On 2/28/2025 at 1:43 AM, SM_Bdawg said:

Iyo what state records are most likely to be broken 

 

24 minutes ago, webertime said:

Vermont 6lbs 13oz

 

 

IL SM record has got to be 2nd only to Vermont.  The current record is from a shore fisherman across from grant park, 7lb 3oz.  You have about 1500 sq miles of a relatively shallow portion of Lake Michigan to go hunt.

 

scott

11 hours ago, Mr. Aquarium said:

If I caught it, I’m BS’ing the place I caught it.

I think you’d be better off just keeping up your mouth shut. Signing an official state government document with a witness going along with it would be ripe for being charged with a crime. Not to mention the backlash you’d receive personally to your own reputation.

On 3/2/2025 at 8:36 AM, gim said:

I think you’d be better off just keeping up your mouth shut. Signing an official state government document with a witness going along with it would be ripe for being charged with a crime. Not to mention the backlash you’d receive personally to your own reputation.

That’s if you bring it to the state. But if you catch it do all the measurements and not bring it to the state you’ll be fine. I wouldn’t make it official but just knowing that I caught it is all I need 

The NJ LM record is 10-14.  I'm not saying it isn't going to happen, but that's a pretty big fish for the short growing season, relatively infertile waters, and abundance of fishing pressure.  If its broken, it will be from one of the lakes that is stocked with trout or has a major trout stream coming into it. 

 

The smallie record is 7-02.  I think that one is ripe for breaking.  There are a few 6+ caught every year in the state and while an extra pound is a lot, I think it's possible.  There are a few smallie lakes that have good populations of baitfish and one or two of them have relatively low fishing pressure.  I know where I'd predict it to be broken, and if it happens in the next 3 years (likely spring 26 or 27) then you heard it here first.  

Past several seasons I've landed and weighed quite a few (unofficial) state record brown bass.  Unfortunately I don't fish in any of those states.

State record smallmouth here in Michigan was recently set at 9.98 lbs.

Probably safe from me.

A-Jay 

On 2/28/2025 at 11:46 AM, gim said:

State record smallmouth in MN is 8.0 pounds even.  But it was caught way back in 1948 when no proof or witness was required.  They've re-classified it as a "historical record" now instead.

That old state record needed to get reclassified as I’m pretty certain it’s fiction. 
 

I can see how that one came about - 

It’s 1948, and a couple of guys are fishing somewhere in Northern Minnesota and one of them catches a nice one… no scale or tape measure but let’s say it’s a solid 6 pounder which is a nice fish anywhere.
 

Later that night around the campfire after a dozen Hamm’s the fish grew to at least 7 pounds… 

 

By the time they drive home and are greeted by neighbors and friends, “Oh my gosh you shoulda seen the 8 pounder that Oly caught !!”
 

Of course - no scale, and it was right “even” at 8 pounds and unknown ounces, no tape measure, no photo, probably no idea the difference between a largemouth and a smallmouth, and just a bunch of crushed Hamm’s cans as evidence… 

^one of the reasons many records are never submitted. The guy that caught the world record SMB said he wishes he had never caught it, seems like he said something to the effect of it was the worst thing that ever happened to him. 

4 hours ago, FryDog62 said:

That old state record needed to get reclassified as I’m pretty certain it’s fiction. 
 

I can see how that one came about - 

It’s 1948, and a couple of guys are fishing somewhere in Northern Minnesota and one of them catches a nice one… no scale or tape measure but let’s say it’s a solid 6 pounder which is a nice fish anywhere.
 

Later that night around the campfire after a dozen Hamm’s the fish grew to at least 7 pounds… 

 

By the time they drive home and are greeted by neighbors and friends, “Oh my gosh you shoulda seen the 8 pounder that Oly caught !!”
 

Of course - no scale, and it was right “even” at 8 pounds and unknown ounces, no tape measure, no photo, probably no idea the difference between a largemouth and a smallmouth, and just a bunch of crushed Hamm’s cans as evidence… 

Straight from the horse’s mouth 

On 3/3/2025 at 3:05 PM, casts_by_fly said:

The NJ LM record is 10-14.  I'm not saying it isn't going to happen, but that's a pretty big fish for the short growing season, relatively infertile waters, and abundance of fishing pressure.  If its broken, it will be from one of the lakes that is stocked with trout or has a major trout stream coming into it. 

 

The smallie record is 7-02.  I think that one is ripe for breaking.  There are a few 6+ caught every year in the state and while an extra pound is a lot, I think it's possible.  There are a few smallie lakes that have good populations of baitfish and one or two of them have relatively low fishing pressure.  I know where I'd predict it to be broken, and if it happens in the next 3 years (likely spring 26 or 27) then you heard it here first.  

Where ur predictions 

 

Michigan state SM record has been broken twice in the last 10 years. A 10 pounder will do it again.  My money is on @A-Jay

16 hours ago, SM_Bdawg said:

Where ur predictions 

 

I’m predicting that the lm record won’t be broken. I’m not saying where the SM might be broken, just that I wouldn’t be surprised if it is in the next 3 years. And if it is, I know the lake that will do it and why. It might be the first lake I put the boat in this year. But I’m not putting the name out into a public forum. 

25 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

I’m predicting that the lm record won’t be broken. I’m not saying where the SM might be broken, just that I wouldn’t be surprised if it is in the next 3 years. And if it is, I know the lake that will do it and why. It might be the first lake I put the boat in this year. But I’m not putting the name out into a public forum. 

So there is a Lake Menderchuck in New Jersey !

I knew it . . . . 

Fish Hard & Good Luck

😉

A-Jay

 

1 hour ago, casts_by_fly said:

I’m predicting that the lm record won’t be broken. I’m not saying where the SM might be broken, just that I wouldn’t be surprised if it is in the next 3 years. And if it is, I know the lake that will do it and why. It might be the first lake I put the boat in this year. But I’m not putting the name out into a public forum. 

Can you put the “why” part on a public forum or will that give away which lake ?

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

Can you put the “why” part on a public forum or will that give away which lake ?

It would probably give it away. 

On 2/28/2025 at 12:35 PM, gim said:

I frequently target tiger muskies in a few different lakes each season and I know for a fact I've hooked into two fish the past 3 seasons that would shatter the current C & R state record because I saw them and so did the person I was fishing with.  They both jumped and shook their heads, releasing the hook.  I know where they live though...

C&R record for tiger musky or largemouth?

2 hours ago, 10,000 lakes Bassin said:

C&R record for tiger musky or largemouth?

Tiger muskie.

 

As far as this specific thread topic goes, I have no doubt there is a state record smallmouth swimming in Mille Lacs. Way back in 2016, Brent Ehrler caught nearly a 7 pounder during the elite AOY event.
 

My only hope is that a bass angler catches it. Not a walleye angler as bycatch. We’d never hear the end of it if a walleye angler caught it on live bait.