Is It Or Is It Not? 2024
Dwight Hottle reply :
Saw this on another site. Reported weight is 11lbs-7oz. Fish was caught in Michigan waters of lake erie at a river mouth. Fellow holding it reported to weigh 350lbs. What say you?
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=316508861857307&set=o.103071383194706&type=1&permPage=1
Alonerankin2 reply :
Shoot Dwight you're fish in you're avatar pic is looking Way bigger! As far as the guy being 350?
Man, I seen lots of big folks in Heathcare, he doesn't look 350... That fish? No... One thing, phone Cams just don't record images so well..
But, who can say.... It surely must of been recorded, certified or ? That doesn't seem to be the case. I've seen a lot of pics of smallies from guys on this site that look way big, at least to me.
Honestly, that's just my view, I usually record things wrong too, sometimes!
roadwarrior reply :
Well, it is a nice fish, but that's a BIG number! Do you think it looks like
150% of the fish in your avatar or mine?
Scott F reply :
He's not pushing the fish at the camera so it can't be compared to the fish in the avatar. I think it could be what they say. I know of another Great Lakes fish that was weighed on a certified scale that went 10 pounds so they are out there. I'm a big guy and my fish look smaller in front of me than they do in front of a smaller person.
grizzly1654 reply :
Looks legit to me. Either way it goes that is a nice fish!
S Hovanec reply :
I say nope. IMO, for a fish like that to come out of any lake, that lake needs to be putting out consistent 9# and 10# fish. That's just not happening. Lets look at the current smallmouth records in states bordering the Great lakes.
NY - 8#4oz
PA - 8#8oz
OH - 9#8oz
MI - 9#4oz
IN - 7#4oz
IL - 6#7oz
WI - 9#1oz
MN - 8#0oz
Only NY and OH have been caught out of the great lakes.
That's a nice fish, but it's no 11# and I have my doubts it's even 10#.
roadwarrior reply :
On 8/6/2014 at 3:52 AM, Scott F said:He's not pushing the fish at the camera so it can't be compared to the fish in the avatar. I think it could be what they say. I know of another Great Lakes fish that was weighed on a certified scale that went 10 pounds so they are out there. I'm a big guy and my fish look smaller in front of me than they do in front of a smaller person.
Hmm...
I don't think there is any certified 10 lb smallmouth that has been caught on a Great Lake.
Please post a link if I am wrong.
-Kent
.
A-Jay reply :
Alonerankin2 reply :
Omg, A-Jay! LMAO!! I shoulda just said it, But the Bull has got it!
Scott F reply :
On 8/6/2014 at 7:53 AM, roadwarrior said:Hmm...
I don't think there is any certified 10 lb smallmouth that has been caught on a Great Lake.
Please post a link if I am wrong.
-Kent
.
The guy who caught it, took it to the DNR to have it weighed but refused to submit it for a state record. The guy was fanatical about keeping his name, the location where the fish was caught and even the fishes existence a secret. A gentleman who was one of the original B.A.S.S. touring members and is one of the nations foremost antique lure collectors, heard about the fish, tracked the guy down and got most of the story. The fisherman wanted to return the fish alive back to the lake but it did not survive. Whether or not anyone believes the fish exists does not matter. The angler who caught it would prefer no one knew. The fact is it is real and more will be caught.
A-Jay reply :
On 8/6/2014 at 9:19 AM, Scott F said:The guy who caught it, took it to the DNR to have it weighed but refused to submit it for a state record. The guy was fanatical about keeping his name, the location where the fish was caught and even the fishes existence a secret. A gentleman who was one of the original B.A.S.S. touring members and is one of the nations foremost antique lure collectors, heard about the fish, tracked the guy down and got most of the story. The fisherman wanted to return the fish alive back to the lake but it did not survive. Whether or not anyone believes the fish exists does not matter. The angler who caught it would prefer no one knew. The fact is it is real and more will be caught.
That whole story reminds me of another Legend . . . . . . . .
Bronzesquatch, is the name given to an over sized bass like creature that some people believe inhabits The Great Lakes of North America.
Bronzesquatch is usually described as a huge bronze fish like creature almost always over 10 pounds, with big fangs and a gnarly hump on it's head.
Because of the lack of physical evidence, most DNR & IGFA Officials, discount the existence of Bronzesquatch and consider it to be a combination of folklore, misidentification, and hoax rather than an actual fish.
A-Jay
Scott F reply :
On 8/6/2014 at 10:45 AM, A-Jay said:That whole story reminds me of another Legend . . . . . . . .
Bronzesquatch, is the name given to an over sized bass like creature that some people believe inhabits The Great Lakes of North America.
Bronzesquatch is usually described as a huge bronze fish like creature almost always over 10 pounds, with big fangs and a gnarly hump on it's head.
Because of the lack of physical evidence, most DNR & IGFA Officials, discount the existence of Basssquatch and consider it to be a combination of folklore, misidentification, and hoax rather than an actual fish.
A-Jay
HA!
EvanT123 reply :
Maybe I've been watching Monster Fish too much
is it impossible for an 10-11lb fish being caught out of those waters?
I'm not saying that one is. It looks freaking huge to me but I'm no fish weight expert.
Driftb reply :
It's a tough call. At 6'6" tall, 250 lbs, most fish look small in my hands. The fish in my avatar pic is 22.5" and I did not weigh her. If you look up length and weight of record smallies, you will find that few of them are much over 24", regardless of weight. If that guy is over 6'3" tall, he could easily go 350. He did force the perspective on the fish, but it looks about right to me. Considering all of that, if the fish died, why didn't he go back and go through the record process? So that he wouldn't give away his spot? A GPS number? I didn't realize that you needed to give up a GPS number to enter the record book. I would guess that the fish would have died anyway, if it wasn't fizzed and released quickly after he caught it, unless it was actually caught in shallow water. A lot of those lake fish look fatter than they actually are because they were caught deep and are inflated by decompression. As if you guys don't know that!
Anyone serious about catch and release should do it. The IGFA has a new catch and release record book that is based solely on length, not weight. Catch, measure, photograph, and release. On the spot you caught the fish. That being said, if you catch and release all of your fish and you catch a potential record fish, I have no problem with someone keeping it. It is only ONE fish near the end of it's life cycle anyway.
Lund Explorer reply :
Tipping the scales at a paltry 270lbs after coming down from 315lbs, I'd say the guy easily hits 350. The fact that his scrubby beard is the only way to find his original chin gives it away.
The fish? Too bad he didn't have it thrown on a certified set of scales.
fishindad reply :
On 8/6/2014 at 9:19 AM, Scott F said:The guy who caught it, took it to the DNR to have it weighed but refused to submit it for a state record. The guy was fanatical about keeping his name, the location where the fish was caught and even the fishes existence a secret. A gentleman who was one of the original B.A.S.S. touring members and is one of the nations foremost antique lure collectors, heard about the fish, tracked the guy down and got most of the story. The fisherman wanted to return the fish alive back to the lake but it did not survive. Whether or not anyone believes the fish exists does not matter. The angler who caught it would prefer no one knew. The fact is it is real and more will be caught.
Now that confirms it's BS. What bass fisherman wouldn't want their name in the record books. Supposedly wants to "keep it a secret" yet guy's friend posts it on Facebook. The numbers are reversed, it's not 11-7, it may be believable at 7-11 but would even doubt that given the way things are falling out.
Alonerankin2 reply :
So, who is this so called B.A.S.S touring member ghost?
Humm, a guy with a subscription to Bassmaster magazine ?
There is no Evidence to support this story....
Please Reexamine A-Jays Pictorial.....
Scott F reply :
On 8/8/2014 at 1:01 AM, fishindad said:Now that confirms it's BS. What bass fisherman wouldn't want their name in the record books. Supposedly wants to "keep it a secret" yet guy's friend posts it on Facebook. The numbers are reversed, it's not 11-7, it may be believable at 7-11 but would even doubt that given the way things are falling out.
This fish I was talking about is not the fish that this thread is about. 2 different guys. My point was that there are 10 pound smallies swimming in the Great Lakes and just because they aren't all publicized doesn't mean they don't exist. Although you may not believe it, to some people, there are more important things than having your name in a record book. If you had a spot that was not often fished by bass fishermen and found a consistent pattern where you could catch bass much larger than normal would you want a lot of other boats especially guide boats, hammering it day after day? The Great Lakes have a lot of water where bass fishing is seldom done and a lot of places not yet discovered by the general public. Many say there are no "secret" spots. But there are still some places that are almost a secret and those that know them want to keep it that way as long as possible.
roadwarrior reply :
On 8/8/2014 at 1:22 AM, Scott F said:My point was that there are 10 pound smallies swimming in the Great Lakes...
Well, maybe, but there is no evidence of that being the case. This is the main reason northern lakes, especially the Great Lakes
have no legitimate chance of ever claiming the World Record. In order to catch something greater than 11-15 requires a population
of bass that are double digit. With a population of some 10's, one mutant might break out or just have a HUGE breakfast!
http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/smallmouth_record.html
Here in the Mid South we have a DD on rare occasion. My recently deceased partner caught one which I netted and weighed. Holding
this monster is something I will never forget. A few years later I brought one to the boat which my friend agreed was SUBSTANCIALLY
larger than his 10.
http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/68635-huge-disappointment/
KevO reply :
I don't buy it. nice fish but not a 11#.
fishindad reply :
On 8/8/2014 at 1:22 AM, Scott F said:This fish I was talking about is not the fish that this thread is about. 2 different guys. My point was that there are 10 pound smallies swimming in the Great Lakes and just because they aren't all publicized doesn't mean they don't exist. Although you may not believe it, to some people, there are more important things than having your name in a record book. If you had a spot that was not often fished by bass fishermen and found a consistent pattern where you could catch bass much larger than normal would you want a lot of other boats especially guide boats, hammering it day after day? The Great Lakes have a lot of water where bass fishing is seldom done and a lot of places not yet discovered by the general public. Many say there are no "secret" spots. But there are still some places that are almost a secret and those that know them want to keep it that way as long as possible.
And you know this for a fact? The last "close to 10 lb SM" out of the Great Lakes (and I'll include LSC, St Clair River, and Detroit River) was caught by Randy VanDam in Erie on a jigging spoon. Close, but not a 10. But you have verified proof that there are 10 lbers swimming around. I live a hour from Erie's Western basin and Lake St. Clair and aforementioned rivers connecting Huron and Erie. With not only all the BASS and FLW tourneys held on those waters, as well as the best Erie anglers (Clapper, Balog, Dobson, Snyder, etc.) fishing Erie 1000's of hours a year, you have to believe someone would have brought a double digit smallie to the scales. But you state you know for a fact there are 10s. Whatever dude.
As Kent alludes to, the lakes further South have a longer growing season and are more likely to produce 10 lbers, as evidenced by the record books - actual verified catches. Just because someone lands a state record doesn't mean they give up their spot! No one has ever done that. Just state what lake and what lure you caught it on and that's that. Don't recall anyone's recent record bass giving up GPS coordinates. It's possible there's spots on Lake Superior that no sane boater would try to get to in the Spring (when chances are greatest for any fish species - prespawn- to weigh the most) in rough Midwest weather. But trust me, there's no secret spots on Erie, as big as it is. Just spots most (not all) won't venture out to.
Scott F reply :
It wasn't on Lake Erie. I can't produce verified proof. That was the point of the guy who wants to remain anonymous. I trust the person who spoke to the DNR and the fisherman who caught the fish. As to the guy's paranoia about being so secret, that's his issue.
The South does have longer growing seasons but Northern fish live longer. Bass populations on the Great Lakes are really taking off with warmer water temps, and invasive species like gobies. Even quagga muscles and zebra muscles have helped by clearing up the water which helps sight feeders like smallmouth. It could easily take 15 years for them to reach maximum size. There are more big bass being caught than ever before like this 8.45 pound smallie caught in the Sturgeon Bay Open last year. By the picture alone, how many think it weighs almost 8 and a half pounds? It was weighed in the tournament.
.
As someone who lives near and fishes around the Great Lakes, I've been watching and waiting for more of these truly big bass to show up in tournaments and on the web. More and more good fishermen are targeting big bronze so it's just a matter of time before more fish like the one that is the subject of this thread show up.
I have no reason to doubt the size of the fish that was in the first post of this thread. I can't tell from just a picture what a fish weighs and won't call someone a liar. I think huge smallies are a very real possibility. Even if that fish isn't over 11, it still is really big. Keep watching. Records will be falling in the next few years.
Dwight Hottle reply :
Well since we haven't heard anything further to substantiate the claim I guess it is bogus. Nice fish but doesn't look like a double digit to me.
MarkH024 reply :
It's a big smallie but no way the weight claimed. The guy IS holding the fish out towards the camera as well so lets not be fooled by that either. He's not pushing it out as some do but he's still holding a good distance from his body and that camera is very close to him. You can tell by his hand holding the fish. Awesome catch regardless and I am envious. The only way its 11lbs+ is if he stuffed its belly with a handful of 2.5 oz tungstens.
bowhunter63 reply :
It's a good one for sure
slonezp reply :
On 8/6/2014 at 11:03 AM, EvanT123 said:Maybe I've been watching Monster Fish too much
is it impossible for an 10-11lb fish being caught out of those waters?
I'm not saying that one is. It looks freaking huge to me but I'm no fish weight expert.
Maybe. Maybe not. The food is there. Are the genes? I don't know. I think the slow growth rate is the biggest factor in why a DD smallie is a rarity in the Great Lakes.
slonezp reply :
Hey Dwight. Is it or is it not 14" 
Dwight Hottle reply :
.On 8/11/2014 at 9:33 AM, slonezp said:Hey Dwight. Is it or is it not 14"
Looks legit to me. Besides why would I ever doubt you.
slonezp reply :
On 8/11/2014 at 10:00 AM, Dwight Hottle said:.
Looks legit to me. Besides why would I ever doubt you.
Didn't even hit the mark. That's a Door County bass. Full of gobies I presume. Was 13" and twice the weight of any 13" largemouth. 
Dwight Hottle reply :
Well you were holding it out so far in front of your body and the camera was so close and you were using a fish eye lens and I will always give you an inch before calling foul. Heck I might even give you a pound but not 2-4 lbs.
Zach Dunham reply :
If you go back and look at the comments on the Facebook post, this one guy pried a whole bunch of info out of the person who posted the picture and then went and called any places the guy told him they had it checked, and none of the places knew anything about it. It is obviously fake. This is almost as bad as the Joseph Zajko thing I posted a few years back when he kept claiming he had caught a whole bunch of 7+ lb smallies in a small PA reservoir but had no pictures and no witnesses.
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