@A-Jay Thanks for the donkey pic…it never gets old.

 

Here around the Charlotte/western NC area, a big spotted or smallmouthbass would be 3 lbs, big largemouth starts at 5. Further east in Badin or Jordan lakes, there are larger populations of larger largemouths, but I don’t frequent those lakes. 
 

There’s places (Florida, Texas, parts of the Great Lakes) where there are large fish in large numbers, but across anywhere, if you catch a 5 lb bass, that’s no yearling and is a respectable fish. Don’t let anybody tell you different.

When you say “bass” what specie are you referring to; Largemouth, Smallmouth or Spotted bass?

The original In-Fishernan magazine solved this issue by dividing the States into 5 regions and based their “Lunker bass” award accordingly.

Using length in lieu of weight changes the dynamic and method of measurement comes into play. The tournament Bump Board that measures bass mouth closed up against the  Bump to end of tail in 1/4” increments is today’s standard method.

I would think a bass 18” plus would be generally accepted nearly everywhere except California, Florida and Texas you add 2” as a big LMB.

Tom

I have measurement marks on my kayak.  When I catch a big bass, I quickly measure the length.  If a bass is over 24 inches I will put it on the scale.  If it weights over 7 pounds I consider it a big bass.  25 inches and over the camera is coming out, and the bass usually will weigh over 10 pounds.  26 inches and over the fish gets weighed on two scales, and lots of pictures.

3+ for both types of bass. I catch pa couple 2 lb smallies every year, but they're always an event when I catch them. I consider those "nice" or "solid" fish. Anything bigger I would consider "big." Although, I usually go by inches. 17+ inches is big in my book for smallies. I have yet to catch one that size, as I fish small streams, ponds, and rivers. Largemouth probably have to be 20+ for me to consider it "big." Although, I'm very happy with 15+ with both species. 

Well.  I do have miniature smallmouth bass where I fish.   I think my biggest is a two pound fish.  I’d poop myself if I got a four. 

For my area, a 4+ is considered a big fish. When I was in a club  we had a lunker  pot for tournaments that had to be over 4 to take the money or it rolled over. Not unusual for it to go several months before we had a winner.

When B.A.S.S. had a “Lunker” club the minimum weight of 6 lbs to join and earn a sticker. This was back before Florida strain were not recognized and both Spotted and Smallmouth were lumped into the bass category, bass were bass!

Tom

A 17+ inch bass here is a sizable fish here in Minnesota - certainly much better than average.

 

A 20+ incher/5+ pounds is big.  Like nearing trophy caliber, for both largemouth and smallmouth versions.  Our bass take 10 years to reach that size here, quoted directly from a fisheries biologist.

 

I am lucky and fortunate to catch 3 or 4 of these northern freaks each season; and thus far, I have 3 since our season opened on May 10, all plump prespawn brown bass versions.

 

 

 

 

Where I'm fishing, a three pound bass is considered "big." 

 

I have caught exactly one bass over 5 Lbs in Nebraska. Hawg!

For me, a 5lb or 20” largemouth is what I consider a big Kansas bass.

 

For smallmouth, it’s 3lbs or 18”.

I agree with the previous North Carolina framing of over five pounds is a big LMB. Bigger ones are lurking here, but that's about the point where I send brag pictures to my buddies. 

 

I have no idea how long one would be. I only weigh my bass.

For me, and I believe where I live (North), for both largemouth and smallmouth, over 5 pound is big.

I think objectively a 5 lb fish is big because they fight harder than most 8+ lbers I've landed.

 

They seem about as smart as most 8+ lbers.

 

They stretch your 15-20 lb line to its limits just like 8+ lbers.

 

They break you off on finesse gear routinely just like 8+ lbers.

 

AND when you see them come up - that's about the size where they get your heart beat up a few ticks in a hurry.

 

I don't think it matters if you're in Mexico or Japan or Africa or California or Connecticut or Florida or Texas or Maine or Alaska.

 

A 5 lb black bass is a big black bass that has done some damage and been through some stuff and you should be proud of that catch!

In Northwest Missouri, 5 lbs is a big largemouth bass.  Over the past few years, when I have been able to fish regularly, I have caught a few 5s and 6s here and there but I haven't seen a 7 lb plus in a while.  

 

There are no smallmouth in my area, but I catch some every year at Table Rock and Stockton Lakes and 3 lbs seems to be the biggest I catch.  On the rivers of Southeast Missouri, 18 inches in length is considered a large smallmouth.  I did catch a 4 lb spotted bass in Table Rock a few years back but that is a very rare thing here.  Most of them run 1 or 2 lbs and 3 lbs is considered large.  Strangely enough, our spotted bass record of 7 lbs 8 oz is higher than our smallmouth record of 7 lbs 2 oz.

In my mental bass fishing handbook for my home state of NY, 

2-3lb = not bad or nice 

3-4lb = very nice or chunk 

4-5lb = big or tank 

5-6lb = huge 

6-7lb = monster or beast and possible domestic PB territory 

7-8lb = fish of a lifetime 

 

NY is giving up bigger bass than ever. Both the SM and LM records have fallen within the last couple years and huge specimens are being caught all over the western portion of the state and slowly making its way eastward. 
 

 

Since I posted this, NY put out another 10+ fish. 

Edited June 10, 20251 yr by Jar11591
10lber caught in NY

The state record in the state of Mississippi is over 18lbs. Believe a Largemouth Bass 10lbs. or more is considered a Big Bass. The state actively manages what are called fishing lakes to potentially produce 10lbs. and up Largemouth Bass. 

Good Fishing

https://www.mdwfp.com/fishing-boating/fish-id-guide/largemouth-bass

MInnesota's state record LMB is 8#15oz - so for me a 4# is a chunk, 5# is big and 6#+ would be huge.

SE Virginia. 

 

In most lakes I fish, 3.5-5 lbs is a "good" fish and 5+ is a "big" fish. But there are a few rivers around here where a 2 is a "good fish" and anything over 3 is "big". 

Bass don't reach Hawg status until 6#+

12 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

For me, a 5lb or 20” largemouth is what I consider a big Kansas bass.

 

For smallmouth, it’s 3lbs or 18”.

This is why I prefer length over weight. Last summer I caught my PB Largemouth: 21.75 inches. It only weighed 4+ lbs. Skinny fellow, but still a huge fish (especially considering the small urban pond I caught it in doesn't get any deeper than five feet.). 

I would say 4lbs and up is a big bass. We have some really large fish around, but in reality few are caught, except for the live shiner guides, pros, and the fortunate that fish every day.

19 hours ago, A-Jay said:

I am surrounded by mostly smallmouth waters.  I rarely even fish for LMB here, and when I do, a 3 lber is a Big Bass.

But SMB on the other hand is a different story.   Waters without gobies, a 5 lb fish is a Big Bass.  In the bigger goby 'infested' lakes, a 6 lb bronze back is a Big Bass.

Interesting to note that most Big goby fed bass aren't particularly long.  But what they lack in length,  they often make up for with crazy, doesn't seem real girth; that extends all the way through the tail.

I like those.

A-Jay

this is for @VolFan

If that bass was a person it would for sure have Cankles.

 

I'm with Pat, 5lbs around here is a nice bass. In NY a 3 was occasional and 4 I'd say was a really nice bass. Down south I've come across enough 3s and 4s the "magic" isnt the same here. 5# and up get the blood flowing more than normal. I've never measured length in my life. 

It's 19" for me. I catch a lot of lmb, so I have a real good idea of what's rare and 19-inchers are rare this far north. Sure, I've had mornings where I've caught a bag of 19-inchers or bigger, but generally, I have to catch 40 smaller bass to see one 19-incher. I'll catch three or four 18 to 18.75-inchers in the same time. Now, my 1 in 40 ratio can be skewed by the month and my focus. For example, I spent a lot of time fishing for big bass this May, so I caught 14 that were 19 inches or bigger. I'll likely do the same come October when the big girls are at the trough again. 

I think 5 and up is "big". But I keep a log of everything 3 lbs. and up. So I guess 3 lbs. is where "good one" range starts for me.

51 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

I think 5 and up is "big". But I keep a log of everything 3 lbs. and up. So I guess 3 lbs. is where "good one" range starts for me.

 

Love this idea! I've always been intimidated in terms of keeping a fishing log, but felt like it would be good to do so. Recording only the bigger ones seems super manageable. I'm going to start doing this too.