Pro staff,
recently another huge bass weighing 21# 7 ounces was caught in California. Do you think the world record will be broken? If so where will it come from, Florida? California, Texas? Mexico? Anywhere else? I'll give my opinion later. Johnnie Crain, Iowa

Johnnie,

Although Mexico has been giving up some monster numbers of giant bass, I still think it is going to happen in Central/Southern California. The consistent year-round mild weather and quality of the ecosystem the Cali lakes have are perfect for creating giant bass... If that bass you mentioned had eaten a 1 pound trout that day, the record was history...

Perry's record of 22 lbs, 4 oz is going to fall at some point in the future, it's just a matter of time.

I totally agree with Brendan about Californias ability to produce the next All Tackle world record largemouth. It will happen in the future. There are too many fish that are just ounces shy being caught. I think that Forida, Texas, Mexico and Cuba are all too hot to produce the record. California bass don't bake all year round like the southern fish. Add to that the trout factor.

Thanks guys, I too think California and I feel it will happen within the next two years. I hope it is a dedicated bass angler who catches it not someone fishing for whatever. A trout pattern swim bait would be my pick. Bob Crupi has a good shot at it, he has come sooooo close several times and released the second largest bass ever. I'll be rooting for him I guess. Johnnie

Interesting note about Bob Crupi. He was raised on LI in NY and happens to be my godmothers Nephew... also a CHP in Ca. possibly retired nowsmall world

I think the Official State Record here in Florida for largemouth bass is 17lbs 4oz. I heard a story of a man on the east coast of Florida, near Bradenton i believe, caught 2 Largemouth Bass over 20lbs there, one of them barely over the 20lb mark, but the other one weighed in at 21lb 12oz, but since it is unofficial, no state record for him! that would be terrible if it is true he caught those bass. 21lb 12oz isnt to far off the record i think it's 22lb 4oz right????? What was Perry's record??? a 24lb Largemouth Bass???? Let me know on that. I just wanted to share that with you guys and see if mabye you have heard that too. There have been several different people claming to have caught 20lb+ Bass, one man even said he caught it an ate it!! WOW!!

Let me know please, Thanks

Yes Cole,

Perry' record was 22 lbs, 4 oz...

Johnnie,

I also would like to see the record go to a guy like Bob Crupi... he has certainly put in the time...

Here are a couple of Bob's monsters:





Top 25 Bass of All Time
NUMBER
WEIGHT
ANGLER
DATE
LAKE

1.
22-4
George Perry
6/2/32
Montgomery Lake, GA

2.
22-01
Bob Crupi
3/12/91
Lake Castaic, CA

3.
21-12
Mike Aurjo
3/5/91
Lake Castaic, CA

4.
21-3
Ray Easley
3/4/80
Lake Castaic, CA

5.
21-0
Bob Crupi
3/9/90
Lake Castaic, CA

6.
20-15
Dave Zimerlee
6/23/73
Lake Miramar, CA

7.
20-13.7
Leo Torres
2/4/90
Lake Castaic, CA

8.
20-4
Gene Dupras
5/26/85
Lake Hodges, CA

9.
20-2
Fritz Friebel
5/19/23
Big Fish Lake, FL

10.
20-0
Phil Jay
6/21/77
Lake Miramar, CA

11.
19-10
Bruce Newsome
1/17/93
Baccarrac, Mexico

12.
19-8
Keith Gunsauls
3/1/88
Lake Miramar, CA

13.
19-3
Arden Hanline
2/15/87
Morena Lake, CA

14.
19-3
Steve Beasly
2/3/86
Lake Wohlford, CA

15.
19-1.5
Sandy Defresco
3/14/88
Lake Miramar, CA

16.
19-0.4
Danny Kadota
1/8/89
Lake Castaic, CA

17.
18-14
Keith Harper
4/7/84
Lake Isabella, CA

18.
18-13
Joe Weaver
2/5/84
Lake Isabella, CA

19.
18-12.9
Bud Wright
4/12/87
St. Johns River, FL

20.
18-12
Bob Eberly
3/9/80
Lower Otay, CA

21.
18-12
Jim Steurgeon
2/26/81
San Vicente, CA

22.
18-12
Danny Kadota
2/12/88
Lake Castaic, CA

23.
18-12
Manny Aurjo
1/25/91
Lake Castaic, CA

24.
18-11
Bill Beckum
1/15/80
Lake Castaic, CA

25.
18-10
Doug Crandall
3/1/79
San Vicente, CA



Check out some of the Monsters on this web site: www.worldrecordbass.com

Brendan,
Thanks for the great photos and info. I can't even imagine a bass that size. If I caught one like that, my partner would automatically become a millionaire, cause I'd drop dead right then and there!!

Cole, there are some great fish and even greater fish stories that come out of Florida. In this day and age I don't think anyone would eat a 20# plus bass. George Perry did eat his bass, that was back when bass were meat for the table and that's okay. My Grandfather was a great bass angler from Missouri, but he too chose to eat his fish, said that's what they're for. I have little doubt that there could be a record bass in Florida, but it's such a vast expanse it would be difficult to find. I'm really surprised Ga. doesn't have more big fish entries. I just hope who ever catches the record will realize what they have accomplished and either release the fish or have it put in a museum tank somewhere. I'm sure bass pro shop would love to have it. Thanks everyone, Johnnie

Call me crazy, but I certainly would not be surprised to see some big fish come from the Columbia river drainage in the Pacific North West. Although I believe the next number one will come from the California Delta or one of the California lakes, they are just too dominant. I often wonder how many times that fish was caught and ate! There are an awful lot of people who would never even realize what they had.

Bryan, I always thought it was too cold in the Northwest to produce giant bass. Am I wrong? I'm really surprised more of the south and mid-south states haven't stocked the Florida strain bass, it's got to be good for the economy. Arkansa has a bass over 16#, you'd think they would get involved. Mississippi and Alabama certainly have the potential too. Have to wait and see I guess, one things for sure, it won't come from Iowa, too cold and too catfish oriented. Johnnie

Johnnie, Most of the northwest major water are river systems and deep reserviors (mostly power production) and the water temps stay pretty warm even in the winter. I know of several largemouth in the 10-15 pound range, but I have not really looked in the last couple of years, who knows, I think the potential is there. The Columbia river is most likely my pick for bigger fish (I know of a 14 from the Snake River on the Idaho/Oregon border out of Brownlee Res). I still lean towards the Califonia Delta for the record fish.

Bryan, I sure like to spend some time on them rivers and lakes. You make them sound very good. Maybe someday, who knows? I feel the same way about the reord bass being caught as I did Babe Ruth's baseball record being broken. I wanted to see it happen, but then again, it would have been okay if it didn't. Luckily for me, Big Mac broke Ruth and or Maris record, and if the right person catches the record bass, I'll feel good about it. Just sorry I'm so far away from the action. If it wasn't for my wife, 2 daughters, a grandson and the whole state of Iowa, I'd just move out West. Oh well we can dream! Thanks for the reply, Johnnie.

I am like everyone else. I expect a california lake to produce the next world record.

Of course my second guess is that Johnnie Crain will break the world record from the muddy mississippi river. LOL You never know, anything is possible.

JT Bagwell

Yea thatll be my guess to ,,Jonnie will probubly catch it though at THREE MILE OR BIG CREEK in Iowa,,lol

Jeremiah and Mr. Bass,
Thanks for your vote of confidence. You've almost got me believing I can do it,"almost". You know, seriously, I really don't understand why bass don't get much larger in the ole muddy river. Some of our backwaters are deep enough and have plenty of food to allow a bass to grow, maybe they are there, but I sure can't get one over 20#, I've been under 20# a few times (way under), I really don't have the time now that I'm retired to go after the record so Jeremiah, it's all up to you and Mr. Bass. Later, Johnnie

Do u know what Perry and the other fisherman of the 20's-30's were using for bait?? I dont know how well the plastics were if any back then, i guess they were using live bait of some kind, do u guys know?

Cole, George Perry was using an old crankbait called a Wiggle Fish. Bass anglers back then relied heavily on big crankbaits and topwater lures. They needed heavy baits because of the old " knuckle buster" reels of that era. Those old reels were direct drive, no thumb bar, no push button, most didn't even have a level wind. The reel handle turned backward when cast and thus the knuckle buster name, the reel handle was hard on fingers and thumbs. Of course some used live bait. The record was taken on the crankbait. There were no plastic worms back then and they were slow to catch on after introduced, they were just too stiff and not very lifelike. Nick Creme finally made acceptable worms and then Tom Mann perfected the Jelly worms, both Creme and Mann's still make outstanding products. Keep up the good questions Cole, you're learning fast. Johnnie