Bass 13 pounds? why not???

[MoCarp]

I lived in the south and was lucky to see a 14# bass alive, and several 10#s photos do not do one justice, Perhaps we will take a page out of Texas Fisheries??? if we are to better our fisheries IMHO we need to jump to genetics, 5-8# is the most realistic lunker bass anyone can expect to catch LMB, SMB could use some help as well as more slot limits, most anglers would gladly pay for a stamp for better big fish opportunities, a quick scan of social media will show plenty of folks have no problem eating 5 pound smallmouths and 8 pound LMB

a more aggressive stance on regulations, and supplemental stocking of superior genetic fish would make a difference, perhaps it time to make changes?

 

 (side note interview talks of a 15# LMB gigged in Bull-shoals)

 

 

 

https://www.news-leader.com/videos/news/local/missouri/2016/04/14/83024064/ <--Missouri Record Story

https://www.facebook.com/sharelunkerprogram/photos/a.301877830900.192448.301838055900/10155902589895901/?type=3&theater <- Texas share -a lunker

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[Chief Grey Bear]

Can't we have natural records anymore?

Do we have to artificialy enhance everything to make us feel more manly?

[Al Agnew]

(Gasp!) I agree with Chief.  While I think we could do a lot more to produce more big fish, I don't care to artificially produce them through genetic manipulation.  I'd like the fish I try to catch to be as natural as possible...either native species or species that are at least wild fish spawned in the waters where they are caught.  

[Lvn2Fish]

I knew it ! Had to throw your gigged bass in there ! 

[Touch of Class]

Pretty sure it has a lot to do with our climate of the area.  Southern states are warmer, shad spawn more often, fish are more active, eat more, which creates bigger fish.

 

[tjm]

The Ozarks being almost infertile both on land and water might have some effect. Plenty of 13#+ carp for those manly men to catch and I'm not certain I could cast a fly big enough for bass over 4# anyway.

[BilletHead]

1 hour ago, tjm said:

 I'm not certain I could cast a fly big enough for bass over 4# anyway.

          Sure you can, even a girl can

BilletHead

[Flysmallie]

I caught a 10lb bass on a 4 inch worm. 

[MoCarp]

10 hours ago, tjm said:

The Ozarks being almost infertile both on land and water might have some effect. Plenty of 13#+ carp for those manly men to catch and I'm not certain I could cast a fly big enough for bass over 4# anyway.

fertile to make world record class walleyes and brown trout so there is that

9 hours ago, Flysmallie said:

I caught a 10lb bass on a 4 inch worm. 

pics or it didn't happen😎

as far as genetic hanky panky, if you call breeding bass that have the parents to grow to double digits, then thats as natural as it gets, triploid brows not withstanding, bass over time have been breeding down because of man, big fish get taken out of the enviroment faster so there is that, if something isn't done you will remember fondly those days TR had 8-9# bass or you will smile at the 12#ers take you choice

[dan hufferd]

All the old timers ate them. When was the last time you saw a mount that said 1950 something😂