Warren County Monster

[ozark trout fisher]

Went on a short trip to the marina at an inlet of this certain lake in Warren County, I know several others on the forum live on this lake, so I thought I'd give a report. Caught several bass in the 12 to 17 inch range at the marina, and one monster, a twenty four inch largemouth, and a new personal best for me. They were caught off their bed, but all were released absolutely no worse for the wear, even the two footer, and none let their eggs go when I caught them, so I was happy about that. He fought me for about five minutes, and nearly broke my line on quite a few occasions. Caught the monster on a nightcrawler, (he didn't swallow it, so don't fret), and the rest on a Strike King Jig. Folk remember its the the spawn, so catch and release only. Well, I guess you can legally keep bass now, but I would ask you not to.

Just a question folks. How much do you think a 2 foot long bass would weigh? I didn't get a chance to weigh him before release.

[Ham]

Over six for sure. Could be seven. You really need length and girth.

[ozark trout fisher]

Over six for sure. Could be seven. You really need length and girth.

I just used a fish weight calculator, and it said it would be approximately seven pounds. I would have gotten the girth, but I thought that wrapping the tape measure around it might not have been the best thing for his release. I got a picture of him by the way, but it wasn't on a digital camera.

[ozark trout fisher]

Over six for sure. Could be seven. You really need length and girth.

I just used a fish weight calculator, and it said it would be approximately seven pounds. I would have gotten the girth, but I thought that wrapping the tape measure around it might not have been the best thing for his release. I got a picture of him by the way, but it wasn't on a digital camera.

[ozark trout fisher]

Over six for sure. Could be seven. You really need length and girth.

I just used a fish weight calculator, and it said it would be approximately seven pounds. I would have gotten the girth, but I thought that wrapping the tape measure around it might not have been the best thing for his release. I got a picture of him by the way, but it wasn't on a digital camera.

I know a 24 incher isn't too big in some of the southern lakes like Table Rock and Bull Shoals, but out of the lake I fish, its a pretty good one. I've never caught one in this particularly lake bigger than 20", and I generally consider any bass over fifteen inches a pretty good bass, even though it would just be a dink anywhere else. I used to think that all lakes were like this until I spent a couple of days on Bull Shoals.

[FRENZEL]

I would say closer to 8 if it was not spawned out.

[laker67]

Back in 83 I caught a 24 inch female, prior to spawn, that was 8.5 pounds. It was caught at Blackmore Lake in Mexico, mo. Another 23 incher went 7.25.

[Al Agnew]

My biggest MO largemouth by weight was a hair under 24 inches and weighed an even 9 pounds. Of course, it was a pre-spawn female. Biggest by length was about 26 inches, from an Ozark stream no less, estimated weight about 8.5 (caught in February).

[ohmz138]

My personal best was a 25 incher with a very healthy girth and it weighed in at 8.5 on a banana scale @ the local grocery store. You should of seen the look on the ladies' faces when I lifted that bruiser out of the cooler and wanted to stick it on the fruit scale. lol. Now thats a memory! That was a few years back. I would of released it but I didnt have a camera around to take a picture to get a replica made of it and I'll be darn if I was going to let it go without it going on my wall some way. Oh well, great looking mount though!

Look at the size of that thing compared to my head! I know its not the biggest in the world but wow what a memory.

Judging by what you guys are saying 26 and 24 inchers are weighing for you, maybe the scale I put it on was wrong huh!

[ozark trout fisher]

My biggest MO largemouth by weight was a hair under 24 inches and weighed an even 9 pounds. Of course, it was a pre-spawn female. Biggest by length was about 26 inches, from an Ozark stream no less, estimated weight about 8.5 (caught in February).

Yeah, she was all full of eggs. I'm sure glad I was using twelve pound test, or I would have lost him. I generally use four pound test mono and an ultralight for bass and trout fishing, but I figured I should use bigger line, and a medium action setup when going after the spawning females, and I'm glad I did. I was sight fishing off a dock, and man, the moment of the strike I nearly had a coronary.

It sure was hard to release that bass, but I would have just felt terrible if I'd kept him. It was such a pretty fish, and right during the spawn, it just would have gone against my conscience too much.

By the way Al Agnew, a 26 incher in an Ozark stream is nothing less than amazing. That's a true trophy.