@N Florida Mike got a 7 lber the other day……

I think I will have yall beat when a drum becomes the same as a smallmouth bass. They are evolving closer and closer all the time……..

@ TnRiver46 Live bait fish catches don’t count, A-Jay said artificials only.

PSA —although not directly addressed in the OP 'rules' section,

Feeding a bass any number of spark plugs before the weighing process is highly discouraged.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Signed, The Management.

A-Jay

Come on somebody catch a fish - it’s time y’all! (I’m talking to me 😭)

2 hours ago, Pat Brown said:

Come on somebody catch a fish - it’s time y’all! (I’m talking to me 😭)

I wish! It finally snowed here this week. I give it about a month or less and I should be good to go.

2 minutes ago, Rockhopper said:

I wish! It finally snowed here this week. I give it about a month or less and I should be good to go.

After last year's performance, we're all keeping an eye on you.

Could it be The Redemption Tour or more Steamed green pees. 🤢

Time will tell . . . . .

A-Jay

Just now, A-Jay said:

After last year's performance, we're all keeping an eye on you.

Could it be The Redemption Tour or more Steamed green pees. 🤢

Time will tell . . . . .

A-Jay

Fingers crossed! I am prepared and ready with the big baits to get it done. It might be a long shot, but my goal has now become to catch the next Washington State record. I got close last year. It will probably not happen in my lifetime, but that is my goal. And no, I will not submit the fish for the record books. Catch, pic, release, repeat.

13 minutes ago, Rockhopper said:

Fingers crossed! I am prepared and ready with the big baits to get it done. It might be a long shot, but my goal has now become to catch the next Washington State record. I got close last year. It will probably not happen in my lifetime, but that is my goal. And no, I will not submit the fish for the record books. Catch, pic, release, repeat.

I smell what you're cookin'.

You obviously have access to the right type of bass.

Just don't forget to get an unofficial weight for the rest of us hacks.

Good Luck

A-Jay

Sushi

On 1/2/2026 at 9:26 AM, TnRiver46 said:

4 oz / 15 lbs 2 oz =0.0333 x 100 = 3.33

Heck I'm shot down already if I get to TN this year.

I have a better shot there than the bogus IL record LM

On 2/18/2026 at 5:32 AM, Dwight Hottle said:

@ TnRiver46 Live bait fish catches don’t count, A-Jay said artificials only.

How come live bait catches don't count? Wasn't the world record in Japan caught on a live bluegill?

@Harold H - his made up game so his made up rules! Simple as.

1 minute ago, casts_by_fly said:

@Harold H - his made up game so his made up rules! Simple as.

I feel that, set your own standards

9 hours ago, Harold H said:

How come live bait catches don't count? Wasn't the world record in Japan caught on a live bluegill?

Initially last year I just brought back what had been done in the past.

But thinking about it, this forum is mostly gear to artifical presentations. Not that I have anything against live bait. Pretty sure we all grew up doing it. However here and now, and when we break it down, it's sort of apples and oranges. So for now, we'll stick with what we're got.

And there's nothing that says you can't start a live bait mater anglers thread.

Have fun

A-Jay

10 hours ago, Harold H said:

How come live bait catches don't count? Wasn't the world record in Japan caught on a live bluegill?

Also, we're 50 states here. So we have a bunch of differing rules on the use of live bait too. What might be ok in one isn't in another.

Whereas every state allows the use of artificial lures which tends to even the playing field.

I would be on the board with a 6.5 to 7 lmb after the weekend but I don't have a scale yet 🤣

Big swimbaits are rad. Just saying.

6.15/15.87 = 0.3875 x 100 = 38.75

This fish won me a free year of fishing and got me another ticket to the big fish battle in spring 2027!

Big fish battle for last years submission is 19 days from now. I’m excited!

Cottage cheese is one of my nemesis.

Scale can't get here fast enough. ☹️

20 minutes ago, Rockhopper said:

Scale can't get here fast enough. ☹️

That ain't no steamed green peas!

A-Jay

I hooked into an absolute UNIT on Saturday on a chad shad, but she threw the bait as I went to boat her. I was so defeated. Safe to say that was a 10 +.

I also missed one that for sure was over 8 that was all agitated with my cricket but only wanted to grab it by the tails - in a big fish tournament where 6.2 won 😭😭😭. Also pretty bummed @Rockhopper ! But hey - spring is really just getting started 😎👍

Lots of unstable weather here. I am catching fish but nothing big enough to brag about so far. One day just a week ago we were at 10 degrees and 4 days later we reached 93. We just came out of the 80s and today the lows were around freezing and the highs are in the 50s. The next few days will be more seasonal temperatures but I will be out of town visiting my youngest daughter and my sister. Later in the week we will be back in the 80s and then back down to lows around 30. Surface water temperatures on a 200 to 300 acre lake I fish are running 46 to 49 and 7190 acre Smithville Lake is around 48 -49. I am hoping when I get back things will be more stable.

Trout I suppose, stuff just taste awful.

My likely one and done entry, 3.26/4.44x100=73.423

Spots don’t get very big in Kansas, so catching a 3lb spot is about the same as catching a 9lb largemouth or 5lb smallmouth here.

@Bluebasser86 Nice work! I didn't realize Kansas spotted bass record was only 4.44 lbs. I also see it was set in 1977 so it has stood for some time.

1 hour ago, senile1 said:

@Bluebasser86 Nice work! I didn't realize Kansas spotted bass record was only 4.44 lbs. I also see it was set in 1977 so it has stood for some time.

Yeah, I’d be surprised if that fish was actually a spotted bass either but it’s the standing record for now. I caught one that was just shy of 4 years ago, but this one is probably my second largest from Kansas. Not an impressive fish in a lot of states for a spot, but it’s a great one here