Top 25 2025
Rattletrap reply :
I wonder how many of these bass are the same bass caught over and over. They also answer a question from the World Record Bass thread. All but one of these lakes are not heavily stocked with trout. If you want bigger bass, you need to stock your lakes with trout. Those trout do a bass good!!!!! That is some good protein. I like them myself.
http://www.fishingnetwork.net/top25lmb.htm
Mattlures reply :
Thats an old list. This one is more curent but still not up to date. Mike Long has another one on it. A 19.2 caught last year.
so that makes 3 for him
1 22.25 Montgomery Lake Georgia George Perry 6/2/32
2 22.01 Lake Castaic California Bob Crupi 3/12/91
3 21.75 Lake Castaic California Mike Arujo 3/5/91
4 21.70 Dixon Reservoir California Jed Dickerson 5/31/03
5 21.19 Lake Casitas California Ray Easley 3/4/80
6 21.01 Lake Castaic California Bob Crupi 3/9/90
7 20.94 Lake Miramar California David Zimerlee 6/23/73
8 20.86 Lake Castaic California Leo Torres 2/4/90
9 20.75 Dixon Reservoir California Mike Long 4/27/01
10 20.25 Lake Hodges California Gene Dupras 5/30/85
10 20.25 Lake Miramar California Johnny Garduno 3/25/90
12 20.13 Big Fish Lake Florida Fritz Friebel May 1923
13 19.88 Dixon Reservoir California Mike Long 2004
14 19.63 Lake Baccarac Mexico Bruce Knutsen 1/17/93
15 19.50 Lake Miramar California Keith Gunsauls 3/7/88
15 19.50 Lake Casitas California Randy Crabtree 4/9/02
15 19.50 Dixon Reservoir California Mac Weakley 5/20/03
18 19.40 Ikehara Dam Japan Kazuya Shimada 4/22/03
19 19.25 Lake Miramar California Chris Brandt 3/22/98
20 19.19 Lake Wohlford California Steve Beasley 2/3/86
20 19.19 Lake Morena California Ardon Hanline 2/17/87
22 19.06 Lake Miramar California Sandy DeFresco 3/14/88
23 19.04 Lake Castaic California Danny Kadota 1/8/89
24 19.03 Success Lake California Larry Kerns 1/27/01
25 19.00 Lake Tarpon Florida Riley Witt 6/21/61
Rattletrap reply :
Georgia needs to start stocking trout in their Northern lakes.
cart7t reply :
Bassmaster did an article on the late 80's-early 90's monsters that were caught out of Castaic by guys like Crupi and Arujo. Those were a specific Florida strain hydrid that seemed to have the perfect genetics to grow huge. Unfortunately, that class of bass are long since dead and the fish and game people in California figured that they probably crossbred outside of their own superbreed and thus you see Castaic never had any big fish after that time.
Matt Fly reply :
All the lists I find does not match mattlures.
Matt, what is your source for top 25 bass?
Matt Fly reply :
http://www.geocities.com/Baja/8205/bass_top25.html
This site offers fishing logs and said it monitors state to state bass records and this is the most up to date as per state agencies.
Triton_Mike reply :
There was a thing in Bass West that states Jed Dickersons fish in 4th place is the same exact fish caught by Mike Long which is in 9th place. THere was a spot on his gills that matched up in both pictures and they thought there was a strong chance it was the same fish which had grown some when Jed D caught her.
T Mike
Rattletrap reply :
It seems to me that Cali has regressed in the big bass area. One 20 pounder in 2003. The rest are 1991 and earlier. Cali is now producing 14-15 lb fish like every other Southern state. That's Southern US states across the nation, not just the South East. Even Georgia has put up some 16 lb plus fish in 2005. I'm waiting on a 2006 list. I can't seem to find a list yet. GON said they were going to post one Mar or Apr. There is not much of a threat in breaking the World Record LMB anymore. It looks like Georgia will keep it another 70 more years. That's until somebody starts introducing steroids into the bass. 
Matt Fly reply :
Trap, keep an eye on Cuba and Mexico, if you read the post on the supposedly 26 pound found dead with a 3lb talipia stuck in its throat I posted, it mentioned some good info on Cuba and their climate.
My mom bass fished Mexico many times in the 70's, great fishery then. What has changed is, biologist from the US, mainly Tx has aided Mexico program since early 90's. They kick out some giants, which isn't bad because some of those lakes are only open certain times of the year. Some protect the spawn and allow no fishing, some do. They are comparing numbers from their lakes during those open and closed seasons to see if the pressure makes that much of a difference.
Within the next 70yrs as Trap likes to highlight, the heat will get turned up on pursuit of the record. It will fall as long as mother nature does her part, and mankind doesn't do nothing stupid. The genes are out there, and Cuba supposedly has a fish adapted the the climate with a life expectancy longer than F-1's and Native northern bass. That was the interesting part of the Mexico article. Trap, stay cool, as in a cuecumber cool.
Matt
guest reply :
Matt, your list shows an 18 lb bass caught in Florida. the Florida CERTIFIED state record is 17.27. The state of Florida lists that 20 lber as "reliable" but uncertified. So the official state record is 17.27 lbs. I have no idea where they got that 18 lber from. It makes me question all of the information on the list.
Just an FYI
avid
Captain Cali reply :
Castaic fell off the map because of striped bass not because of cross bredding. Keeping stripers out is the key.
Rattletrap reply :
QuoteCastaic fell off the map because of striped bass not because of cross bredding. Keeping stripers out is the key.
You are right. Stripers put a hurting on LMB.
Rattletrap reply :
QuoteTrap, keep an eye on Cuba and Mexico, if you read the post on the supposedly 26 pound found dead with a 3lb talipia stuck in its throat I posted, it mentioned some good info on Cuba and their climate.My mom bass fished Mexico many times in the 70's, great fishery then. What has changed is, biologist from the US, mainly Tx has aided Mexico program since early 90's. They kick out some giants, which isn't bad because some of those lakes are only open certain times of the year. Some protect the spawn and allow no fishing, some do. They are comparing numbers from their lakes during those open and closed seasons to see if the pressure makes that much of a difference.
Within the next 70yrs as Trap likes to highlight, the heat will get turned up on pursuit of the record. It will fall as long as mother nature does her part, and mankind doesn't do nothing stupid. The genes are out there, and Cuba supposedly has a fish adapted the the climate with a life expectancy longer than F-1's and Native northern bass. That was the interesting part of the Mexico article. Trap, stay cool, as in a cuecumber cool.
Matt
I'm going to start calling it the US World Record. I could care less about Mexico and Communist Cuba. Anything outside of the US should not count. I get sick and tired of other countries getting involved in anything of ours. That goes for Baseball, Football, Bassmaster Tournaments. If you don't live in the US, you should not be able to compete in the US in anything. The US will sell out anything. Even our ports. USA only!!!! That was a good little vent. 
Matt. That's cool as a Texas Cucumber.
Captain Cali reply :
QuoteQuoteTrap, keep an eye on Cuba and Mexico, if you read the post on the supposedly 26 pound found dead with a 3lb talipia stuck in its throat I posted, it mentioned some good info on Cuba and their climate.My mom bass fished Mexico many times in the 70's, great fishery then. What has changed is, biologist from the US, mainly Tx has aided Mexico program since early 90's. They kick out some giants, which isn't bad because some of those lakes are only open certain times of the year. Some protect the spawn and allow no fishing, some do. They are comparing numbers from their lakes during those open and closed seasons to see if the pressure makes that much of a difference.
Within the next 70yrs as Trap likes to highlight, the heat will get turned up on pursuit of the record. It will fall as long as mother nature does her part, and mankind doesn't do nothing stupid. The genes are out there, and Cuba supposedly has a fish adapted the the climate with a life expectancy longer than F-1's and Native northern bass. That was the interesting part of the Mexico article. Trap, stay cool, as in a cuecumber cool.
Matt
I'm going to start calling it the US World Record. I could care less about Mexico and Communist Cuba. Anything outside of the US should not count. I get sick and tired of other countries getting involved in anything of ours. That goes for Baseball, Football, Bassmaster Tournaments. If you don't live in the US, you should not be able to compete in the US in anything. The US will sell out anything. Even our ports. USA only!!!!
LOL...Then it wouldn't be a world record.
Randall reply :
QuoteGeorgia needs to start stocking trout in their Northern lakes.
I was looking one time at length measurements of some bass one time that were all 15-20 lbs and realized that Varner has bass that have the length to weigh that much but they just dont have the gut that those fish do. I have seen and caught a bunch of 27-30 inch bass but they just dont have the gut that California bass do. Last June I caught a 30 inch long nine pounder. When its head came up I thought I thought I had a fish over 15 lbs. Then we brought it in the boat and saw it had almost no gut. I dont know if trout are the answer but fatten those fish up and Varner will compete with any California Lake. I didnt notice the fish getting real skinny in the summer until alot of the Hybrids started reaching 10+ lbs. Maybe the big bass needed the Gizzard Shad that the Hybrids were stocked to control.
Rattletrap reply :
It's the US record. And that's the way it should be addressed. IMO.
Rattletrap reply :
QuoteQuoteGeorgia needs to start stocking trout in their Northern lakes.I was looking one time at length measurements of some bass one time that were all 15-20 lbs and realized that Varner has bass that have the length to weigh that much but they just dont have the gut that those fish do. I have seen and caught a bunch of 27-30 inch bass but they just dont have the gut that California bass do. Last June I caught a 30 inch long nine pounder. When its head came up I thought I thought I had a fish over 15 lbs. Then we brought it in the boat and saw it had almost no gut. I dont know if trout are the answer but fatten those fish up and Varner will compete with any California Lake. I didnt notice the fish getting real skinny in the summer until alot of the Hybrids started reaching 10+ lbs. Maybe the big bass needed the Gizzard Shad that the Hybrids were stocked to control.
You got to have good protein. You can't get much better than trout.
guest reply :
QuoteQuoteTrap, keep an eye on Cuba and Mexico, if you read the post on the supposedly 26 pound found dead with a 3lb talipia stuck in its throat I posted, it mentioned some good info on Cuba and their climate.My mom bass fished Mexico many times in the 70's, great fishery then. What has changed is, biologist from the US, mainly Tx has aided Mexico program since early 90's. They kick out some giants, which isn't bad because some of those lakes are only open certain times of the year. Some protect the spawn and allow no fishing, some do. They are comparing numbers from their lakes during those open and closed seasons to see if the pressure makes that much of a difference.
Within the next 70yrs as Trap likes to highlight, the heat will get turned up on pursuit of the record. It will fall as long as mother nature does her part, and mankind doesn't do nothing stupid. The genes are out there, and Cuba supposedly has a fish adapted the the climate with a life expectancy longer than F-1's and Native northern bass. That was the interesting part of the Mexico article. Trap, stay cool, as in a cuecumber cool.
Matt
I'm going to start calling it the US World Record. I could care less about Mexico and Communist Cuba. Anything outside of the US should not count. I get sick and tired of other countries getting involved in anything of ours. That goes for Baseball, Football, Bassmaster Tournaments. If you don't live in the US, you should not be able to compete in the US in anything. The US will sell out anything. Even our ports. USA only!!!! That was a good little vent.
Matt. That's cool as a Texas Cucumber.
Does someone need a hug?
Rattletrap reply :
QuoteQuoteQuoteTrap, keep an eye on Cuba and Mexico, if you read the post on the supposedly 26 pound found dead with a 3lb talipia stuck in its throat I posted, it mentioned some good info on Cuba and their climate.My mom bass fished Mexico many times in the 70's, great fishery then. What has changed is, biologist from the US, mainly Tx has aided Mexico program since early 90's. They kick out some giants, which isn't bad because some of those lakes are only open certain times of the year. Some protect the spawn and allow no fishing, some do. They are comparing numbers from their lakes during those open and closed seasons to see if the pressure makes that much of a difference.
Within the next 70yrs as Trap likes to highlight, the heat will get turned up on pursuit of the record. It will fall as long as mother nature does her part, and mankind doesn't do nothing stupid. The genes are out there, and Cuba supposedly has a fish adapted the the climate with a life expectancy longer than F-1's and Native northern bass. That was the interesting part of the Mexico article. Trap, stay cool, as in a cuecumber cool.
Matt
I'm going to start calling it the US World Record. I could care less about Mexico and Communist Cuba. Anything outside of the US should not count. I get sick and tired of other countries getting involved in anything of ours. That goes for Baseball, Football, Bassmaster Tournaments. If you don't live in the US, you should not be able to compete in the US in anything. The US will sell out anything. Even our ports. USA only!!!! That was a good little vent.
Matt. That's cool as a Texas Cucumber.
Does someone need a hug?
Sorry. That's just the military man coming out of me.
Mattlures reply :
There have been 2 caught in the last couple years over 20 and a few more that were close.
Here is the whole list. This list is comprised of documented fish over 16lbs and was printed in Bass West magazine. Glenn does not like it when Link an atricle from another site so I will respect his wishes.
Table 1: All-Time Largest Documented Bass
NOTICE HOW MANY TIMES YOU SEE MIKE LONG!!!!!
also note that he has caught several more that are not on this list including a 19.2 and a 17.2 from 2005 and a 16 !/2 lber from a few weeks ago.
Rank Pounds Location State Angler Date
1 22.25 Montgomery Lake Georgia George Perry 6/2/32
2 22.01 Lake Castaic California Bob Crupi 3/12/91
3 21.75 Lake Castaic California Mike Arujo 3/5/91
4 21.70 Dixon Reservoir California Jed Dickerson 5/31/03
5 21.19 Lake Casitas California Ray Easley 3/4/80
6 21.01 Lake Castaic California Bob Crupi 3/9/90
7 20.94 Lake Miramar California David Zimerlee 6/23/73
8 20.86 Lake Castaic California Leo Torres 2/4/90
9 20.75 Dixon Reservoir California Mike Long 4/27/01
10 20.25 Lake Hodges California Gene Dupras 5/30/85
10 20.25 Lake Miramar California Johnny Garduno 3/25/90
12 20.13 Big Fish Lake Florida Fritz Friebel May 1923
13 19.88 Dixon Reservoir California Mike Long 2004
14 19.63 Lake Baccarac Mexico Bruce Knutsen 1/17/93
15 19.50 Lake Miramar California Keith Gunsauls 3/7/88
15 19.50 Lake Casitas California Randy Crabtree 4/9/02
15 19.50 Dixon Reservoir California Mac Weakley 5/20/03
18 19.40 Ikehara Dam Japan Kazuya Shimada 4/22/03
19 19.25 Lake Miramar California Chris Brandt 3/22/98
20 19.19 Lake Wohlford California Steve Beasley 2/3/86
20 19.19 Lake Morena California Ardon Hanline 2/17/87
22 19.06 Lake Miramar California Sandy DeFresco 3/14/88
23 19.04 Lake Castaic California Danny Kadota 1/8/89
24 19.03 Success Lake California Larry Kerns 1/27/01
25 19.00 Lake Tarpon Florida Riley Witt 6/21/61
26 18.94 Lake Isabella California Keith Harper April 1984
27 18.86 Lake Castaic California Danny Kadota 2/12/88
28 18.81 St. Johns River Florida Buddy Wright 4/12/87
28 18.81 Lake Isabella California Joe Weaver Feb. 1984
30 18.75 Lower Otay Lake California Bob Eberly 3/9/80
30 18.75 San Vicente Lake California James Steurgeon 2/26/81
30 18.75 Lake Castaic California Manny Arujo 1/25/91
30 18.75 Lake Kaweah California Nai Seathan 3/15/01
34 18.70 San Pablo California Victor Barfield 3/22/01
35 18.69 Lake Casitas California Bill Beckum 1/15/80
36 18.63 San Vicente California Doug Crandall 1979
37 18.62 Delta California Galen Jensen 2/10/02
38 18.56 San Vicente California Bobby Sandberg 1976
38 18.56 Lake Castaic California Bob Crupi 1/27/92
38 18.56 Don Pedro California Rod Martin 4/9/03
41 18.55 Lake Murray California Mike Long Dec. 2001
42 18.25 Dixon Reservoir California Mike Long 2004
42 18.25 Lower Otay California Unknown March 1980
44 18.18 Lake Fork Texas Barry St. Clair 1/24/92
45 18.15 Natchez State Park Mississippi Unknown 12/31/92
46 18.13 Dixon Reservoir California Mike Long 2003
46 18.13 Lake Poway California Mike Long 2002
48 18.10 Lake Poway California Mike Long 1998
48 18.10 Lake Murray California Mike Long Feb. 1999
50 18.00 Lake Perris California Will Steel 12/29/02
50 18.00 San Pablo California Rob Belloni 5/3/03
50 18.00 Lake Murray California Mike Long 2000
50 18.00 Mission Viejo California Mike Long 2002
54 17.95 Lake Murray California Mike Long March 1999
55 17.75 San Vicente California Unknown March, 1982
56 17.69 Lake Hodges California Unknown March, 1985
57 17.67 Lake Fork Texas Mark Stevenson 11/26/86
58 17.64 Lake Fork Texas Stan Moss 4/1/89
59 17.63 Lake Fork Texas Jerry New 8/28/90
60 17.50 Lake Poway California Mike Long 2000
60 17.50 Lake Poway California Mike Long 2001
60 17.50 San Vicente California Unknown March, 1979
63 17.25 Dixon Reservoir California Mike Long 2003
63 17.25 Lake Hodges California Unknown March, 1985
63 17.25 Lake Poway California Mike Long 1999
66 17.19 Lower Otay California Unknown Jan. 1985
67 17.13 Lake Poway California Mike Long 1998
67 17.13 Lake Poway California Mike Long 1999
69 17.11 Lake Murray California Mike Long March 1999
70 17.08 Lake Fork Texas Troy Coates 2/26/91
71 17.06 Lake Miramar California Mike Long 2000
71 17.06 San Vicente California Unknown Feb. 1979
73 17.05 Lake Murray California Mike Long March 2000
74 16.89 Lake Fork Texas Bryan Turner 2/8/93
75 16.88 Lower Otay California Unknown Feb. 1981
76 16.75 Lake Fork Texas Steve Trepkus 3/8/90
77 16.63 Lake Fork Texas Flo O'Brien 2/28/99
77 16.63 Lake Poway California Mike Long 2000
77 16.63 Lake Poway California Mike Long 1999
80 16.56 San Vicente California Unknown Jan. 1980
81 16.54 Lake Fork Texas Bill Reed 2/27/91
82 16.50 San Vicente California Unknown May, 1981
83 16.45 Lake Murray California Mike Long March, 2001
84 16.44 Lake Fork Texas Chris Adams 3/10/96
84 16.44 Lake Miramar California Unknown April 1973
86 16.41 Lake Murray California Mike Long March 2000
87 16.38 Lake Poway California Mike Long 1999
88 16.25 Lower Otay California Unknown Feb. 1982
88 16.25 San Vicente California Unknown Nov. 1979
88 16.25 San Vicente California Unknown March 1982
88 16.25 Sutherland California Mike Long April 2001
92 16.19 San Vicente California Unknown Jan. 1979
92 16.19 San Vicente California Unknown March 1981
94 16.13 Gibbons Creek Texas Troy Johnson 1/15/88
94 16.13 Sutherland California Unknown April 1989
94 16.13 Lake Poway California Mike Long 2000
97 16.12 Lake Fork Texas Jim Harrell 3/22/02
98 16.06 Lake Fork Texas Tom Hallum 3/9/88
98 16.06 Lake Hodges California Unknown April 1985
100 16.04 Lake Fork Texas Gasper Cardinale 2/29/92
101 16.02 Possum Kingdom Texas Scott Tongate 10/13/89
102 16.01 Caddo Texas John Merck 4/13/92
102 16.00 Cuyamaca California Mike Long 2002
102 16.00 Lake Poway California Mike Long 2002
102 16.00 Lake Poway California Mike Long 1999
102 16.00 Mission Viejo California Mike Long 2001
mgmoore7 reply :
QuoteThats an old list. This one is more curent but still not up to date. Mike Long has another one on it. A 19.2 caught last year.so that makes 3 for him
25 19.00 Lake Tarpon Florida Riley Witt 6/21/61
While I would love to say that #25 is accurate (I grew up on Tarpon Lake and still live within an hour...) That one is not certified. Here is the statement from the Division of Fisheries
"Florida's official largemouth bass record 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). "
mgmoore7 reply :
Quotehttp://www.geocities.com/Baja/8205/bass_top25.htmlThis site offers fishing logs and said it monitors state to state bass records and this is the most up to date as per state agencies.
#20 is wrong
20. 18-12.9 Bud Wright 4/12/87 St. Johns River, FL
Florida's official record is
17.27lbs
"Florida's official largemouth bass record 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). "
guest reply :
I'm with Mg on this one. I don't know where these lists are coming from, but the long one posted by mattlures shows a 19 lb florida bass, that I never heard of before yet it does not show the 17.27 certified state record. I don't understand??? How am I supposed to take this seriously when it fails to show the official state record of a huge bassin state like Florida?
mgmoore7 reply :
QuoteI'm with Mg on this one. I don't know where these lists are coming from, but the long one posted by mattlures shows a 19 lb florida bass, that I never heard of before yet it does not show the 17.27 certified state record. I don't understand??? How am I supposed to take this seriously when it fails to show the official state record of a huge bassin state like Florida?
Amen
Mattlures reply :
Notice I said documented not certifeid. There is a diference. There is a big long article that goes with the list. I do not about the florida bass but I can remember just about all the cali catche from the last 10 years. If you would like to read the entire article I would be happy to send it to you. It explains about the list. Those other two list are WAY outdated.
guest reply :
Dude,
I hear you trying to defend your list But the how much more "documented" can you get than a bass being recognized by the state of Florida as the official state record?They screwed up.
cart7t reply :
QuoteCastaic fell off the map because of striped bass not because of cross bredding. Keeping stripers out is the key.
I'm merely relaying what the BM article said way back in the early 90's. They were speculating if the record would fall, when and why. Apparently, bass larger than the WR had already been netted. (dead floaters)
The_Natural reply :
I'll probably get a barrage of crap for this, but doesn't mike long fish out of that special small 'membership only' lake? Seems kind of like shooting a trophy buck on one of those pay-to-hunt trophy buck farms. Just doesn't seem as challenging or rare of a catch when that is considered.
Captain Cali reply :
QuoteI'll probably get a barrage of crap for this, but doesn't mike long fish out of that special small 'membership only' lake? Seems kind of like shooting a trophy buck on one of those pay-to-hunt trophy buck farms. Just doesn't seem as challenging or rare of a catch when that is considered.
He might fish private lakes but most of those fish came from public lakes. Cuyamaca, Dixon, Hodges, Murray & Sutherland are all public. The only one I'm not sure of is Mission Viejo. That sounds like a private lake. Matt probably knows. Even then I only counted 2 on the list that came from Mission Viejo.
You can look at it anyway you want. The guy is a beast when it comes to catching hawgs!! His son tears is up also.
Mattlures reply :
Only one of those is private. All the rest are posibly the most presured lakes in the country. The one "private" lake Mike fishes is Mission Viejo. He Is not a member. he only gets to go there as a guest. But just so you know that one "private lake " gets a ton of pressure. There are several guides and many members who beat it to death. This is not your typical "private" lake. But Mike also ownes most of the lake records from the public So Cal lakes. ALL records were caught on open days right there with the hundreds of other guys on the water. There is no shooting fish in a barrel, or bucks!
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