Matt Fly

All the lists I find does not match mattlures. Matt, what is your source for top 25 bass?

Some of cal. 20+ fish have been caught twice. Numbers look better than they are. We have also had some of the same fish caught in tx in the top 50. Triton Mike, if your contact told you no fish have been caught over 15+ in the last 7-8 yrs, he's wrong, way off course on that info.

Haven't found a site yet for this one. In 1997, a 20.5lb was found dead on Fork. A replica of her is also at the marinas. My amigo must be on our forum or just reading, cause he emailed me the senko info on sharelunker #398 and also added the note on the 20.5lber. Did post on the 19 and 26 found dead though.

Welcome to forum. Its tops among the info shared. Matt

Latest Emails said it was caught in the Little Caney area, that is the middle creek that splits the fork down by the dam, the same area the state record was caught. My amigo that keeps his ear to the ground is from Fork, and works at the Bass Lantern, the Minnow Bucket resturant.

I have buddy flying in from Mass. Friday, we'll be on water all weekend. Sole purpose was to come back and fish Fork again. He lined up Rick Carter for a guide I believe. Rick has been running a BassCat also.

I just read that Randy Oldfield said this was caught on a senko, but heard another report that is was homemade custom brown jig. Want know until TPW posts story, It showed up at 4pm yesterday at the marina, and if I had a monster fish in my livewell, I'm gone to the nearest certified scale......ASAP!!!!!

Zimmy, you guys gonna be in from Chicago this thursday, tommorrow?

Last summer, night fishing, guide Randy Oldfield caught a 15+ on a standard black and blue jig in 5ft of water in Glade Creek. That wasn't publized, but if you know Randy, he launches exclusively out of Coffee Creek, and 95% of his night clients fish in Glade. It would have put him in the top 25, so the fish was around 15.7. pictures are posted at the Minnow Bucket of this fish also.

We aren't doing anything in Texas to alter genetics. This female will go to the hatchery, she will be placed with a male that has good genetics its self to lay eggs in a controlled enviroment. DNA samples will be recorded. In 20 years, they will be able to tell that one of her offspring has become a sharelunker also, we hope so. A fully mature female can lay up to 50,000 eggs. Only a handful will turn out to have the right genes out of her spawn. It was once explained that you can line up all the 50,000 6'8" guys in Texas, it doesn't mean all of them can play basketball. Its misleading to think that 50,000 eggs will become sharelunkers, only a handful will have the right gene, the dominant eggs. Or, theres always runts in the litter even though parents are well papered. Some of these fish don't make it to the hatchery, its sad, but we the fishermen in Tx have been reaping the rewards of the program for 20 yrs. We didn't have a record over 13lbs until the research started. You want a shot a double digit bass, contact your state authorities, compile the fishing data on license sales and economy generated, and the boost to the economy from having a program like the share lunker program. Thats how it got started. We spend x amount of dollars on fishing in TX. Some of it should be used to boost the fishing even more. Alas, Lake Fork, generates 30 million a year by itself. KU can attest to what Fork did for him, his personal best of over 10 lbs. I hope the rest of you coming can also leave with their personal best. One fishermen trying to get state programs started is one voice, but with us all on the same side or same team, we have a loud voice to be heard. If Ca. had an active program, bass stocking program, she would have eclipsed the WR already, let me say if TX had those waters, we would be knocking the door down. Ca. does not actively stock F-1's, they merely allow the fish to reproduce on their own.

It hasn't been officially posted yet, but #398 has been caught from Fork. Come on guys, don't this fish look bigger, a camera does wonders in different angles, although 15.27 is huge. OOPS!!!! TPWD said 15.5, my bust, don't want to take nothing away from that mamoth she-pig. TPWD Press Release LAKE FORK SPEAKS WITH 15.5-POUND LARGEMOUTH: BUDWEISER SHARELUNKER NO. 398 ATHENS, TexasTo paraphrase a line from a bad mystery novel, Lake Fork has been quiettoo quiet. While lakes from Conroe to Casa Blanca produced six entries in the Budweiser ShareLunker program, the all-time leading producer of trophy largemouth bass was mute. Fork broke its silence Tuesday, when Billy Pfeil of Alba pulled a 15.5-pound largemouthBudweiser ShareLunker No. 398from the lake. The huge fish was 25.25 inches long and 23.5 inches around. It was the 19th largest Budweiser ShareLunker entry from Lake Fork and the 24th largest fish entered into the program. Not since Jim Harrell caught a 16.12-pound fish from Lake Fork on March 22, 2002, has the lake produced so large an entry. Pfeil was fishing in 12 feet of water using a black-and-blue 5-inch Senko when the fish took it at 2:30 in the afternoon. The angler who catches the 400th lunker will receive a prize package that includes $400 per pound of weight. That fish must be turned over to TPWD alive; for tips on caring for lunkers until pickup, go to http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/visitorcenters/tffc/budsharelunker/rules/'>http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/visitorcenters/tffc/budsharelunker/rules/ Anglers fishing from the bank or from a boat with no livewell should pay special attention to this information. Anglers legally catching a 13-pound or bigger largemouth bass in Texas waters may enter it into the ShareLunker program by calling David Campbell at (903) 681-0550 or by paging him at (888) 784-0600. For information on the Budweiser ShareLunker program, including current and previous season records, go to http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/visitorcenters/tffc/budsharelunker/ The Budweiser ShareLunker program is made possible through support from Anheuser-Busch, Inc. Since 1991, Anheuser-Busch, in partnership with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, has contributed millions of dollars in funding to support conservation causes and fishing, hunting and outdoor recreation programs in Texas.

Didn't say you did, the second part is my opinion, not aimed at any body, chill dude.

I didn't insinuate anything, you made this comment! Again read all the posts, even yours. you can't remember the last one you saw. If your on the water enough, you see dead fish of all species, now this didn't say every trip or every day. I mentioned a virus and you insinuate every day, Why would anybody want a record that has holes in it? It is recognized, the mark has been set, the next record won't have holes in the story and half the country debating it, and it won't come from Georgia again. Sorry, I don't believe the record bass is 4 pounds larger than the next reported bass. I do except the record because thousands of people have challenged it with no results, it stands. Don't have to believe it, just surpass it. How many people flock to Georgia to fish for the next record? How many times does Georgia get mentioned as a place the next record will come from? Its not just me, I think every one had the chance to mention Georgia in their posts, how many did. That shows the confidence that we have in the state that produced that record. We may not say it, because it won't change nothing.

http://www.forbes.com/sport/2005/03/28/cz_mb_0328sport.html This one found dead is a little more than 20 lbs.

Trap, it was a virus (LMBV)that hit many lakes. If you keep up with fishing and do some research, you might not come off with a knee jerk answer. But I hope you stick to your gut feelings and stay clear of Fork. Read a little closer and you'll see my comment wasn't towards you as much as it was to my fellow Texan. Trout are nice, I think its only 5% of the equation, genes and warmer climate should get more credit than trout, not to mention the depths that those bass reside in year around, present problems to the angler who are normally bank beaters.

http://www.lakeforktexas.com/Pages/fq.html one source of the 19 lber found floating.

If that fish was caught or hooked deep in the summer and fought hard but got off, the bladder might be the reason the fish floated. If you never seen fish float dead, you must not get out on the water vary much. The fish kill, LMBV had thousands floating.

I witnessed a hundreds of trout stockings in Cali, never saw the feeding frenzy you described, did see thousands of commorants eating half of what is delivered every time. Don't you remember seeing the trucks with shot guns shooting into the air to scare the commorants away. Works for short period. Can some answer why Norther Cal, who recieves more trout in the streams, river and lakes up north doesn't produce theses killer bass, after all, every one is blaming the trout for the enormous growth. Why?

We have stocked yellow bass aka bar fish in Fork, and I haven't seen a bass turn down too many crappie which also are high in protien, its a moog point in my books. I have seen replicas in various marinas of the so called dead 20 lbers. I have every TX fish and Game for a long long time, so many articles in this mag. Current issue talked about Mexico and Mr. Perry's record. Article said that wr bass could have been Florida or Native, know body can say, the area he caught his fish is know to have both. I will post web site for the 19lber found floating, haven't found the 20lber site yet.

Welcome to the site, advice won't cost you $1000.00, it free.

I wouldn't call it migration or an illusion. It depends on the pressure that comes from the front. If the pressure falls enough, fish will adjust due to bladder pressure by moving 2 inches deeper or 3 ft or more. The only time most of us have experienced this feeling is when we've flown, feel the pressure on our ears, this pressure is felt on the bass bladder. They will adjust accordingly to the pressure they feel, no matter if the water temp dropped 1 or 10 degrees. A bass can be staged in 7 ft of water and go deeper to 9ft, its not an illusion, or a migration, if no drop offs are in the immediate area, a bass may move out far enough to drop two feet, or their comfort zone at that time, if a bass was suspended in 7ft of water on a tree, she may just drop in the water column 2 ft to 9ft. Colder water temps may drive their metabolism and feeding habits, but falling barometer pressures positions fish vertical and horizontal. How much depends on how severe the front is.

I'd have to say East Texas, 50 lakes within 200 mile radius. Gambling in La. BASS and FLW Tourneys in La. and Tx. 10 team trails with entries of 75.00 upto $260.oo, Any of those 50 lakes could produce a 13+ bass. Every style of fishing available. Central fly zone for geese and ducks, outstanding turkey and deer populations in TX. Pro sports teams, hockey, baseball, football, and basket ball. 3 bass pro shops, soon to be 4 within hours apart. 1 in Shreeveport, Houston, DFW, and soon to be another in Dallas. Close to Mexican bass waters. Dozens of theme parks, camping, no state income tax. And for the salt water anglers, the gulf of Mexico and some of the best spec trout and red fishing.

When on Fork, I try to be seen at numerous marinas, I give my business to lots of owners. Not trying to be seen or boast about catches, but maybe learning a tid bit, a morsel of info where some of the better ones have been. People have a tendency to give more info to those they know or think they know. The last thing I want to do is drill some owner for having a replica of a dead bass and a sign that said " 20 lber found floating dead". I am already seeking info and the last thing I want to do is drill the owner with 20 questions, Was that scale certified, who originally found it. Why did it die? What marina weighed it? Do you really think it weighed 20lbs? What was the measurements? Theres a replica at Mustang resort of the dead 20lber. Does it make it so? Don't care, because I like to believe theres one out there with my name on it. And you guys are raining on my parade, LOL One thing that separates a lot of big bass being caught is live bait. Most of the original trophy hunters used crawldads in Cali, #1 bait. Don't care what they say, I know what I saw every time I went fishing. Most bass fishermen turn up their lip to livebait fishermen. Since I grew up with a cane pole and worms, I don't care if you are carp fishing and caught the world record bass. If its legal catch, its legal. How many 20 lbers are there out there? Artificial or live, the odds of catching one is astronomical. The records attest to that. The right climate, forage base, and the right location will grow the largest bass. Mexico has partnered with Tx biologists for the past years trying to raise bigger bass. They have less pressured waters, Tilapia for a food source, restricted harvest and restricted season lengths, anotherwords, they protect bass with all means. Like deer season, its not an open season year around on bass. Mexico has seen an interest in Mexican bass fishing, the amount of money it brings in. Money being spent in Mexico has stepped up that program.

Rattletrap, You don't know squat, Cali doesn't have any programs in place for Bass. If you know of some, please post them. What human help? What facts? Cali stock trout in the winter for everday people to catch. IE.....they make alot of money off of park use fees and fishing permits each time you go, not like in my state, you only need a fishing license once. In So Cal., every time you go fishing, you need a day use permit, fishing permit, and a ramp fee if launching a boat. What are the bass eating in the spring, summer, and early fall? Not stocked trout. Only the ones that survived, and most of them averaged a half pound when stocked have grown. So that would eliminate some bass that feed on trout. Those that do survive (trout)go as deep as 70 ft to escape summer temps and that means those super bass would be living that deep also which I don't find hard to believe, cause in the winter we would fish 50ft deep on a regular basis. Those are the facts!!!!!!! And the fact is, yours don't add up.

You take away the mild winter in Ca and you don't get the growth. Plain and simple. Northern Ca has colder winters compared to mild climate 365 days in So. Ca. and you don't see big bass that are fed trout coming from the Norther Ca. lakes. Why? Same trout and F-1? The Climate!!~!!!! The trout don't hurt, but thats small potatoes compared to the warmer water temps. Can't say I've read about the 20 lbers floating dead on Fork, but replicas at various marinas boast such size found dead on the water. Don't care who thinks what about the record. Yes its funny that no other bass has even come close to that size in Georgia, but every body before us has had the same points mentioned and that didn't DQ the Perry record. So it stands until its broken. Just because it did not make the top 50 doesn't mean there hasn't been any caught. I know of three others over 15, A guide on Fork (Oldfield) caught one that would have put him in the top 50 last summer while night fishing, he tooks pics and released the fish. Another share lunker this year from Amistad that will be #27 on the all time list. Not to mention the 13's and 14's that don't get reported because sharelunker isn't running after April until the new season starts in Oct. Fork suffered a bad virus in 2000, killing mostly larger bass, not 1 and 2lbers but killing 7lber and up. Thousands. She is back to kicking out 10lbers on a normal basis. It will be another 3-5 years before you see the 16 and 17's kicked out to make the top 50. They are there, just not as many. Texas' Sharelunker program does nothing more than trying to pair up good genetics. It started, or helped kick off the push for catch and release. By donating a bass larger than 13 lbs, you got a free replica. It was the easiest way to get specimens donated. Has been around ever since. We may not see the world record come from Fork, kinda always thought if the lake levels could be maintained, Falcon or Amistad could grow one close because of the milder winters in South TX. Cali has 50 (approx.) bodies of water that can produce a 16+lber, how many lakes in your state have warmer climate, strong forage base, deep, deep water? Texas has approx. 16 public lakes or resorvoirs, and a number of private lakes that has yielded 15+ fish. Texas can only boast of one lake to produce 17, 18 lb fish, thats Fork. 7 different lakes with 16 +. Those aren't good odds. We have lots of waters that can produce lots of double digits, lots of 13lbers, 53 lakes with at least one sharelunker donated.