourney but it wasn't good enough.
Come on Down 
Roger
WRB reply :
I used the Mason-Dixon line to make a point; above latitude 38 the water temps are too cold in most states to support FLMB populations and without FLMB or intergrades with a high % of FLMB genes, largemouth bass exceeding 10+ lbs are extremely rare fish. Northern strain LMB over 10 lbs are about as common as FLMB exceeding 15 lbs and that is 50% less weight.
Chris; Clear lake may not be the best choice in NorCal for DD bass, the Delta may have a larger population of DD's due ti it's size, Clear still produces 10 lb+ LMB during tournaments. The reason I picked Clear lake is the local guides fish live bait for their clients, it's a big lake that can handle the pressure better than most of our tiny trophy bass lakes.
Rolo; CA is producing 18 to 19 lb bass every year; 18.8 lb was caught last week at Perris lake, weighed on a certified scale. Any FLMB over 15 lbs is very rare anywhere; Falcon and Amistad haven't produced a bass that big yet! Like Chris mentioned 10 lber's become 7 lber's real fast on a scale!
Tom
J Francho reply :
QuoteLike Chris mentioned 10 lber's become 7 lber's real fast on a scale!
Always bugged me. I have a legit 7-1 in my avatar - from NY no less - and guys gotta stretch the truth.
Chris, WRB, 4biz, others know what it's like to sit there and question yourself midday, "Dude, just go over there, and toss these, and you'll get your string pulled." But you stick with it. Big, Big bass are hard to stick with.
dwtaylor reply :
There have been reports of 10lb smallies sampled in Chequamegon Bay near Ashland, WI. However, I know of people catching 10lb bass in southeast Iowa quite regularly this spring.
I am going to be Doubting Thomas on this one and say that it will be nearly impossible to do within a reasonable driving distance. That is why I am saving my pennies for a trip down to Falcon Lake next March for spring break (and possibly South Padre too).
gobig reply :
Quote"California hasn't certified a single bass over 18 lbs since Mar 2006"
This statement is not correct. Pyramid just kicked out an 18.80 and last year 18.11 was caught in a tournament at New Malones. Both of which were lake records and certified. If I am not mistaken the fish from New Malones is the largest fish ever caught in a tournament. I am not 100% on when the fish were caught or if they were certified but Butch Brown has two bass on film in the last 2 years. One was a 19.5 and the other was an 18 and change. The guys who are regularly hunting fish this size have pretty tight lips and by exposing a fish like this to the public jepordizes chances of beating the world record.
RoLo reply :
On 5/2/2012 at 3:32 PM, gobig said:This statement is not correct. Pyramid just kicked out an 18.80 and last year 18.11 was caught in a tournament at New Malones. Both of which were lake records and certified. If I am not mistaken the fish from New Malones is the largest fish ever caught in a tournament. I am not 100% on when the fish were caught or if they were certified but Butch Brown has two bass on film in the last 2 years. One was a 19.5 and the other was an 18 and change. The guys who are regularly hunting fish this size have pretty tight lips and by exposing a fish like this to the public jepordizes chances of beating the world record.
Thank you gobig.
Oddly, those bass were not listed in a recent register. But I realize that
up-to-date stats can be elusive, which is why I prefaced by saying: "To my knowledge".
If you could, I'd appreciate a URL documenting those catches so I can alter my files.
.
Roger
gobig reply :
The Parris fish is still pending as far as I know and looks like the actual weight was 18.2.
http://www.sdfish.com/news/freshwater-fishing-news/1340-new-lake-record-pending-for-lake-perris
The New Malones fish was caught by Kyle Gentry in the Anglers choice western rookie league.
http://teamccmarine.com/c-and-c-marine-ranger-dealer-news/124-kyle-gentry-catches-fish-of-a-lifetime.html
NBR reply :
I just have to chime in again. I have bass fished for over 65 years and I have never caught a 10 pounder. I have fished Big "O" , the everglades, Lake Tarpon (Where at least at one time the Florida record was caught), Eufala in AL & GA, Reelfoot & Dale Hollow in TN. I have fished for smallies in more lakes than I care to name but some are St. Claire, Michigan, Huron, Rainy and Lake of the Woods I've never caught a 6# smallie. Lots of 4 pounders some 5's but no true 6's.
I just don't worry about getting a big one anymore. If i catch one that's fine but the fishing is always good and some times the catching is also good. Both make for a good day. A few years ago I showed a guy some spots on my local lake. Not long after I heard him shouting about a 5# smallie. He had hooked it deep and by the time he brought it overto show me I was pretty gone. He was convinced it was a 5#+ fish. I didn't thnk so.
Since I have a scale in my boat, so I asked him if he wanted to weigh the fish. Yes was the answer so I put the fish on my scale and if I remenber correctly it was a bit under 4.25. I have regretted to this day in asking him if he wanted it weighed. Now regardless of what he says the fish weighed he knows it was about 4.25. I broke his bubble and I'm sorry for that.
I regret to this day that I told him I had a scale.
RoLo reply :
On 5/3/2012 at 4:50 AM, gobig said:The Parris fish is still pending as far as I know and looks like the actual weight was 18.2.
http://www.sdfish.co...for-lake-perris
The New Malones fish was caught by Kyle Gentry in the Anglers choice western rookie league.
http://teamccmarine....a-lifetime.html
Thanks again gobig for your follow through.
You will notice however that the list embedded in your first URL acquieses with my reference to year 2006
c/o Perris Lake
Perris Lake, CA has been the poster boy of declining genetic vigor. For many years, the world-record spotted bass belonged to Lewis Smith Reservoir, AL.
Spotted bass transplanted from the Smith Reservoir to Perris Lake ultimately upended the Alabama world-record from whence it came. It gets worse.
Sadly, due to chormosome degeneration the spotted bass population in Perris totally collapsed, where catching one spot is now newsworthy.
I find it intriguing to learn that the same lake (Perris Lake) is now the new theater for Florida bass (and so it goes).
Roger
RoLo reply :
NBR, the clear majority of anglers never boated a double-digit bass,
In the same vein, never have regrets about weighing any fish.
I weigh EVERY good fish that comes in my boat with a certified scale.
It's called facing reality, and it also makes us a 'little' better at guesstimating weight.
I say a "little" better, because human optimisim springs eternal 
Roger
gobig reply :
I believe things in nature cycle and those big bass will be back again. One thing that hurt California is fish and game put a halt on planting trout in non native lakes for a few years. I am seeing certain lakes really change, some for better and some for worse. In fact I wouldnt be the least bit surprised to see a world record spot come out of California in the next few years.
RoLo reply :
The Perris world-record spot has since been bested, and is now held by Pine Flat Lake, CA (10-4)
I agree with you that natural phenomena occur in cycles, but that would be a highly unusual event
outside the species native range.
Roger
WRB reply :
The 18.8 lbs bass is the certified weight; 18.2 was the hand held scale weight.
Butch brown's 19.3 lb Castaic lagoon catch on video was May 2009.
George Coniglio's 19.8 lb Mission Vejio bass was over shadowed by Dottie in 2006
The Lagoon and Mission Vejio are tiny lakes under 500 acres, Perris is drawn way down and less than 1500 acres.
The lake only of any size producing giants is New Melones in NorCal and a 17.4 lb bass was caught April this year by John Liechty Most of these bass you don't read about, some make the news.
Spotted bass were introduced to CA in the 1930's, Friant Dam Merced river. The current world record came from that stock at Pine Flat lake; 10.27 lbs, April 2001.
The Perris spots also came from the Friant stock of Alabama spotted bass. The spotted bass demise at Perris was a combination of over harvesting and Redear sunfish raiding the spawning areas. There hasn't been a report of spots at Perris in over a decade.
DVL was supposed to be the new giant bass lake in CA and the striped bass may have ruined that potential fishery.
Tom
PS: Falcon lake record is 15.63 lbs, Amistad is 15.68 lbs, Texas state record is 18.18 lbs from lake Fork.
avid reply :
Catching a double digit bass is pretty challenging no matter where you are.
I often fish Stickmarsh/farm13 in central Florida which is a famous destination for big bass hunters
and the biggest I have caught so far is 8 lbs.
Yes, I have been in the boat when a 10+ pounder was caught on two, maybe three occasions, and I do believe that I have
hooked into a double digit a couple of times, but still...my pb is 8
So as far as the 'best' northern lake for a 10 lber? I don't think such a place exits.
No doubt there are big bass in some northern lakes, but i think catching one is more a product of determination, fishing big bass baits
and sacrificing numbers for size, and some good ole fashioned luck.
Go for it.
avid reply :
Oh, and another thing.
I have heard all kinds of stories about fish that supposedly weigh 10 or more pounds
then when you dig into the story many, many, MANY are totally bogus.
Many of these so called trophy bass are 'guestimates' at best. I'm talking where the guy had no scale at all,
and claimed a 12 pounder because he 'hauls 10 pound sacks every day and this was alot heavier' y'know, that kind of
crap. Other guys will measure the fish then claim it must weigh 11 pounds...which is also so unreliable as to be a joke.
of course, there's the guy who pulls out his scale and wieghs the fish a dozen times or more, each time getting a different weight because the scale is a piece of crap and then posts the heaviest wieght (plus a few ounces because after all, the scale is off right?}
The only weight that can be taken seriously is a bass weighed on a certified scale. the boga grip NOT boga 'type' scales....is the most common and is deadly accurate.
So if your so inclined you can go fishing, catch a nice size bass. admire it a little, proclaim it to be "a 10 pounder" and join the club.
hundreds of guys have done exactly that. 
J Francho reply :
Every pond I've ever fished has kicked out a ten, lol.
KansasBASS9948 reply :
On 5/2/2012 at 7:30 AM, Bluebasser86 said:There's a powerplant lake here in Kansas that kicks out a 10 pounder or two almost every winter, but that's out of thousands of fishermen spending tons of hours on the lake all year long to catch those couple of fish. My only DD fish was at Lake Comendero in Mexico. If you spend the money and make a couple trips to those lakes in Mexico or Falcon you will spend way less money than you will pursuing a northern DD bass. Plus the experience is something you'll never forget.
I know exactly which lake you are talking about....AND I have a 10 pounder to my credit that came from that lake!
SoFlaBassAddict reply :
As much as I want to say Florida, I really don't know. I've caught one over ten, and several close to that mark. The one over 10 was just pure and unadulterated luck. I've been trying to beat it for a few years now, and just can't break my PB. I've fished in plenty of big fish spots. One of the private strip pits I fish in has had a few over 10 come from it and a 13. Biggest I've caught on that lake was an 7.1. I've seen fish in there that may have pushed the 10 pound range, I lost one last year flipping that was much larger than my PB. But you never know the size until you put him on the scale. When I go out by myself, I bring a certified Boga with me. Thankfully I can easily get mine calibrated locally at the IGFA.
I'm actually planning on only chasing big fish in my little pit lake from now on. Making a new TW order for some bigger baits as I type this.... 
I think you stand a chance of catching a 10+ almost anywhere. Actually getting that fish to bite, then landing it, well that's a different story entirely. I'd be willing to bet that there are many more double digit bass caught than most of us realize. Those big fish spots are generally well guarded secrets.
SoFlaBassAddict reply :
I also just had to add, man I love reading RoLo's posts....
If there is one person that posts here that I go out of my way to try and read its definitely Roger.
Dwight Hottle reply :
On 7/3/2012 at 11:36 PM, SoFlaBassAddict said:I also just had to add, man I love reading RoLo's posts....
If there is one person that posts here that I go out of my way to try and read its definitely Roger.
X2. Roger has a wealth of knowledge to share.
Nice_Bass reply :
I think the goal of catching a NLMB and a florida strain is vastly different- My goal is to catch a 10# northern strain- of course, i would still go crazy if I had boated one down south.
Jig Meister reply :
Lake Erie was voted #4 for Bass Fishing by BASS.
I know of 10#'rs coming out of there.
I would try Lake Erie.
J Francho reply :
I believe the Lake Erie record is 9-8, caught by Randy VanDam in the early 90s.
Jig Meister reply :
On 7/4/2012 at 1:31 AM, J Francho said:I believe the Lake Erie record is 9-8, caught by Randy VanDam in the early 90s.
They I've been getting lied to, which doesn't surprise me lol. I was told by a older man I trust (pretty much) that he landed a 10-2 from Lake Erie. Possible, i guess.
J Francho reply :
Fisherman lie? *SHOCK*
Primus reply :
I live in Michigan, I have a better chance of getting hit by lightning than catching a 10 lber. I personally have set 7 lbs as the benchmark for a giant. I meet people who will call a bass a 5lber because " my fist fit in it's mouth "or other scientific methods of weighing fish 
That said I'm trying to break 6 lbs 6 oz which I've done twice, Lots of 5's with a personal best stringer of 24 lbs 10 oz. Last couple of seasons spending some of my on the water time throwing big swimbaits hoping to up my chance of catching a Michigan version of a giant.
Michael DiNardo reply :
What about Champlaigne? Sorry if it is spelled wrong, but most should know the lake.
Mike
Megastink reply :
Potomac River, Upper Chesapeake Bay in April or mid May. Someone recently weighed in a largie over 10lbs in a BFL, I believe. I saw pics.
I live in SE Pa, and read a report of a nearby lake where the F&G Commission boom shocked two over 12, and dozens between 5 and 9lbs.
Megastink reply :
Oh, I almost forgot: Candlewood Lake in CT has giant bass. I fished a late April tourny a few years back. A guy weighed in a 9lber.
Also, don't forget Champlain in May and June.
WRB reply :
How many members of this site can honestly say they have caught a 10 lb plus LMB, close to Wisconin?
My guess is zero!
You go west to California, south to Texas or Mexico, or southeast to Florida where DD bass are available.!
you can fish a lifetime anywhere else and never catch a 10 lLMB.
Tom
mikey5string reply :
I know the OP isnt from CT but this thread is interesting to me, being from the north and into catching a 10lb bass ; )
There was a 9 plus caught in the CT river this season. There is a thread on where the next state record will come from over on another fishing site, a lot of people mentioned the river.
In CT, I have yet to weigh a 5lb bass ; (
That is a nice fish up here. I've seen them caught pretty regularly though. I would say 5-6lbs is an average "big" fish in CT. A 7+ is a trophy. A 10 is a.... I wouldnt even know what to do if I got a 10lber in the boat alone. Willing to bet there'd be a lot of controlled breathing. I believe the state record is 13 and change. A great day of fishing for me would be a few 3-5 pounders per hour.
I lived in Savannah GA for a summer a few years ago and I ended up getting to fish a private golf "community" pond. My first cast I hooked up with a MONSTER. It was over 6 lbs! I ran it over to the guys (from GA) to show them my trophy and they weren't nearly as impressed as I was. I believe they thought it was "cute" how excited the yankee got over an average bass for the area.
I only got to fish a few times down there but every time I got at least one 5+. You have to remember that they have all year to feed heavily down there. The bass do too! (sorry, couldnt resist)
PS
to who mentioned Candlewood. I went for the first time about a month ago and was impressed with the average size of the fish. Smallies in particular!
Basswhippa reply :
On 7/4/2012 at 1:31 AM, J Francho said:I believe the Lake Erie record is 9-8, caught by Randy VanDam in the early 90s.
I'm almost certain that was a smallmouth and not a largemouth. Toad smallmouth isn't it? LOL
J Francho reply :
On 7/4/2012 at 10:13 PM, Basswhippa said:I'm almost certain that was a smallmouth and not a largemouth. Toad smallmouth isn't it? LOL
Yes, that was a smallie, of course. My point was to refute the claim that DD are coming out of Erie. There's probably a one swimming around there, but we'd know if a legit DD was caught.
Basswhippa reply :
On 7/4/2012 at 1:31 AM, J Francho said:I believe the Lake Erie record is 9-8, caught by Randy VanDam in the early 90s.
I don't know the lake, but wouldn't there be a chance that a largemouth could even grow larger? That is typically the way it is in the southeast and the other areas of the country such as portions of the midwest and west that I am more familiar with due to publicity. 10lb smallmouths in the TN River vs 12, 13 and even 14 pound largemouths. Largemouths just grow bigger than smallmouths here, and for that matter out in Texas, Oklahoma, California etc. May not be apples to apples. I was thinking Van Dams record was for a smallmouth only and there may actually be 10's in Erie, extremely rare though they may be.
Amoore9900 reply :
There is a private lake across the river from Evansville Indiana that produced a 10 a few weeks ago...it is at a hunting lodge you can pay to fish it...it has f1 tiger bass in it...I haven't fished it just read the reports...Even then a 10 is hard to get but at least have a shot..I
NoBassPro reply :
On 7/3/2012 at 11:32 PM, SoFlaBassAddict said:As much as I want to say Florida, I really don't know. I've caught one over ten, and several close to that mark. The one over 10 was just pure and unadulterated luck. I've been trying to beat it for a few years now, and just can't break my PB.
I honestly believe most of my PB's have had a large amount of luck involved. They either came when targeting other species or otherwise totally unexpected. That being said, I've spent a few years and who knows how many dollars chasing that next bigger one of a couple different species. My personal advice is don't take a trip just for a trophy. Once in a lifetime fish are called that for a reason, they are rare. You may get one, but odds are you won't. So, unless you are willing to take multiple trips at times and places known to kick out big fish don't wait out for that 10 lber. Find a place with a decent shot and go for the fishing and experience. Also, there is no place close to Wisconsin with a decent shot at a 10'lber. IMO your best bet in the states is to find a way to hook up with Big-O from what I have seen.
Izan reply :
It would be interesting to see a map of the US color coded showing the lateral lines and the bass weight from north to south. I would bet there is a distinct line that separates bass over 10 pounds.
grimlin reply :
On 7/4/2012 at 3:44 AM, Primus said:I live in Michigan, I have a better chance of getting hit by lightning than catching a 10 lber. I personally have set 7 lbs as the benchmark for a giant. I meet people who will call a bass a 5lber because " my fist fit in it's mouth "or other scientific methods of weighing fish
That said I'm trying to break 6 lbs 6 oz which I've done twice, Lots of 5's with a personal best stringer of 24 lbs 10 oz. Last couple of seasons spending some of my on the water time throwing big swimbaits hoping to up my chance of catching a Michigan version of a giant.
My goal is to break into the 6lb class here in MI. I don't care if it's a largemouth or smallmouth....I just wanna break pass the 5lb mark.
I'm not even sure i could get a 10lb'er even if i was in the south somewhere. You still gotta know where they are and get them to bite.
So far I'm failing....2 1/2 pound is the heaviest I caught this year. 
KingMidas reply :
On 5/1/2012 at 7:16 AM, slonezp said:Head to Lake Michigan. Make and break a goal for a 7lb smallie
I agree. You would probably want to get a guide or at least seriously study some maps before you go. You can do a lot of messing around and not a lot of catching fish out on Mich if your not prepared.
Im from Illinois and as far as catching a 10 pounder here goes...good luck. The state record for LMB is 13 pounds 1 ounce. And that was caught in 1976. Im not going to say it is impossible to catch a double digit bass in the midwest, but if you want to plan a trip to have a really good chance at catching a trophy, id make the commitment to travel a ways.
Bluebasser86 reply :
On 7/3/2012 at 11:04 PM, KansasBASS9948 said:I know exactly which lake you are talking about....AND I have a 10 pounder to my credit that came from that lake!
So you've caught one of the elusive La Cygne DD bass huh? I've caught lots over 5 and had a 30+lb 5 fish stringer that included the biggest bass I've caught from there, 7lbs 2ozs. I've seen several 8's, and a high 9 in person down there and I've seen the pictures of the 10's that get caught each winter. The odds are against me but I'm still out there almost every weekend during the winter months.
As for the OP's question, there is a couple lakes in Northern Missouri that have DD fish in them. I hooked one a few years ago at Hazel Creek Lake in Kirksville, MO that would have given the MO state record a run for it's money. Mozingo lake produces several 8+lb fish a year and I'm sure probably has a few DD bass in it. Still, the amount of time and money you'd spend trying to find a northern largemouth will be way more than if you take a couple trips to a lake that is known for it's big bass potential.
Nice_Bass reply :
On 7/4/2012 at 10:38 PM, WRB said:How many members of this site can honestly say they have caught a 10 lb plus LMB, close to Wisconin?
My guess is zero!
You go west to California, south to Texas or Mexico, or southeast to Florida where DD bass are available.!
you can fish a lifetime anywhere else and never catch a 10 lLMB.
Tom
You could travel far to catch larger fish but that was not the question- I also would be much more proud with a 10+ NLMB than travel south where it may be better odds. We have 10 pound fish caught in IL every year, however I do not know a single person that has one over 8 from my in state waters. Best bet for a 10 pounder NLMB is in MO as blue stated. That is where i catch all my PB's.
Jig Meister reply :
After thinking about this the last few days I have come to the conclusion that no matter where you go, you are going to be hard pressed finding a DD LMB.
Sure some places will give you better chances, but really its all a crap shoot.
I was looking over Ohio records and the State record is a 13.5# caught from a farm pond.
Now over the years I have caught my biggest fish out of larger farm ponds/lakes, and it got me thinking, You probably have just about a good of a chance catching a DD bass where you live as you do anywhere else.
I would search out unpressured lakes in your neck of the woods first, before traveling the world for it.
Also, take a trip to Lake Biwa, Bass fishing is still new to Japan, and after looking over and researching Lake Biwa, that place probably gives really good chances, but it has only had bass since the 30's (give or take), so who really knows, but a 20+ came out of there.
NoBassPro reply :
On 7/5/2012 at 11:53 PM, Jig Meister said:and it got me thinking, You probably have just about a good of a chance catching a DD bass where you live as you do anywhere else.
I would search out unpressured lakes in your neck of the woods first, before traveling the world for it.
No. IMO if you are serious about trophy hunting, beyond just searching records, looking at genetics, environment, and available prey will give you some good ideas about where you might find that fish you really want. I don't know how common, or rare, 10 + lmb are, never really went after them, but with the fish I have gone after, persistance and getting to know the bodies of water you choose often provided better results than going willy-nilly "chasing rainbows" after the next hot bite you heard about.
Primus reply :
On 7/5/2012 at 11:00 AM, grimlin said:My goal is to break into the 6lb class here in MI. I don't care if it's a largemouth or smallmouth....I just wanna break pass the 5lb mark.
I'm not even sure i could get a 10lb'er even if i was in the south somewhere. You still gotta know where they are and get them to bite.
So far I'm failing....2 1/2 pound is the heaviest I caught this year.
I used to live in the Ypsilanti- Milan area not too far from Canton, I think the fishing is a little tougher over there than it is in the SW side of the state where I currently reside. I'm guessing you are probably hitting Ford Lake & Belleville Lake. I remember catching decent ones in Ford but most of what I caught back then were on the small side. I was more of a casual angler in those days as I didn't have a boat at the time and other then shore fishing I couldn't fish on lakes unless some one took me. Anyways, that bigger fish is going to come. With the 1000's of lakes we have try a few different lakes to up your odds of catching some bigger fish. Good luck.
BigBassBarry reply :
I caught an 11 lb 2 oz in Oklahoma post spawn this year. My father caught a 9 lb 12 oz post spawn this year. We both have caught a dd digit at fork during the spawn at fork. The problem with fork is it is getting harder to fish because the number of fisherman fishing there is growing.
J Francho reply :
On 7/4/2012 at 10:29 PM, Basswhippa said:I don't know the lake, but wouldn't there be a chance that a largemouth could even grow larger? That is typically the way it is in the southeast and the other areas of the country such as portions of the midwest and west that I am more familiar with due to publicity. 10lb smallmouths in the TN River vs 12, 13 and even 14 pound largemouths. Largemouths just grow bigger than smallmouths here, and for that matter out in Texas, Oklahoma, California etc. May not be apples to apples. I was thinking Van Dams record was for a smallmouth only and there may actually be 10's in Erie, extremely rare though they may be.
Smallmouth are WAYYYY bigger than largemouth on Erie. There simply isn't the right habitat for a 5 lb. largemouth, let alone a 10 lb. largemouth on Erie. Now, 5 lb. smallie on Erie? You are almost assured one or more, if you put some time into it.
NoBassPro reply :
On 5/2/2012 at 7:50 AM, RoLo said:A hundred years from now, Florida will still be producing double-digit bass, but the future of Florida-strain bass outside their natural range is not so certain. It's rarely addressed, but when any fish species is transplanted outside its native range it's susceptible to "Declining Genetic Vigor". With each new generation, the chromosomes tend to revert or malign. We've seen this in California where each waterbody in the limelight tends to poop-out over time, until the baton is passed to another emerging waterbody. Castaic produced the greatest number of Cali freaks, but its brief heyday lasted a mere 2-1/4 years between Jan, 1989 and Mar,1991. Castaic hasn't made news since March 12, 1991 (21 years ago). Miramar hasn't laid a golden egg since 1998, and Casitas hasn't been in the limelight since 2002. It's also beginning to look like Dottie closed the book on Lake Dixon.
Roger
Out of curiosity, what exactly do you believe the chromosomes of a wild type subspecies that already contains a decent amount of genetic diversity are reverting to? And why do you believe that is the reason for a decline in catches and not the factors that allow a fish to achieve its full genetic potential - and that allow a fisherman to catch it?
Using Lake Michigan as an example, from what I have seen the greatest influence on size is relative prey abundance, with changes in catches most closely following prey cycles and stocking. Its not uncommon from what I have seen for introduced species to have poor recruitment due to lack of suitable spawning and rearing habitat moreso than what I believe could be attributed to a decline in genetics.
Michael DiNardo reply :
If relative prey species are the limiting factor in growth, where is the world record smallie from Erie? Those fish have more gobies than they know what to do with. It's genetics, just like in humans, seven foot centers aren't playing basketball because they ate right.
Mike
NoBassPro reply :
On 7/7/2012 at 6:10 AM, Michael DiNardo said:If relative prey species are the limiting factor in growth, where is the world record smallie from Erie? Those fish have more gobies than they know what to do with. It's genetics, just like in humans, seven foot centers aren't playing basketball because they ate right.
Mike
You do realize that increased nutrition has led to an overall increase in the size of the average human, correct? Its having all the factors come together that will allow a fish to achieve its maximum genetic potential that allows for world class fish to grow and be caught. In the introduced L Michigan Salmon and Steelhead fishery I was referring to, alewive abundance does appear to be the primary limiting factor as to the size of the fish caught, with little evidence average size has decreased over time due to lessening genetic quality despite the fact that the fish used for reproduction have come from a limited portion of the fishery. The term "declining genetic vigor" is most commonly associated with the problems due to inbreeding.
In reference to world record smallmouth coming out of Erie, you will also note that Erie has colder winters than the waters the world record fish came out of. Thermal burnout can be a concern with fish, but so can a shorter annual timeframe within which to grow.
Michael DiNardo reply :
Exactly, "achieve it's genetic potential", without the genes, all the nutrition in the world won't do it.
Mike
NoBassPro reply :
On 7/7/2012 at 11:39 AM, Michael DiNardo said:Exactly, "achieve it's genetic potential", without the genes, all the nutrition in the world won't do it.
Mike
yea, thats what i was getting at. it takes both, however this "declining genitic vigor" just seems wrong to me without further explanation or evidence. its not all one thing, though
WRB reply :
On 7/7/2012 at 1:38 AM, NoBassPro said:Out of curiosity, what exactly do you believe the chromosomes of a wild type subspecies that already contains a decent amount of genetic diversity are reverting to? And why do you believe that is the reason for a decline in catches and not the factors that allow a fish to achieve its full genetic potential - and that allow a fisherman to catch it?
Using Lake Michigan as an example, from what I have seen the greatest influence on size is relative prey abundance, with changes in catches most closely following prey cycles and stocking. Its not uncommon from what I have seen for introduced species to have poor recruitment due to lack of suitable spawning and rearing habitat moreso than what I believe could be attributed to a decline in genetics.
+1 astute observation;giant bass can only achieve maximum weight when prey abundant and bass are the primary predator. To successfully catch giant bass there must be a good population of these special fish for anglers to have a chance of locating a bass active and be skilled enough to catch it.
Tom
Grizzn N Bassin reply :
man just find a nice small lake or a private pond / mini 2 acre lake that no one fishes and fish it till you cant know more i just caught my pb 7.8 on a jig as ran it past a patch of cover there always a big one in there maybe not a 10 pounder but im sure pretty darn close!!
Bassn Blvd reply :
IMO, RoLo pretty much hit the nail on the head with his advice.
I'll bet a hundred bucks on the following.
Option 1:
I select 5 members from this forum to fish Lake "O".
Those 5 members fish 40 hours over a 7 day period.
Fish artificial bait.
I bet at least two 10 pounders wil be caught.
Option 2:
Same guys.
Same lake.
Using live shiners.
Half the time spent fishing.
Multiple 10 pounders caught.
RyneB reply :
On 5/1/2012 at 7:16 AM, slonezp said:Head to Lake Michigan. Make and break a goal for a 7lb smallie
I agree with him, go get yourself a 7 lb smallie. If that doesnt get your blood flowing, you're not a bass fishermen. I have caught a 8 lb largemouth, and a 5 lb smallmouth. I will take that 5 lb smallmouth over that largemouth anyday. I understand you are asking about largemouth. But think about all the smallmouth waters around you in wisconsin. GOLD MINE. I fish Wisconsin a lot, and there is a few lakes that i can catch an average of 20 largemouth at 3lbs. To me, that is decent day on the water. I have found with the northern waters like Minnesota and Wisconsin, people target northern and musky. In reality, bass arent really pressured. But if someone had a gun to my head and told me i had to catch a trophy bass, i would head to Florida, Texas, or California.
RyneB reply :
On 5/2/2012 at 7:50 AM, RoLo said:Based on your avatar Tezz, you already achieved your trophy walleye...kudos
I lived in New Jersey most of my life, and fished the northern states and Canada extensively. I now live in the deep south and can tell you firsthand
that the northern tier is characterized by quality bass fishing, a region known as the Bass Box. But any serious quest for double-digit bass involves a trip to the deep south.
In my view, it's vital to rule out opinion, sentiment and hearsay by referring to tourney results and documented records. If your target goal is an 18-lb largemouth bass, California is your 'only' choice. I should add however that your odds of success would be no better than winning the Mega Millions Lottery. To my knowledge, California hasn't certified a single bass over 18 lbs since Mar 2006, six years ago and counting.
In the state of Texas, 15 pounds represents a very stubborn weight-ceiling, as a matter of fact, Texas has only 'one' certified bass over 18 pounds. All the same, if your target goal is a 15-lb bass, then Texas is your best hope. Year-after-year, Lake Fork continues to produce an impressive string of Florida bass topping out at 15 lbs & change,
Now back to your question. The odds of landing a 10-lb bass are best by far in the state of Florida. No state even comes close, which should come as no surprise to anyone. The largest bass throughout the world are "ALL" Florida-strain bass, a fact that shouldn't be taken lightly. This means that outside of Florida the only waters possibly containing Florida-strain bass are those that were "transplanted by man".
It also means that the many thousands of waterbodies not stocked with Florida bass are simply out of the running.
In The First Place:
"Any" of the thousands of lakes and ponds in Florida are capable of producing 10-lb bass, and indeed most of them have. Bass in Florida tend to plateau around 12 pounds, but the state churns out an unparalleled volume of 9 to 12-pound bass throughout the year. Lake Okeechobee and Mexico lie south of the ideal latitude for long-lived bass, where bass tend to die prematurely of thermal burnout. For this reason, neither the Big-O nor Mexico have put a dent in the record books, where weights tend to plateau around 10 pounds. Nevertheless, this year and last year Lake Okeechobee spewed a dizzying amount of 10-lb bass and 30-lb stringers, a lake that lies in the native range of Florida-stain bass
In The Second Place:
A hundred years from now, Florida will still be producing double-digit bass, but the future of Florida-strain bass outside their natural range is not so certain. It's rarely addressed, but when any fish species is transplanted outside its native range it's susceptible to "Declining Genetic Vigor". With each new generation, the chromosomes tend to revert or malign. We've seen this in California where each waterbody in the limelight tends to poop-out over time, until the baton is passed to another emerging waterbody. Castaic produced the greatest number of Cali freaks, but its brief heyday lasted a mere 2-1/4 years between Jan, 1989 and Mar,1991. Castaic hasn't made news since March 12, 1991 (21 years ago). Miramar hasn't laid a golden egg since 1998, and Casitas hasn't been in the limelight since 2002. It's also beginning to look like Dottie closed the book on Lake Dixon.
Back On Topic:
If you're looking for a 10-pound bass, Florida has no equal. To be sure, Falcon Lake is currently riding the crest of Florida-strain magic,
but if Mother Nature has her way, the gravy train won't last forever. Since the *** of B.A.S.S in 1967, the all-time heaviest 5-bass stringer
was taken from Lake Toho, Florida in 2001 by Dean Rojas. In spite of the numerous tournaments held on the California Delta, Clear Lake, CA,
Lake Fork and Falcon Lake, the Florida stringer still retains the title. Dean's stringer weighed 45-lb 2-oz, an average of 9 pounds per bass.
By no means a fluke, Mark Davis weighed a 41-lb 10-oz stringer during the same Toho tourney but it wasn't good enough.
Come on Down
Roger
Im on my way. I have read a lot of travel documents and emails. But i can honestly say that yours makes me want to travel to Florida more than those yuppys.
SoFlaBassAddict reply :
On 7/8/2012 at 6:14 AM, Bassn Blvd said:IMO, RoLo pretty much hit the nail on the head with his advice.
I'll bet a hundred bucks on the following.
Option 1:
I select 5 members from this forum to fish Lake "O".
Those 5 members fish 40 hours over a 7 day period.
Fish artificial bait.
I bet at least two 10 pounders wil be caught.
Option 2:
Same guys.
Same lake.
Using live shiners.
Half the time spent fishing.
Multiple 10 pounders caught.
Hard to put it any better than that. It scares me watching some of the shiner guys out on Okeechobee. It's unreal how many big fish are in that lake that us artificial users never see.
I'm still looking for my Okeechobee DD bass.......
BassWhole! reply :
Its not "northern", but I know of at east 3 over 10 that are still swimming in Southern MD.
00 mod reply :
Lake level is on the rise
June fishing producing some giants Baits: spinnerbaits, and crankbaits starting 5" and 6" swimbaits in Pearl, White and Mullett color, topwater ( Zara Spooks ) Date / Time Fished: July 2012
07/06/2012
Here is the revised report.
Post trip report from Bill Doll.
Fishing was un-believably good with p.m. rain about every day.
South end of the lake and other bays are clear or slightly stained, but still good water.
Deep diving crankbaits and spinnerbaits were the producing lures.
Seventeen over 10, twenty four over 11, twelve over
12, three over 13 for (56) total.
Fishing report for Lake Baccarac in Mexico! These are all caught on artificials, no live bait. Absolutley crazy. I would say this is your #1 place right now for a 10 lber.
Jeff
Bassn Blvd reply :
On 7/9/2012 at 6:05 AM, 00 mod said:Lake level is on the rise
June fishing producing some giants Baits: spinnerbaits, and crankbaits starting 5" and 6" swimbaits in Pearl, White and Mullett color, topwater ( Zara Spooks ) Date / Time Fished: July 2012
07/06/2012
Here is the revised report.
Post trip report from Bill Doll.
Fishing was un-believably good with p.m. rain about every day.
South end of the lake and other bays are clear or slightly stained, but still good water.
Deep diving crankbaits and spinnerbaits were the producing lures.
Seventeen over 10, twenty four over 11, twelve over
12, three over 13 for (56) total.
Fishing report for Lake Baccarac in Mexico! These are all caught on artificials, no live bait. Absolutley crazy. I would say this is your #1 place right now for a 10 lber.
Jeff
Now that's impressive.
00 mod reply :
I am supposed to be headed down there shortly, and will let you guys know how it goes. I also read that all of these fish were weighed on a scale and documented. The guy even gave his phone number out to non believers for actual proof. The owner of the lodge said it is the best fishing he has ever seen right now. Those numbers did come on the full moon, and are not 100% typical, but I would say your chances of catching a 10+ would be best there!
Jeff
FishinDaddy reply :
On 4/30/2012 at 8:44 AM, tezz32 said:i want to break the ten pound mark for lmb only problem is i live in wisconsin so ill have to travel. what whould be the nearest place to do that along with the time of year to do it.
To answer the original question:
Location - "North" end of Toho in February with a bucket of shiners watching a bobber for 3 days. You are nearly guaranteed a DD.
Michael DiNardo reply :
Thanks for getting back to the original question. If I was trying to catch a DD in PA, my concentration would be on a seldom fished farm pond, golf course lake, or a strip mine lake. I would bet that the same conditions apply to WI.
Mike
Bassn Blvd reply :
Jeff,
You're one lucky man to go fish that lake, Typical or not, your chances of even 1 fish over 10 are so much in your favor. Take some video. I'd mail you my GoPro if I could figure out what I did to not make it work, haha.
00 mod reply :
If anyone wants to mail me a go-pro, I will set it up! If not you are sure to get lots of pictures and a full detailed report when I get back.
Jeff
deep reply :
That's great 00mod. I hope you catch a (few) new PB(s).
00 mod reply :
I'm trying for it! It was my goal this year, and I am doing everything possible to do it! I have been stuck on my pb of 8lb 9oz for a year and a half. Which is a long time seeing I fish at least twice a week!
Jeff
roadwarrior reply :
On 4/30/2012 at 8:44 AM, tezz32 said:i want to break the ten pound mark for lmb only problem is i live in wisconsin so ill have to travel. what whould be the nearest place to do that along with the time of year to do it.
Addressing the OP:
The answer might be Pickwick Lake in the spring. Late winter and early spring 2012 has produced more 10+ than in the entire history of
the reservoir. You should consider attending the RoadTrip 2013. Although there is no chance of catching a new World Record largemouth,
there is a remote possibility of hooking up with the next World Record smallmouth!
http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/smallmouth_record.html
RyneB reply :
You could always fish cooling lakes. They produce some decent fish, and im sure theres a 10 swimming in a few of them. But they dont get 10 lbs by being stupid and getting caught. Us guys up north have to deal with the winter and the bass dont feed nearly as much. I fish a private strip mine that has some big bass in it. I have caught 1 8lber and several in the 4-6 lb range. I have seen some bass that look to be in the 10 lb mark, i have just never seen em on the end of a line. The guy who owns it is trying to make it a trophy bass fishery. 3 years ago he stocked it with trout and a lot of them made it through the winter. The water is gin clear and deep (50 foot max depth). Before the trout stock, bass average about 2 lbs. I would do some research and find the closest fishery to you that stocks trout, that seems to be the baitfish of giant bass. The amount of fish caught has dropped, but the size has gone up. Good luck on your quest.
Crookedneck reply :
A 10# bass, largemouth or smallmouth in this part of the country is going to be hard to come by. Not saying it isn't possible, just hard to do. The state records for largemouth in MI and Wi are 11 lbs'ers the smallmouth records are both 9lbs'ers. MN large and smallmouth records are both in the 8lbs range. Iowa smallmouth record is a 7lbs'er, it's largemouth record is a 10lbs'er, Illinois smallmouth is only a 6lbs'er and the largemouth record is 11lbs.
Lake Michigan and Superior probably hold the key to coming close, but plan on spending hours, days, weeks, months, years, decades.....trying.
I'm not saying they aren't out there, just saying good luck in the north. I would recommend heading south. The southern states have a longer growing season due to warmer weather.
Good luck
Nice_Bass reply :
On 7/11/2012 at 11:46 AM, Crookedneck said:A 10# bass, largemouth or smallmouth in this part of the country is going to be hard to come by. Not saying it isn't possible, just hard to do. The state records for largemouth in MI and Wi are 11 lbs'ers the smallmouth records are both 9lbs'ers. MN large and smallmouth records are both in the 8lbs range. Iowa smallmouth record is a 7lbs'er, it's largemouth record is a 10lbs'er, Illinois smallmouth is only a 6lbs'er and the largemouth record is 11lbs.
Lake Michigan and Superior probably hold the key to coming close, but plan on spending hours, days, weeks, months, years, decades.....trying.
I'm not saying they aren't out there, just saying good luck in the north. I would recommend heading south. The southern states have a longer growing season due to warmer weather.
Good luck
Data on IL is incorrect- not sure about the other states. However, IL is only at just over 13 LMB, smb 6 and change, spotted i believe 7 and change.
haydenf96 reply :
Webster Lake in Mass!
PABASS reply :
I have seen one Bass from PA that was claimed to be 10#s, he showed me the photos and it could have been a 10#, was caught maybe in eagle's mere lake, I cant recall. Of course he was a trout guy, which I love trout fishing[fly fishing] to but man he just didn't realize that is a once in a lifetime deal around here. Anyway my PB came from FL when I was 16 on shrimp and a bobber of all things, they have some of the largest bass hence the Florida strain... If its a goal make it easier and head down south to Florida and try one of the many lakes and get a guide to put you on the big fish. I would love to take my own advice on this..
Been fishing for awhile and my biggest fish in PA maybe 6lbs, when down south at 16 and I knew allot less about fishing then a do now and in a 5 day period caught the largest , Bass, Sunfish, Crappie and Alligator that I personally have ever caught till this day.
tugsandpulls reply :
i caught an 8# in ma this year our state record is 15# but its very rare to catch anything over 5 to 7 # here
retiredbosn reply :
Best northern place? South Florida
bass1980 reply :
I think with harsh weather up north along with Bass not being the top predator in the northern states its extremely difficult to get a 10#+ near WI. MN state record is only 8#. Sure you hear stories of back in the day and all, and its a possibility but today's fishing pressure makes it even more if a challenge.
Honestly if you really are looking for that number I suggest just book a flight to Lake Okeechobee, Florida. You can YouTube it and people have clips of catching 10 pounder.
Amoore9900 reply :
The private lake I live on has produced 6 10 pound bass the last 4 years..(from 2 boats)..pure Northern fish...still you might get 1 or 2 a year....If your looking at Northern States that you could have access to there is a lodge near Evansville Indiana and it is stocked with F1 Fla/Northern Bass and produced a few 10's last year....it would be around 12 hours from you give or take I would guess...PM me and I'll tell you the name..(I have nothing to do with them but plan to fish it this spring)
Clint C. reply :
This might be off topic but the reservoir I fish here in Il, the dnr claims there may be a few over ten and this place is over 100 years old! Only 70 acres.
I think to help you catch one no matter where you go check out John hopes book "tracking trophies".
I don't think the reservoir I fish is worth the trip, but if you'd like pm me and I'll give you the details. Spring is your best bet obviously. Biggest I've seen personally out of it was 7lb 14oz. This past spring.
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