This book sounds interesting...has anyone read it? If so what did you think of it? Sounds like a great gift for the fisherman.

Sorry left this review off the first page:
From Publishers Weekly
Burke, “a devoted angler” and a Forbes staff writer, chases down the most famous characters in the years-long quest to top the world record for biggest largemouth bass, at 22 pounds, four ounces, set in 1932 by a 20-year-old Georgia farmer under now-questionable conditions. Burke admirably brings to life the people who enter into such a chase, and he finds good drama in the techniques and sacrifices necessary to pursue such a goal. Readers meet Bob Crupi, a Los Angeles cop whose single-minded pursuit of the record provides an escape from his stressful job, but also threatens his marriage and makes him a stranger to his kids. There’s also Mike Long, whom Burke calls “the best big-bass fisherman alive, period” because of the number of largemouth Long has yanked out of the waters of Southern California. Long’s fame and reputation have allowed him to cast with the likes of Robin Williams and Nick Lachey, but that fame comes at a price, as would-be record-breakers clog the lakes and ponds Long frequents, threatening to steal his big haul. Throughout, Burke sprinkles ruminations on the science and details of bass fishing, nicely sewing together a well-paced tale about “what we humans will do, what we will gain and what we are willing to sacrifice, in attempting to reach a goal.” (Mar.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
Those who think largemouth-bass fishing is a minor hobby should explain that to the 11.3 million “hard-core” bass fishers in America (those who spend at least 15 days a year fishing). Some observers compare largemouth-bass fishing today to the status of NASCAR just 10 years ago–on the verge of exploding into national awareness. Burke’s engaging, informed account of the sport, which began as an article for Forbes, explains just why bass fishing has become so popular: the proliferation of largemouth bass in lakes nationwide, their fight on the rod, and a professional circuit that supports some 500 bass fishers. There are also the fame and cash that come from landing the Big One, the record fish having been caught in 1932 at a whopping 22 pounds, 4 ounces. While Burke profiles several of the thousands of deadly serious bass fishers fixated on the record, he points to the loopy way that that fish might be caught: “Anyone could break it. Whereas you or I will never top the single-season home-run record in baseball, we could land the next world-record bass.” Alan Moores
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved



Sowbelly: The Obsessive Quest for the World Record Largemouth Bass: Monte

Intersting that you picked that book... Several years ago I received an autographed copy from Monte Burke requesting that Bassin' USA review the book. This was during a move and the book was packed away in a box of things that my former partner had. One day he dropped off this box of stuff and in it was the book and a letter from Monte. I tried reaching out to him at that time, however I got no response back. It is an interesting read, I think that Californians inparticular can relate better to its content as opposed to folks in other parts of the country. Regardless of where you live, it is still interesting to get some behind the scenes from guys like Bob Crupi, Jed Dickerson, Mike Long and Porter Hall.



There is a nice exerpt on Monte's website. I would post it here but there is a stipulation that requires for permission of its use, so here's the link:

Sowbelly Exerpt

On a side note, do you recall that 25lb. 1oz bass that Mac Wheakley illegally hooked? Not sure if you ever read this article about that bass (they named it "Dottie" because of a spot on her gill plate) well apparently it died in 2007:

World Record Bass Dies



That's an awfully big smile for someone who has been chasing that dream for so long... you think Jed Dickerson would've had a more upset look on his face knowing that his chances of breaking the world record just got that much more difficult... however if you read his comments, he said "Now I won't wake up every morning, worrying that someone else was going to catch her. It's cost me an arm and a leg, and my family has been very, very understanding through this process. I'm just totally exhausted."

I like what Mac Weakley had to say about it: "I think it's great that she didn't end up in an aquarium or on somebody's table or on a mount," he said. "It's good to see that she lived her life out and came back to visit us one last time so people can really see just how big this fish is. And now we get to share her and let other people see her."

When you look at the size of Lake Dixon, it's amazing to think how none of these guys were able to catch her the right way at the right time... and at the right weight.

You've just gotta wonder where those other sows are hiding... that's it, I'm moving to California!!! LOL (I wish)

Brendan

Nice photo Brendan! Why don't we here about fish like these in other states like Texas or Florida? I guess Largemouth just grow bigger with a rainbow trout dinner

LMH,

I think that there are areas in Cali that are just consistant year round... never too hot, never too cold for any length of time. The water temps stay at an optimal range for the activity levels of bass... if it were too cold, they wouldn't feed as often... too hot and they would burn off what they ate too quickly. Some areas in Cali are "Just Right". Now add florida strain bass and high protein trout into the mix and BINGO! At least that's my own humble opinion.

BTW - I just realized that I said "Paul Duclos" in the above post, it was not Paul's elleged 24lb bass, but Mac Wheakley's elleged 25 lb bass. I corrected the mistake in the post.

Duclos's bass was caught from Spring Lake (So. Cal) March 1, 2007. While Mac Weakley's bass was caught out of Dixon Lake (So. Cal)

Here are the photos of each fish:

PAUL DUCLOS 24 LBS



MAC WHEAKLEY 25 LBS


According to the Seattle Times the guy in the photo is not Mac Weakley, it is his friend Mike Winn: "A photo taken by Mac Weakley shows the largemouth bass he caught on March 20 being held up by his friend, Mike Winn. A fishing regulation forced Weakley to return the giant bass to the lake."


This is a really cool article: Lake Dixon Monster Bass