What was the biggest Largemouth Bass you've ever caught?

[Planecrazy4dis]

Ever since I was a little boy growing up in New England watching Bill Dance on TV, I could only dream of catching the awe inspiring HAWG of the south, the Florida Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides floridanus), the giant cousin of our native northern largemouth subspecies. The biggest bass I ever caught was around 4 pounds tops up here in Massachusetts. We do have a few LUNKERS in New England but the're few and far between - wicked old. The winters really stunt their growth in the north. So now that I'm a dad I would love to take my son HAWG fish'n someday. Does anyone have any advice where we should go in Florida? Fish'n' in WDW property is definitely on our "to do list". What was your biggest bass caught in WDW? We would love to hear your greatest fish'n' tale even if it's not in WDW or in Florida or a bass. Thanks.

Microporterus is Greek, meaning "small fin". Salmoides is from the Greek salmo, meaning "trout", and refers to the fact that largemouth bass have been called "trout" in some southern states. Trivial but true.

 

[markb]

Here in Loiuisiana was a 2.5 pound bass, not so big, but typically I fish for Speckled Trout and Redfish here...
But the biggest Bass I EVER caught was right at 7 pounds in the disney lakes... (I'd brought my own Rattle Traps)4 of us on a guided tour took 14 fish in 55 minutes, we took the early excursion and it was AWESOME!!!! And to catch a "mule" like that in the shadows of the castle... well, if it gets any better than that, I gotta know about it!

 

[Planecrazy4dis]

WOW, 7 POUNDS!!! You're right, It doesn't get much better than that. Do you mind me asking which lake that was, and how you caught him? Thanks.

 

[markb]

Yeah...
It was funny.
Here come 4 coon'asses from Louisiana (not a cuss word, just an expression for cajuns ) all loaded up with our own plastic bait and Rattle Traps, 2 of us brought our own "ugly sticks"...

the guide kinda chuckles, but off we go... as we get there, one of our party fouls a line, and the guide is clearly thinking "ROOKIES!!!".

Well I nail a monster, and each of start nailin' mule bass, biggest we've ever caught... all of us but the guide, that is!!!!

... 14 fish later our time has "expired"... but...

but the guide keeps fishing... and fishing... and fishing... casting fast as a banshee... running to this spot and that, and we keep fishing too... But I get a little nervous because I'm paying for the trip and now we're 45 minutes over our time limit, so I ask our guide... "are we on your time... or mine?" He laughs and says "I'll be doggoned if I'm gonna let a bunch of Louisiana fella's out fish me! We fish till I lands one!!"
A few minutes later he does... and we give him a standing ovation.
It was awesome!!!
BTW, we caught all the bass, as you look off the boat dock at the Contemporary toward WL, to the left at the far bank.
Needless to say, my clients thought I was a genius, and it was as good as trip as I've ever had!!!

PS Early March, NW wind, Sunny "yellow" morning, slight haze, medium retrieve with a slow "set"... silver with red and blue rattle traps is what I worked... rattle traps seemed to be the "poison" at that time of the year.

 

[Planecrazy4dis]

Yeah...that's what I'm talking about! Thanks for the fish'n tips.

 

[markb]

That's what we were talkin' about too!!!!!