MN Sate Record Bass

[Guest]

Does anyone think the Minnesota State Record for Largemouth or smallmouth Bass will ever be broken?

The current records are:
Largemouth - 8lbs 12.5oz (Lake Tetonka?)
Smallmouth - 8lbs

Also what lakes do you think in MN have the best potential for the next record Largemouth or Smallmouth?

Here are a few that I think hold the Biggest Bass in the state.

Mille Lacs
Gull Lake Chain
Round
Minnetonka
Alexandria Chain
Whitefish Chain
Lake Vermilion
Minnewaska
And lots of other lakes with great potential
and also the Mississippi River.

I think it will be broke soon, its only a matter of time. Minnesota has a great bass fishery and it only getting better.

Also didn't some TV Host catch and release the potential state record smallmouth a couple years ago on Mille Lacs Lake? I can't remember his name. I would like to know how long that fish was?

What do you guys think?

[Mark Christianson]

I think you are talking about Tony Capras monster smallie on Mille Lacs.

I know for a fact, that the DNR has electro shocked a state record Largemouth in my favorite bassin' county.

And you have no lakes on your list in that county..... Hmmmmmmmmm. Where or where could it be????

[This message has been edited by biglakeba$$ (edited 06-16-2004).]

[Juice]

Oh yea! The records will be broken. Thats what they are there for! Most lakes that have decent bass numbers have a few Big ol' bucketmouths in them. They just have to be caught...But they still have to be tricked.. Im still thinking that the next record fish will be one out of a non-pressured lake. But im probably wrong..But it is true that Minnesota has a great bass fisheries...Just my 2 cents

[Guest]

Oh Yea, I just listed the Big obvious lake that hold Monster Bass. I didn't name the many Smaller lakes that I fish that don't receive that much pressure. One lake that I know that holds a few records has no access to it, lucky I know someone who lives on it and lets me fish it.

[Jig Master]

First of all there is no way in hell that a state record is coming out of the Alexandria chain (Le Homme Dieu), this system is a known producer of dinks. The record will also not come out of Minnetonka, a lake that is more pressured in terms of bass fishing than any other lake in the state. I predict that the next state record largemouth will come out of a southern Minnesota lake as the past two have. Fish in these lakes have a longer growing season and water that is in general more fertile.

[MedicineMan]

Don't count out the Alexandria chain. The largest Bass I've ever seen caught was caught on Lake Darling, 8 pound 4 once Largemouth. How about Rock Bass? My dad caught the unoffical state record Rock Bass out of Darling. 2 pounds 8 onces, I told him once we got to shore that he had caught the state record Rock Bass. And to that he said "Catching the state record Rock Bass is like catching the state record Carp, theres not a lot to be proud of there."

[Lunker]

As far as the records go, I wouldn't wait around to see the smallie record broken, I don't think that will happen for a long time. But I'm surprised that the largemouth hasn't been broken yet, and I figure it's a matter of time. Don't really know about which lake though, it may be little pothole nobodys heard of.

[SPUD BAR]

I may be wrong saying that it wasn't a Capra, but I'm pretty sure it was James Lindner that caught that monster smallie out of Mille Lacs a few years ago.

SPUD

[bassin]

It was Tony Capra. It was just under the 8lb mark.

Could it be green lake that you speak of??? The DNR did electroshock the state record out of there this spring.

[Ray Esboldt]

Another couple questions for all of you, would you submit the fish as the state record? Would you kill it and mount it?

I'll give my honest answers. One, I wouldn't submit it. Odds are good it would be from one of the oddball lakes or rivers I fish, and they don't need the attention. I'm not much into fibbing, so I wouldn't register it as coming from a different body of water. Two, I'm not sure I would kill the fish. No, not because it's "more valuable in the lake than on the wall" or any other self-righteous C&R b.s. I have no problem with someone hanging a big fish. I'm just not that into trophies. I would want a picture, but might toss it back. Maybe I should start carrying a camera.

------------------
Ray Esboldt

Catch-N Tackle
MarCum
Stone Legacy

[Guest]

Oh Geeze Ray, I know I would for sure. If you played your cards right, especially in this day and age of bass fishing mania, it could be a real financial windfall to the person who catches it.

I'm not above high and mighty morality if I can better my life somehow though catching and killing one fish.

Just my .02 though.

As far as waters that hold state records...
Any area of the state can produce one. Many lakes in the Brainerd, Alex, Perham, Willmar, St Cloud, Metro and southern areas could produce these fish...Diddnt that almost cover the entire state?

[huskiesplayer15]

What about glendalo state park? little pressure there only canoes? Or the bdub, but with those two though you need to get out right away, which would put too much stress on the fish making it lose weight, so I guess the potential is there, but the certification isnt? Does that make sense?
Best Fishes
Chris

[ricqik]

I say it will come out from one of the metro lakes. I've seen my share of state records cruising the shallows, problem is they don't want to bite because they also see you.

[Ray Esboldt]

Tom,

Well, you might be right about the financial gain. Though, I think it might be kind of limited in Minnesota. If you caught the world record, now you're talking something big. Then, I would even pose nude with it.

I say the state record largemouth and smallmouth both swim in Mille Lacs. But, I also think one or the other swim in quite a few lakes around the state.

------------------
Ray Esboldt

Catch-N Tackle
MarCum
Stone Legacy

[Guest]

Last fall or the fall before (2002) I saw with my own eyes, In the freezer of the One-Stop in Longville, a Smallmouth that weighed in at 7-13oz.
Taken from . . . . lake.
The record will be broken in the next few years. Maybe from that lake or Mile Lacs or Vermillion.

[bassin]

I would have to go with Mille Lacs for both. Smallmouth for obvious reasons and the largemouth get no pressure. Plus their weight to size ratio is amazing. They are really fat.

[Guest]

Ray,
You would be surprised. I know of one company offering 10k for ANY state record, not to mention local sportshows, companies, etc that endorsements could be negotiated for.

It's just like anything else, it will come down to who catches it that will make all the difference. If you can sell yourself.....

[Mark Christianson]

I need to start working out if I am ever going to be able to crank in a state record bass. Especially out of a river.
Man, I thought those 14 inch smallies fought in current.
Can you imagine an 8+ pounder????

[ChuckN]

biglakebass,
I know for a fact that the DNR sampled 2 state record bass, 2 different lakes...you know where?? These lakes are not very popular, nor large.

I'd say there's a record smallie in the same general area too....

[Guest]

I belive I have caught the state record smallmouth. It was three years ago. The day after walleye opener. I was fishing from shore for walleyes and useing a tube jig. The smallie was 24.5 inches long and full of eggs. My uncle, cousin, and brother all witnessed the fish. This fish fought like mad, it gave me 3 good runs. I was tempted to keep this fish but bass opener wasn't for two more weeks(I still wouldn't have kept it even if the season was open). We snapped 4 photos and then I released it. After releasing a bass that big I don't think I will ever keep one. Only thing is I didn't measure the girth of the fish, I was kind of stunned by the size of it and wanted to get it back into the water as soon as posible.

I have also lived on the Alex Chain for two years while I was going to school. I had alot of time on my hands to go fishing. There are alot of huge bass on the many lakes in the chain. I have seen thim and caught aa number of 20+ inchers.

That big smallie really fueled addiction for big Bass, but I don't think I will ever top that one.

[Mark Christianson]

Share the pics Joe!!!!

If you don't know how to post 'em, there are plenty of guys here willing to receive an email and post them for you.

[Trailblazin]

If I weighed mine last year,I bet it was 9-10lbs. Small Metro lake and I will get her this year!

[Jim W]

Pose nude Ray? Now your talking up my tree!LOL

Tom should share his fisherman's dipaer infomercial with us again! Unfortunately he wasn't holding a trophy!lol

I believe both State records are swimming...in numbers...in the Mississippi river. SImply too much un fished, un pressured water, with loads of hide outs and forage not to grow many many state records!

I do know of another river that could hold said fish, but it would be a one time deal.

Keeping the state record...good question.

I would most likely release it, but not after shooting several rolls of film, measuring it, weighing it etc.

If it succumbs after trying to release it....dinner time!lol No....on the wall, not the plate!

Jim W

[BigMike]

I'd love to see a MN 24.5'' smallie.. You should definitely post those pics!

I caught a 20.5'' last year that probably went 4.5 - 5.0lbs. In order to get a state record, it would AT THE LEAST have to be in the 24+ inch range.

[Guest]

I was fishing with a buddy on Lake Elmo about 17-18 years ago, and I swear he pulled a largemouth out of there that had to go all of 9 lbs. Too bad it was about a week before the bass opener. One of the biggest bass I've ever seen.

I've seen a 14 pounder caught in Texas. Talk about a monster!