Will the world record small mouth be broken?

[TN bassmaster]

Will the world record smallie be broken ???

[A-Jay]

I'll say Yes ~ Just not today.

And personally, I expect her to be caught in Tennessee.

 @roadwarrior 

?

A-Jay

[gim]

I knew the world record smallmouth was from Tennessee, but I had to look up the details on this fish to refresh my memory.

 

The IGFA All-Tackle record for the species is 11-pounds, 15-ounces from Lake Dale Hollow in 1955 by angler David Hayes.

[Jar11591]

If you asked me a year ago I probably would have said it was possible although unlikely. Now, I believe it’s only a matter of time. 

[roadwarrior]

 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

I believe the SM and Spot records will fall much sooner than the LGM one.  

 

SM are much more vulnerable to FFS, and I think the next WR will caught because of FFS.   Lake Erie 10lb fish was caught because of it, and I expect the WR to be caught in a very similar manner.   Some savant with lots of time on the water will eventually find the one rock or boulder that she is holding on.  

[Dwight Hottle]

The giant smallmouth that David Hayes caught has stood as the record for a long time but recent catches of trophy size smallies from many different states & locations suggest that the old record is more venerable than ever before. The top 25 smallies ever caught only include 6 fish over 10 lbs that's including the recently 10.15 smallie caught in Erie waters. 

[Deleted account]

Probably.

[Reel]

Yes,

 

Probably a Great Lakes fish.  The open season is getting longer and longer.  

[Tennessee Boy]

 

[Bird]

All records are meant to be broken with few exception.

SM are so vicarious that if the record exists, it will be caught. 

[12poundbass]

12 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

I believe the SM and Spot records will fall much sooner than the LGM one.  

 

SM are much more vulnerable to FFS, and I think the next WR will caught because of FFS.   Lake Erie 10lb fish was caught because of it, and I expect the WR to be caught in a very similar manner.   Some savant with lots of time on the water will eventually find the one rock or boulder that she is holding on.  

I believe the spot record has fallen a couple times in the last decade or so out in California. I don’t remember the lake but it was producing some freaks. 

[Woody B]

I suspect a world record smallie may come from the great lakes, or great lakes area.  I'd like to see @A-Jay catch it.   The thing going against any new world record (for a well know species) is fishing pressure.  

 

 

[BigAngus752]

It already has been broken.  This topic brings up a discussion of world record vs. recorded world record.  The things that have to align perfectly to allow a record to be properly recorded are strict enough that this record, and every other fishing record, has been broken repeatedly but not recorded.  It's almost certain that a "sometimes" fisherman using a hand-me-down-rod on a small pond somewhere broke this record (and a bunch of others) and didn't have a scale or realize what he had.  Same with the "greatest (insert sport) player of all-time".  They have to be famous to be recognized. 

 

So, yes.  Someday someone will catch a bigger fish, have a scale, know what they are looking at, and know how to save it and properly certify it. 

[Dwight Hottle]

1 hour ago, BigAngus752 said:

It already has been broken.  This topic brings up a discussion of world record vs. recorded world record.  The things that have to align perfectly to allow a record to be properly recorded are strict enough that this record, and every other fishing record, has been broken repeatedly but not recorded.  It's almost certain that a "sometimes" fisherman using a hand-me-down-rod on a small pond somewhere broke this record (and a bunch of others) and didn't have a scale or realize what he had.  Same with the "greatest (insert sport) player of all-time".  They have to be famous to be recognized. 

 

So, yes.  Someday someone will catch a bigger fish, have a scale, know what they are looking at, and know how to save it and properly certify it. 

 

Do you have any evidence to substantiate your broad statement?

[TnRiver46]

Never 

[TN bassmaster]

46 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Never 

You really think so? 

[TnRiver46]

1 minute ago, TN bassmaster said:

You really think so? 

I really do. Been 70 years, I’m the leader in the clubhouse on this bet 

 

now if they started damming up rivers again tomorrow, I would change my tune. Most reservoirs peak after initial construction then slowly decline forever . Unless they drain them, then there’s another boom upon refill 

[TN bassmaster]

5 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

I really do. Been 70 years, I’m the leader in the clubhouse on this bet 

 

now if they started damming up rivers again tomorrow, I would change my tune. Most reservoirs peak after initial construction then slowly decline forever . Unless they drain them, then there’s another boom upon refill 

What about live scope and those 10s on the Great Lakes or Dale hollow with ffs ? 

[TnRiver46]

4 minutes ago, TN bassmaster said:

What about live scope and those 10s on the Great Lakes or Dale hollow with ffs ? 

10? That’s 2 lbs short……..

 

there have been 10s caught in Alabama over the years, and a few from dale hollow too. FFS doesn’t make the fish heavier. 
 

also dale hollow is being somewhat overtaken by massive largemouth 

[gim]

3 hours ago, Woody B said:

I suspect a world record smallie may come from the great lakes, or great lakes area. 

 

This would be my guess too.  Bigger water, more places to hide, and gradually warming temperatures.  Tons of food.  Not necessarily FROM one of the Great Lakes, but in the Upper Midwest.

[Buzzbaiter]

4 hours ago, 12poundbass said:

I believe the spot record has fallen a couple times in the last decade or so out in California. I don’t remember the lake but it was producing some freaks. 

On an unrelated note, I think there should be a distinction made between Alabama bass and spotted bass. It’s not really fair to compare the two fish since one grows much faster than the other.

[Drew03cmc]

Personally, yes, I believe it will. If I had to guess, it would be Cayuga, Erie or one of the TN River tailgates, Wheeler/Wilson/Pickwick, etc. Will FFS play a role? Maybe. 

[BigAngus752]

10 hours ago, Dwight Hottle said:

 

Do you have any evidence to substantiate your broad statement?

Only widely accepted statistical probabilities.  But give me a few and I'll make something up that the press will like. 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

7 hours ago, Drew03cmc said:

Personally, yes, I believe it will. If I had to guess, it would be Cayuga, Erie or one of the TN River tailgates, Wheeler/Wilson/Pickwick, etc. Will FFS play a role? Maybe. 

My money has always been on those three lakes in N Alabama, however the Erie monster made me less sure.      A 5-6lb class fish below those dams fishing threadfins is like the easy button to getting your SM PB ?