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Senior Member
http://assets.espn.go.com/winnercomm...M_20100111.pdf
20 caught in California - 8 at Castaic Lake alone
2 caught in Florida
2 caught in Japan
1 caught in Georgia
I guess we have no shot here in Ky at catching one of these but I will still take my Ky Lake and Barkley in the spring over just about every other lake.
Senior Member
Those are pretty amazing stats. I have fished Ky/Barkley and was good but never in the Spring.
I have fished Lake Kissimmee and West Lake Toho many times in Central Fl in the Spring and thats hard to beat. Of course I love to fish grass and water 5ft or less.
Not out of the question to catch several double digit fish in the same day there plus all the little ones (2-6lbs)
Senior Member
Why so many more in California than Florida?
Habitat? I would think the weather is not THAT different . . . of course Florida doesn't feed them trout. The ones in Florida were years back - why none recently?
In this area it's qood day to catch 20lbs with 5 bass much less 1 bass that weighs 20+!
I'd be happy with a 10lber!
Senior Member
Yeah Habitat, trout and water access regulations. Several of those lake in Cali that produce big fish have closed seasons or fishing restrictions of some sort...I remember reading about that but don't remember what article. Prolly in a Bassmaster mag.Originally Posted by ElectricSLT
Compare that to Florida that has little to no regulations on lakes when it comes to off season or hp restrictions.
Senior Member
For one Castaic Lake stocks Rainbow Trout. I have always said that any lake that stocks Rainbow Trout is an excellent lake to bass fish. High in protein and very slender in shape plus not much fins to cause any problems for the bass to swallow. Castaic Lakes water temps range from the 50's in the Winter to the upper 70's in the summer, deep lake and the Bass grow bigger and bigger. Would not suprise me to see the world records for both Smallmouth and Largemouth both be held in California over the next 15 years or so. I think the Rainbow Trout is the key to any lake producing huge largemouths. The lakes in Florida are not as deep and are not that great for trout to survive but in California they do well.
Miramar has 4 fish on the list, Dixon has 3 fish on the list and added to Castaic's 8, that makes 15 of the top 25 came from these 3 lakes all in California. ALL 3 stock Rainbow Trout in them, all 3 have deep clear water and there is no end in site for them to continue to produce giant Largemouth. Clear water, longer growing season, water temps that don't get drastically too cold or too hot, stocking of Rainbow Trout and you have the perfect environment for big Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass.
Senior Member
What about Laurel Lake. It is deep ,clear and they stock trout in it. Why aren't there 20lbers in there? Lol. Just foolin around. I was just wondering if their are anything but trout in those waters.
Senior Member
That is because the bass in California are "Florida Strain" bass that inherently grow larger then the regular bass. Bass are not native west of the Mississippi and the ones brought to those California lakes were Florida strain bass. Good water quality and excellent quality foods = ]v[ONSTER bass!
Senior Member
I went out to escondido cal. In 2005 to fish lake dixon. The next year after dottie was caught weighing 19.6--they stock 12 inch rainbow trout--qty 2500--per week--temps hardly get below 50 or above 85 all year round--lake size is appox 85 acres with a average depth of 85 feet deep. Went in late april and caught 100 male bass from 2-3 pds off nests--seen females but they were very hard to catch. I was over top of a nest with at least a 12 lb. Female cruising the nest. I caught the male off the nest and held it while putting my white jig back in the nest and she would not take it. I thought when i took the male off the nest she would come and protect the nest herself but she would stop then stare at the white jig and then swim off again. I would love to get back out there again. Also on the two lakes i fished you were not allowed within 100 yds of the dam--why i dont know--but you can bet them big bass notice theres no fishing pressure in that area.
Senior Member
Thanks for sharing that list. I've seen it before and it's always fun to look at and dream about catching one of those monsters.
Here's a good story related to that list. #6 on the list is Ray Easley. Easley caught a 21.2 from Casitas Lake, CA in 1980 fishing with a live craw. In 1980 I was living in Norhtern California and lived about 3 hours from Casitas. I remember cutting out a picture from a fishing mag of Ray Easley holding that big bass. I took the small picture to a local fishing seminar and he signed it for me (I still have the signed picture... LOL). After all, I was a Stren-fishing, Mann's Jelly Worm-throwing, young budding bass fisherman!
I remember Easley was showing off the mounted bass and giving out spools of Stren line. I was loving it!
Senior Member
10 of those fish were caught from 1986-1991.
Junior Member
I am a new member here. But pls visit our homepage URL through my Signature and URL Link....
Member
Let me tell you a little something about Laurel river lake Had a FLW bass tournament there this passed weekend and only 14 out of 150 co anglers caught a fish, 8 hours of hard fishing and 14 guys got a keeper and most of them only had 1 fish. that says a lot, pay out was suppose to be to 40th but Flw only had to pay 14 guys! You dont think they made any money that day do ya? And if you look at the pass tours on it they are all about the same. So if you were planing a trip to that lake save yourself the gas and go a few miles on up to cumberland youll thank me later
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