RoLo

Randall, I'm very sorry to learn of your great loss. Lois and I have undergone a similar experience. Take some comfort in knowing that time heals all wounds. Roger

On the contrary, Castaic fell off the map in spite of the striped bass introduction. Competition from striped bass would only help to reduce numbers, which can only improve the size (numbers and size are counterproductive). The real reason is the exact same reason that every other California angel fell from grace. Whenever a species is relocated outside its natural range, the genetic vigor wanes over time. As one lake falls from grace another lake becomes the new hope. If a world record isn't broken early-on using transplants, it becomes increasingly unlikely. You can't fool Mother Nature. That is why Miramar fell off the radar screen followed by Casitas, followed by Castaic. Be patient...it's only a matter of time when Dixon and Hodges fall off the radar screen. In fact, California is marking time right now, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if California fails to achieve its mission (A miss is a mile). Roger

California's production of 20+lb bass is unique, nevertheless, California is by no means a gristmill for 20-pound bass. Over the past 33 years (1973 to 2006) California has yielded exactly 10 certified bass weighing 20 lbs or more. That's an average of one 20+ lb bass every 3.4 years. However, California's production of 20-pounders has been in decline since 1991. Fifty percent of all California's 20lb+ bass were taken in years 1990 and 1991 After 1991, Lake Miramar and Castaic Lake never produced another bass over 20 lbs. California went 10 years without a 20-pounder until Dixon Lake (the new test tube) finally ended the drought in 2001. California's last 20-pounder was yielded in 2003, also from Dixon. Roger

The first thing you want to do on any depth sounder, is turn OFF the fish icon and learn to decipher the raw signals. Roger

If the world-record largemouth bass is broken, most anglers believe it will come from California. Though it flies in the face of popular opinion, I believe that California is currently marking time. In spite of the fact that California has come within ounces, I would not be surprised if California fails to break the world record, in fact I rather expect it. Whenever a species is relocated outside its natural range, there is a tendency for the genetic vigor to wane progressively over time. If a world record isn't set early on, as it was with the spotted bass and redear sunfish, the chances grow slimmer-and-slimmer. With each passing generation the chromosomes gradually revert back to the gene pool that is indigenous to the region. As each lake fails a new lake becomes the new test tube. Lake Miramar was California's first brainchild in 1973. Lake Miramar produced many freak Florida-strain bass and for a long time. Regardless it ultimately fell off the radar screen in March of 1990, when it produced its last bass over 18.5 lbs. The next Californian lake to step under the limelight was Castaic Lake. Although Castaic Lake has received volumes of lip service, its brief life span is rarely addressed. The heyday of Castaic Lake was like a super nova star, it produced its first big bass in 1988 and its last big bass in 1991, a short three-year life span! Presently, California has no more star performers like Miramar or Castaic, where its best hope (only hope) is now Lake Dixon. In addition to the lake-to-lake hop-scotch, when we look at the whole state of California we see the same downtrend. Listed below are the time frames of the 22 heaviest largemouth bass taken in California: Taken during 1980s = 12 bass Taken during 1990s = 7 bass Taken since 2000 = 3 bass Roger

It all began in Lake Miramar, California in 1973. David Zimmerlee: 20 lb, 15 oz - June 23, 1973 Roger

Boy, I'm in your court with both feet! On more than one occasion when I was wished "luck", I anti-socially replied, "that's really not what I'm looking for". Differently put, our job as anglers is to factor out as much luck as possible. DDbasser, if you learn anything during your tournament, please fill us in. At the risk of sounding ambiguous, the Best of Luck Roger

Okay. Since your major cold front is now history, the new temperature trend should be working in your favor. (Dean Rojas set the B.A.S.S. record stringer during a warm front following a severe cold front) Regardless of the water temperature though, your bass will most likely be posturing for the traditional shallow-pattern of spring. Normally, bass in spring will be found on both the deeper staging slopes AND the sun-warmed shallows, at the same time. During a temperature downtrend it's usually better to focus on the bass on the staging slopes, but during a temperature uptrend it's always better to focus on the bass on the flats. Without a doubt, water temperature is the key to bass disposition (active / inactive), but contrary to conventional wisdom, it's not the Holy Grail for spawning. Actually water temperature is a symptom rather than a cause. I'll give you an example, here in Florida there are many waters that are 72-degrees "year-round". Obviously the spawn could not hinge on water temperature but is dictated unerringly every spring by "photoperiod", a higher power. Based on your current situation, you'd probably do well to look shallow, real shallow. The shallows are most quickly affected by water temperature change, where a monkey wrench may be a feeder creek spilling cold water caused by melted snow, but that won't last but a day or two. It's a rather complex question, so if I skirted the answer you're looking for, don't hesitate to put it out there again. Roger

The title of this thread is "Water Temp???", so barometric pressure is Off-Topic. Here's Your Illusion: As always, bass are scattered in shallow water, while simultaneously grouped on drop-offs. A mild cold-front moves in and Joe Sixpack can't buy a bass on the shallow 4-foot flat. Joe shifts his game plan to the 10-foot drop and "Voila", he makes contact!!!! Quite naturally, Joe tells all his buddies at camp that the bass have migrated from 4-ft to 10-ft of water. Since he didn't think it through, Joe fell for the illusion. Joe never knew that when he left the shallows his boat ran over dozens of bass. They were negative bass, hunkered down on the bottom. He also didn't understand that the bass he found in 10-feet of water were there all month. Nor did Joe understand that the bass on the drop were catchable today because they were insulated by a 10-foot layer of water. In fact, the bass in deep water weren't even aware that a mild cold-front had moved in. Roger

More important than the magnitude of water temperature change is the rapidity of change. A mere 2 or 3-degree drop may alter the bass's metabolism if it occurs suddenly. When bass are shutdown by falling water temperature, they don't necessarily move horizontally, but can be expected to shift their depth within the same water column. The temperature of the air however, does not have the same impact on the water temperature of deepwater. Therefore, bass that are "already" in deep water will be less affected or not affected at all by atmospheric conditions. You can imagine how this would create the illusion that the bass have migrated to deep water. Roger

You've never heard of it, because it's my own contrivance. Actually it's a spillover from my pike fishing, where it's pure murder on gator pike (over 30-inches). I cast the jig & minnow and work it by hand along the bottom. A lip-hooked minnow comes off to easy, so I hook them through the heaviest part of the skull (between the eyes). The minnow dies but that doesn't matter because I impart my own action (very slow and subtle). I hook the minnow upside-down for two reasons: 1. If you hook them in the usual way, from the bottom jaw upward, it's difficult to get the hook point to emerge through the skull exactly central between the eyes. By hooking them from the skull downward the point is inserted directly where you want it to be (top of skull and central between eyes) 2. By hooking the minnow upside-down it becomes significantly more visible to the predator because the dark underside contrasts against the sky and the light upperside constrasts against the darker lake bottom. In addition, an inverted minnow looks disoriented (an easy target). Roger

Actually it was July 9th. This is not surprising as bass are their heaviest of the year during the summer, only harder to catch. Just like plant life, winter is a slow-growth season for bass. Making matters worse, the rigors of the spawn follow on the heels of a slow-growth season. Conventional wisdom holds that a roe-filled cow is at her heaviest of the year. But fish consume the most during summer when they grow most rapidly and attain their peak annual weight. Roger

Oh yeah...I forgot to mention my other two rigs :-[ 12-ft Sea Nymph (1994) 9.9 HP Johnson (2002) ----------------------------- 10-ft Grumman Jon Boat (retention-pond special) 5-ft x 5" Wooden Caverness Oars (never once failed to start) Roger

THE WORLD-RECORD SMALLMOUTH BASS As he has did several times in the past, David Hayes traveled about 100 miles to fish for smallmouth bass in Dale Hollow Reservoir. It was a sunny morning on July 9th 1955, when Dave left the ramp at Cedar Hill Dock, Kentucky. He was trolling a model 300 Bomber in Wolf Creek, then about 10 AM as he skirted a shale point, Dave made an historical hookup. After boating a Goliath bronzeback, Mr. Hayes motored directly to the nearest weigh station at Wisdom Dock. Here the weight was recorded and witnessed at 11 lbs, 15 oz., however the scales at Wisdom Dock were not certified. Dave Hayes then returned to the put-in ramp at Center Hill Dock where certified scales were maintained. Once again the big brute tipped the scales at 11 lbs, 15 oz., confirming a new world record smallmouth bass. Dave's giant bass measured 27" in length and was estimated to be 13 years old. According to Mr. Hayes the fish was taken in Tennessee waters, but the ramp he utilized was located in Kentucky. Vying for recognition, both Tennessee and Kentucky laid claim to the same world record. In any event, David Hayes's monster smallmouth shattered the former world record by nearly 1-1/2 lbs (the former record was 10 lb, 8 oz). The previous record was taken on October 8, 1950 from Wilson Lake, Alabama just below Wheeler Dam. Now then, 41 years later in 1996, controversy began to surround Dave's bass. It seems that an old affidavit was unearthed casting doubt on the record's authenticity. Sadly, one John Barlow allegedly filed an affidavit stating that unbeknownst to David Hayes or anyone else, he salted Dave's fish at Center Hill Dock with 3 pounds of weight. The validity of his affidavit was highly suspect to say the very least. As a result of the scandal, the IGFA, the Freshwater Hall of Fame and the state of Kentucky struck the record from their record books. Closer inspection however uncovered the fact that the affidavit was never signed by Mr. Barlow, nor was it ever notarized. Then in a twist of fate, after John Barlow's death, his brother Ira Barlow stepped forwad. Ira stated that his brother John was nowhere near Cedar Hill Dock during the weigh-in. Ira moreover passed a lie detector test. He went on to say that the reason for the deposition was that his brother John had an altercation with Cedar Hill Dock and was no longer welcome there. It was furthermore learned that the weigh-in at Wisdom Dock was witnessed by Granville Madison and Oral Burtram, a Kentucky Water Police Officer. In a statement made in front of witnesses, Mr. Madison recalled the weight of the fish and the approximate time of the weigh-in at Wisdom Dock. Officer Burtram has since deceased but notes he left indicated that he witnessed the weigh-in of a smallmouth bass weighing 11 pounds 15 ounces. It's not unusual for a certified scale and uncertified scale to display similar readings, especially if the fish was kept alive most of the time. In the first place, if the bass weighed 3 additional pounds during the certified weigh-in, it had to lose a third of its body weight between the two weigh-ins, which is not possible. In the second place, how does someone infiltrate an enthusiastic crowd and insert 3 pounds of weight to the focal point without being noticed? In the third place, what would motivate a man to add weight to someone else's fish? In the fourth place, why did he subsequently come forward to confess his evil deed? In the fifth place, John Barlow did not sign the affidavit nor was it notarized. In the sixth place, after Mr. Barlow's death his own brother testified against him. He stated that his brother's deed was motivated by revenge and that he wasn't anywhere near the weigh-in station. In the seventh place, a 27 long smallmouth is commensurate to a 12-pound fish. Though it's possible to hide 3 pounds of weight in a fish that size, how do you stretch the length? As a result of the enhanced information, the Freshwater Hall of Fame and the IGFA have reinstated the smallmouth bass world record. The state of Kentucky is now reconsidering, while the state of Tennessee never wavered on the record. Roger

This record has been through the ringer and has since been reinstated. I think it was a mistake to ever question this record, I'm convinced that it's bona fide. Roger

16-ft Key Largo Center-Console (2002) 50-HP Mercury (my first and last Mercury - gonna be replaced by 75-hp Evinrude E-Tec) Magic Tilt Trailer Eagle Fishmark 240 Depth Sounder Garmin Map76 GPS Roger

I'll drink to that. I own an Eagle Fishmark 240 (year 2002). It's a real nice unit and I have no complaints. Roger

Smallmouth bass float my boat. I prefer the pre-spawn season, by far. Among my favorite lures are the 1/8oz hair jig & rind and a lightweight jig with a 3-1/2" chartreuse grub. For the footballs, I like a big hair jig and skull-hooked upside-down minnow (spottail shiner or skipjack herring) Roger

Now I know where my lunch box went!

T Mike, Are there no private lakes in Japan? Roger

I have my druthers about Perry's record bass (to say the very least), but if that record is indeed factual, it would not be attributable to man's intervention. The Florida-strain bass was named after the state of Florida, but quite obviously bass do not obey political boundaries. The natural range of Florida-strain bass embraces the state of Florida as well as the southern reaches of Georgia. Further, there is a band in Georgia where the natural ranges of Florida-strain and northern-strain bass overlap and naturally interbreed. These natural cross-breeds are known as "intergrade bass". Though a hard line cannot be drawn, I've read that natural intergrades may extend as far north as Lake Chatuge, SC, but this is conjecture. Roger

There's no doubt in my mind, that the optimum latitude in other countries like Japan or even Africa, may yield the next world record bass > I well remember when "authorites" were anguishing over the next world record Brown Trout. They were torn between Scotland and Australia, but instead it was broken in Arkansas, USA :-[ Roger

I really don't believe that Mexico will ****** the world-record from United States. Mexico produces many large bass, but this is mainly due to a long growing season and relatively light fishing pressure. All the same, the primary factor for growing world-class bass is "Latitude". Northern Florida, Southern Georgia, Lake Fork, TX, Sam Rayburn, TX and South California's big bass lakes (casitas, castaic, miramar ~) all lie within the optimum latitudinal belt. Mexico however (like lake Okeechobee in Florida), lies to the south of the sweet latitude. Bass living at the southern extreme of their range, grow fast but die young. This is what biologists refer to as Thermal Burnout. To grow world-class bass you need both a fast-growth rate AND a long life span, which is only possible at the optimal latitude. North of the optimum latitude, the growing season is too short. South of the optimum latitude, the longevity of bass is too short. Roger

T Mike, The former world-record smallmouth bass (before the Dale Hollow fish in 1955) was 10 lb, 8 oz smallie taken below Wheeler Dam in the tailrace of Wilson Lake. Roger

T_Mike It's even worse than that, because both of those bass are "uncertified". Sobering but true, the largest certified Florida-strain bass ever taken in Florida weighed 17lb, 4oz. (Billy O'Berry - 17lb, 4oz - 7/6/86 - Polk County, Florida) That is to say, no certified 18-pound Florida-strain bass has ever been taken within the state of Florida! Roger