Biggest Bass Caught On Table Rock?

[Sprint21fter]

Anyone know or hear what the lake record Largemouth is? Have heard of several 10-11lbers caught over the years but never have officially found what the lake record is.

[abkeenan]

I asked this question last year or at some point in 2013 but never got a definite answer. Mike Webb caught one last year that was 11+ unofficially right by the 86 bridge drop shotting an A-Rig on the fish he saw on his graph. Biggest I've ever seen or head of to date. I am sure there are some bigger probably within the first 10-20 years of the lake being dammed up if I had to guess but I really have no idea. Would be interested what is OFFICIALLY the biggest fish and also smallie and spot as well.

[Fishin Hodge]

Spotted Bass is listed as 7 pounds 8 ounces and is the state record.

Here is a blast from the past on this one that is interesting.

I heard a rumor of a 12 pound fish being caught in the James River something like 8 or 10 years ago, but that was probably completely rumor. Anyone else hear that one?

[dtrs5kprs]

Link to the thread on Mike Webb's fish:

And to the best answer I could come up with to the question, from Dwight Keefer, who was quite the stick in the region back in the day. He believes the lake record belongs to the late Frank Fensom, info is down the line in ABK's thread:

While it might not be the overall record (or might be given scales), you would have to think Mike's fish is the "modern" record.

[dtrs5kprs]

Link to Mr. Fensom's obituary, to be complete:

http://www.examiner.net/x1621233898/Frank-Fensom

[*T*]

7lb-8oz Spot? That's quite a fish. Knew of it, but just imagining its dimensions blows me away.

On Table Rock, had two 4-15s and two 4-6s as my best on spots. And just cant break the 4lb ceiling on SM. 3 or 4 that went 3-15. TRock LM, just 6-15 for me.

I'm interested in personal bests for others at TRock ?

[Jozark]

This is a great question, and I have wondered what the TBL record largemouth was as well. I would bet the MDC would be the only source that might know and could be trusted. I would have thought the state record would have been broken in the last 10 years with either LOZ or TBL giving her up. I have heard from a MDC fisheries biologist that they had electroshocked a largemouth in TBL that would have broken the current record easily.

[Bill Babler]

This is a great question, and I have wondered what the TBL record largemouth was as well. I would bet the MDC would be the only source that might know and could be trusted. I would have thought the state record would have been broken in the last 10 years with either LOZ or TBL giving her up. I have heard from a MDC fisheries biologist that they had electroshocked a largemouth in TBL that would have broken the current record easily.

I think you may have heard wrong. I just check with one of my biologist friends and they have never shocked a fish over 8 pounds in his knowledge. I have never heard of a 12 pounder on Table Rock.

It is very hard to substantiate as most weights are unofficial as most often the fish must die. I will tell you that the biggest fish are always electro fished up the James River with Bear's Den 9 out of 10 times having the biggest fish of the year.

[dtrs5kprs]

I think you may have heard wrong. I just check with one of my biologist friends and they have never shocked a fish over 8 pounds in his knowledge. I have never heard of a 12 pounder on Table Rock.

It is very hard to substantiate as most weights are unofficial as most often the fish must die. I will tell you that the biggest fish are always electro fished up the James River with Bear's Den 9 out of 10 times having the biggest fish of the year.

Now that is interesting. Reasons why? Maybe one of the biologists could help out, but guesses would be: 1) fertility/food supply up the James, 2) shocking more effective in shallower water vs. down by the dam or along the White channel (?).

Seems like most of the big fish (bigger than 7#) we see pics of (anecdotal, obviously- the A-rig fish, float and fly fish, etc.) come more or less between Baxter and the 86 bridge, including the mouth of the James up to maybe Aunts. Places where there is lots of water, lots of depth, and multiple creeks running into the channel. My gut would be those are suspended fish/deep fish that are not susceptible to being shocked up.

[Jason Essary]

Bears den. Nothing to be caught in there. Moving on...