Paul Roberts

So...what I take from the above is: The DOW is standing by it's process -a photo and witness. Would love to see that photo and see for myself. The water in question DOES produce outsized CO bass -this is not news. And a 9.5 is up there. But I wonder how long it was. Was it 24" and square? Anyway, I guess my point is that frame size is critical to what bass can possibly weigh. And N strain LM do not get as long as floridanus, nor as long as they might in southern waters. Mebbe the 28" LM from CO is true? Mebbe it's an exaggeration? Again, the state record (weighed) was 11-4 and "only" 22.5" -a trout stuffed freak. Anyway, the myths about big bass live on, and are fun to imagine. Most (esp newb) hold leviathan stories, assumptions that there is an old monster living in the bottom of every other pond. Kindof like the myths we grew up with that some ponds are bottomless. Fun stuff, and a motivator. But, I guess the peeve that prompted this thread is: What's wrong with reality?

OK, I received some responses from the CO DOW, and from a Denver Bassmasters member with experience in the particular water the 28" LM came from in CO: My Question to DOW: There is some talk that the length record largemouth of 28" from RMA is a hoax. I would really like to know if CO has truly produced a northern largemouth bass of this remarkable length. Some say that there are no photo's of the fish. But to apply a photo and witness are required. Can anyone shed light on this remarkable fish? Paul Roberts Division: Division of Wildlife Reply: Paul, There are rules and then there's fishin' talk. We have to go by the rules and accordingly here it is. From the DOW website www.wildlife.state.co.us , Fishing, awards and records. My Question to Bassmaster member: To be eligible for entry a photo and witness are required -so there must have been one. I had heard the angler was a Denver Bassmasters member. Any ideas who he is? Is he still around to ask? I'd like to know if CO can grow bass with a 28" frame. Bassmaster's Reply: Dont know him and never herd of him? I dont know if you saw my post a couple of years ago but I had 2 fish over 7.6 out of the RMA and I was fishing next to a Guy fishing a Fly Rod and he Caught a 9.5 he weighted it on a Boga. I have seen fish pushing 10lbs and the biggest I have seen was one close to 11.0. One of the Rangers I use to know told me he knows a place every year that he see's a 13 that beds but he wont give me exact location he just said in the cattales.

John, Just to be clear: Yes there is a notable diff between smallies in current and those in lakes. Ralph's thought was that smallies are ancestrally river fish, as are spots, and he wondered if the ability of SM to pack it on was an artifact of their riverine physiology put in a lentic environment.

I don't feel bad. My ego's not (much) vested in it. I THINK I'm over that. But as I headed out for this particular pond I said myself, "I'm rarely skunked anymore". So I guess I deserve it. I was hoping to post the first nice smallies of the year, with a good story about what they were up to. When I couldn't I thought I'd post anyway lol. My best guess as to where they were? They were NOT on the shallow shelfs. They must have been deeper and I burned my time making SURE they weren't where I expected them to be, and doing some mapping. I should have parked myself where I suspected there were some fish -deeper on structure. True that.

Smallies can be square LOL -more commonly than LM it seems. Was that a Chautauqua, or Erie, fish? I started a discussion about this a while back -not sure if it was on this board. Why do smallies get SO rotund? This was true pre-goby too. I believe it was Ralph Manns who suggested it was an artifact of living in lentic (lake) waters despite their lotic (riverine) ancestry. I received some replies on the fish in my original post. Will share them later today.

Now that's modesty.

Yeah, they are in that S coastal NE belt. I assume it's a combination of water chemistry (lotsa limestone) and the Gulf Stream current's effect on inland climate. Oh yeah i modified above.

I'll accept that. (But.. 22" and 7-10?? :-? I bet it was 23+" and he measured quickly -or used my method -premax to open tail. Another thing is that muscle weighs more than fat. I caught a bass a couple years ago that was about 19" long, and thick and so muscular I was surprised by it. I decided to weigh and measure it. I was out of my tube at the time and while walking over to the tube where my scale was it twisted so strongly I lost my grip and it dropped back into the drink. It was one dense fish. Always wondered what it weighed. I also caught the heaviest weighed 19"er I've ever caught, from that same pond. A 19-1/4" that weighed 4-14. But that fish was barrel fat.

I don't believe the 7-10 weight on the first fish. At first glimpse I thought, that fish must be LONG, bc it's not THAT thick or fat. Very good condition, but not exceptional. Then I saw the post. At 22" and "good" body condition that fish would weigh about 6 to 6-4. To break 7 it would have to be fatter. To near 8 it would look like the third fish in the leader board. I also question the 2nd one, at first glimpse. Scale calibration? Excitement? BS? Or mine (and the AFS data) are off the mark?

John that first one IS massive. And it does have a floridanus look to it. It also portrays what looks like some measuring bias with the premaxillary being pulled out. But with such a fish who cares LOL. It's 28+"!! I always measure from the top (premax) to the tail tip (not folded). I could get another 1/2-inch by measuring to the lower jaw (closed). I could get another 2" or more with the lower jaw open and the tail folded. Toms point is a good one, that measuring technique matters. I like the board -mouth closed, tail open. But, I won't be hauling a board around. I suppose I should measure total length mouth closed, like in a board measure.

Paul 0, Bass 100. No litany of excuses will be offered, except to say I don't quite unnerstand this pond yet. Oh yes, I DID catch a fish -a 6" perch trolling on the way back to the put in.

You know, I kinda think it's cool that no one is asking about the number. That's one beautiful bass there. Plus, with your apparent Photoshop skills, it may only be a 2lber! OK, I will ask, since you appear keen to share.... No, more fun I won't ask; I'll guess... Using the 7" worm, I get ~23" for the bass, which would put her at about 7lbs. That's my guess.

I don't mean that N LM are rare in S CA, but that N LM that long -27"+ are rare fish -even in S CA. Will be interesting to hear from others, but I consider N LM in the N to top out at 23-24". I've heard of a couple 25ers, but those are freaks, or as you've rightfully mentioned Tom, that measuring accuracy is likely at play. Would love to know more about how long N LM can get in different areas. I've personally held a 23" (7+lb) form NYS. I've seen a 25" in the IF Master Angler awards -from MA I believe. What have you guys seen?

;D ;D ;D By gosh Daniel, you MIGHT be right. I don't see any water drops off the end of that tail. J, do you have a term for that one??

You are talking about N LM in S CA, and rare fish there to boot, I assume. In the N, top LMs hit 23 to 25" (total length) -from what I've seen. Maybe others will pipe in. The one area of the N where more LMs seem to get big, is S coastal NE -CT to NJ. The largest N LM, in it's native range, came from MA -at 15+lbs. That fish had to have a long frame.

GREAT idea.

28"??? Hmmmmm..... : Again, it would be easy to verify. If the guy caught it fair and square he would not object. But if it came from FL -he would probably decline.

I hear you and won't call you an egotist. I think I'll take a pic and let it go. Then post the pic all over and say, "I wonder what it weighed??" -bc my calibrated Chatillon scale only goes to 10lbs. Just to see it floored wold be cool. Maybe I'll post a pic of that with it. 8-)

Todd, I'm rootin' for ya'. Just don't forget us little guys after you become famous. ;D

And we have our answer. Its not bad to ask questions guys....people on here get hyper sensitive about being critical......its ok to be curious. Absolutely. No harm in asking stuff. I try not to make assumptions about people's intent, when I can't see their faces. Easy to get gunshy on computer boards too.

Dunno really. It is associated with cold water. One physiologist wondered if it was also due to exertion while being fought on hook and line. I don't think so, but have no way of getting at that, unless I can catch a bass without exerting it.

;D ;D

Awesome.

Great pic! That is one happy angler. Looks like you've got a fishing partner. Man! Those Florida bass are long! Very different looking fish from our stout northern LMs.

You would know. I never knew what it was called. Definitely not edited. Why put in the fin splits and water drop, and not do the fin rays and color? Roger, this discussion (as I'm sure you know) has nothing to do with your catch, but digital image chat for geeks LOL. Hey J, LOVE you avatar, and it's caption. Fine photo.