benito

I agree - great attitude/outlook, by the way. I also agree it's probably around 8.5 or 9 pounds. My PB was also exactly same length - 24.5 inches, her head and overall shape seem similar to yours (although hard to tell from photo) Difference was mine was just about to Spawn - HUGE belly, and she weighed 9 lb, 12 oz. Hope that helps. BEN

Sorry for my ignorance - but I'm very confused by this post.... First, those don't look anything like LM Bass - what kind of fish are they? If they are LM, they're the wierdest/most unusual ones I've ever seen.... Also, don't look anything like a "PB" for Mattlures - I thought he had caught several "teen" fish? Those are good-sized fish, but don't look like that big to me...

Hey, I live in Atlanta too - curious where you usually fish around here? Anyway, like you I try to take a trip during the Spring - was also debating this year between Texas and Florida.... Ended up going to Lake Fork (Texas) in Mid-March.....Unfortunately, it was not a very good trip. Weather was great, but my 5 friends and I (in 2 boats, including a professional guide) didn't catch anything on the first day, and caught a total of 4 small bass on the 2nd day. Very, very dissapointing. I did a lot of research (especially afterward), and feel I should have gone to either Florida or somewhere else in Texas - Like Falcon/Amistad, or Choke Canyon/Sam Rayburn. Lake Fork is beautiful, and you can still catch a monster, but I think it's time has generally passed, and it gets so much pressure in the Spring that it can make for very tough fishing. To have 6 of us fly to Texas from all over the country, pay a small fortune, fish for 2 full days, and only catch 4 dinks total still hurts. Just my 2 cents... BEN

Typically, you need Weight, Length and Girth, and a couple of photos - that's it.....

8lb, 4oz.....Caught about seven or eight in the 5-7 pound range. However, the same "Monster" that I hooked/lost last year beat me again this year - on a Private Pond that I fish occasionally, there is an absolute BEAST - guessing 12-14 pounds, or even bigger (haven't ever caught one that big, so it's hard to guess) This year, in same day I saw the 8-04 and the "Beast" very close to each other, both bedding....The "Beast" was SIGNIFICANTLY bigger than the 8-04 I caught....I mean looked double the size. I got the biggun to bite once, she ran and the 65# Braided line cut on a small rock about 2 seconds later. I almost cried......She jumped a few seconds later, and haven't seen her since. TWO YEARS IN A ROW!!! Not that I'm bitter or anything....She still haunts me. BEN

I would go for Lake Fork Taxidermy, in Texas.... I live in Georgia, and last year when I caught my PB (9-12oz), I asked many people, looked at lots of Taxidermists, and finally chose Lake Fork. They were GREAT to work with, and the final product looks exactly like my fish - it's amazing. Overall quality is excellent, and it really, really looks like the original fish. Extremely pleased...... BEN

My PB - 9lb, 12 oz....Done by Lake Fork Taxidermy - VERY pleased with their work (looks better in person - without flash, and the color us more natural in person) BEN

Hey Folks- I have access to a private pond (in Alabama), about 10 acres, that was stocked over 20 years ago with pure Florida Strain LM Bass. It's pretty shallow (5-8 feet for most of it) with lots of cover along the shore. It's got tons of small bass, and then a few 6-8 pound bigguns, with not much in between.... They recently hired a company to start managing it, and have introduced Shad (threadfin) as additional forage, and have started pulling some of the tiny ones out.... My question - what should I use to try to catch the Bigguns? I've caught one 7 pounder (green pumpkin trick worm), but other than that they are almost always 1 pound or less....In the past year, I've probably caught 100 bass from there, but only a couple over 1-2 pounds. Should I try live bait? Blue-gills, shad, or even introducing live shiners (not sure if this is OK or not)? What about crank-baits or even larger swim baits? The pond is rarely fished at all, but the big ones sure seem hard to catch.... Thanks- BEN

Hey folks- I'm trying to find a website that has frequent updated fishing reports/info for Texas fishing, especially Lake Fork. I live in Georgia, but will be visiting Lake Fork in a couple of weeks. The only websites I've found only have a fishing report once every week or so - here in Georgia we have a few websites with daily updates/etc from several folks, so hoping/guessing there's something similar to follow how things are going on Lake Fork? Thanks- BEN

Hey Folks- I'm going fishing this weekend in a small (6-8 acre), shallow pond (6-8 feet deep at deepest) in Alabama. The weather has been crazy - But this weekend should be very nice/warm: -Tuesday/Wednesday, FREEZING - Temps in teens and 20's -Thursday, temp close to 50 -Friday, nice, around 60 and Sunny -This weekend, when I'll be fishing, Very nice - Sunny, around 70 My question - Will the warm temps help the bite, especially since it's so shallow? Or, will the "High-pressure/Blue-Bird Skies, right after a front" likely shut them down? Seem to get conflicting info.... My hope/guess is the warmer temps will be a good thing....Thoughts? BEN

Hey Folks- Next weekend I'm going to my in-laws pond in Alabama (air temp will be around 50-55 degrees, and it's been fairly cold last several weeks)...... It's about 5 acres, rarely fished, and only 6-8 feet deep at deepest point. They started managing it recently, and introduced threadfin shad...... I've fished it a few times, and generally it's tough to get them to bite...... As an early birthday gift, I get to fish all weekend long (no kid-duties, no wife-duties, etc....), so I want to make it count! What would y'all suggest using? Worms, flukes, spinners, Cranks, etc? I know it use to be full of smaller bass with a few 4-6 pounders, but they recently "shocked" the pond and culled many of the dinks, about 3 months ago.... Thanks- BEN

Hey Folks- Just found out I'll be in Destin, FL for a week in early April...... Can y'all suggest some lakes/ponds/etc nearby for some LM Bass fishing? Ideally, if there's a good lake and a good guide you can suggest, I'd like to spend a day or 2 going out, but I haven't ever fished for Bass down there... Thanks- BEN

Hey Folks- Trying to put together a weekend trip this March for Guntersville, and looking to get with a great guide that knows the lake well.... Can anyone make any suggestions? Thanks- BEN

Yes - LOVE Varner - it's my favorite lake....Have been lucky enough to go with Randall Kirkpatrick (guide known for Trophy Bass), and it's been amazing each time. In fact, my PB of 9-10 was on my first trip with Randall.... I hope/plan on taking a few "personal" days this March and April to go again with Randall on Varner - he's that good.... However, for this trip, we're trying to go somewhere we've never been before - it's my one weekend "getaway" for my Birthday, away from kids/wife/job/etc, and hoping for a change of scenery. Thanks, though - You're right on about that lake..... BEN

Hey Folks- I live in Atlanta, GA, but am putting together a guys-weekend trip for this March. We're trying to go somewhere we haven't been.... We're looking at different places across the country to go for a long weekend - We're hoping for both size (hoping for a trophy or 2) as well as good numbers of LM Bass..... We're considering: 1) Lake Fork, TX 2) Florida (Stick Marsh? Kissimme?) 3) Guntersville, AL? 4) Dream Lake, AL? Others? We're trying to go somewhere we haven't been, and would prefer to stay somewher in the Southeast/Southwest (California/Mexico would be too far and too expensive....) Would love any input/suggestions. Thanks- BEN

Hey Folks- I live in Atlanta, but am putting together a guys-weekend trip in March somewhere in the Southeast (my friends will be flying from across country) Am hoping to go for some big bass, with good chances at catching more than one or two as well (I'm obsessed with catching Trophy Bass, but my friends are more interested in numbers.) Where should we go? Ideally, it should be within an hour or 2 of a major airport......And we'll be getting a guide for at least first day. We're looking at: 1) Lake Fork, TX 2) Somewhere in Florida (Stick Marsh, Okeechobee, near Orlando, etc -) 3) Dream Lake, AL 4) Guntersville, AL Have not been to any of these places - Again, we'll be going sometime in March, and are looking for both size and numbers of LM Bass..... Thanks! BEN

Hey Folks- I live in Atlanta, GA, but am planning a guys-fishing weekend for my Birthday in March. Friends live all across country, and we've tentatively picked Lake Fork, TX for our 2 days of fishing. Questions: 1) Haven't ever been....Is it as good as I keep hearing? We'll all be coming from very far away, and hoping for some big bass.... 2) Can y'all suggest some good guides? I've already e-mailed Tom to see if he's available - anyone else? 3) We'll be coming sometime in March (exact dates still TBD) - I know that's a busy time of year.....Is it unrealistic to think a good guide will still have a Friday/Saturday in March still available? Thanks - hoping this trip pans out.... BEN

My personal best - 9lb, 10oz......

253 LM Bass so far this year (125 days fishing - but most days it's only for an hour or 2, and almost always from the shore.....No boat yet......)

Agree with suggestion for Randall in Georgia......Go to Lake Varner during Spring-time. I've been with him several times, and he's simply great at finding the bigguns.....And he's VERY reasonably priced, about $175-$200 for a day....My PB was caught with him (9lb-110z) in April... BEN

Hey Folks- Flying this weekend, and am hoping to bring my tackle box (no knives, but would like to bring lures, worms, hooks) I'm not checking-on anything, so hoping I'll be allowed to bring this Carry-on. Do y'all know if this is allowed? Again, only bringing small/medium sized lures, hooks, and worms..... Thanks- BEN

Hey folks- I'm going to be fishing for a "Hawg" LM Bass tomorrow using live bream....I know there's a HUGE LM in the 10-12 pound range, and I'm going to try my luck..... It's a very small pond (3 acres) with lots of weed/grass growth and lots of structure/submerged trees, etc.... What type of line should I use? And, should I use a bobber/float, or no? I've got 14# floro, and 30# braid (also 8# mono, but very hesitant to use it......) Thanks- BEN

Great words on "Trophy Hunting".... I'm fairly new to fishing, but alreay am addicted/obsessed with landing the "Giants".....This is my first full year fishing for Bass - I'm fortunate that I've caught one just shy of 10 pounds (9lb 10oz) and another 7lber this year.....But it just wets my appetite..... And I can't let one out of my mind - About 3 months ago, in a very small pond, I saw a HUGE girl on bed - Significantly bigger than the nearly 10 pounder I caught earlier....Biggest Bass I've ever seen...... I spent 2 full days going after her - finally, on day 2, things were perfect - I hooked her THREE times that day, and lost her all 3 times - once line broke, once the trailer hook came off, and once she shook me loose about 3 feet from the shore....Each time, about 2-3 hours later I was able to get her to bite again (very lucky on my part), but I kept screwing it up and didn't ever land her..... I've since been back to the pond about 12-15 times, but haven't even seen her once......I had not just 1 chance, but 3 chances at her, and I failed! I think about her every day........She could have been 10, or 12, or 15+ - Not knowing is the worst part.....(Or was she 22-5? She haunts me......) The more I fish, the more I realize what a golden opportunity I let slip away....I know now what I could/should have done differently, but it's too late..... Next year! BEN

9lb, 10oz - Caught on Lake Varner, just outside Atlanta, GA

9lb, 10oz.....Thrill of a lifetime.