That's the issue facing officials at the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) and National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame this winter. READ MORE », To further elevate the sport of tournament bass fishing and align multiple circuits as one company, Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today its unification with Fishing League Worldwide (FLW) as one brand, transitioning all FLW brand assets to MLF. Then it was refilled and stocked with Florida-strain largemouth, which by the late `90s and early `00s would likely be at peak maturation age for monster bass. But when she pulled back, her line just started screaming out of her reel. Mac Weakley “foul-hooked” a huge bass that weighed 25 pounds, one ounce on Lake Dixon, California. Largemouth bass are the fish of choice here. Claimed by many to be a mark that could never be eclipsed, the largemouth-bass record has become the thing of legends. If authorities decide that this fish tale is true, it would apparently herald the end of an era for George W. Perry, the legendary Georgia angler who caught a 22-pound, 4-ounce largemouth out of Montgomery Lake, Ga., on June 2, 1932, and has held the all-tackle world record ever since. Yes, but it's not officially recognized by us," Blodgett said. The problem is that only three people saw the fish and none of them was a biologist or any other kind of wildlife-management personnel. There's something about catching a big bass like that. Although FLW’s top championship has been held on the Mississippi River once before – in Moline, Illinois in 1998 – this event marks the first time that FLW has hosted its premier event in La Crosse. "I don't get all the (fishing) magazines or follow the tournament trails, so I didn't know if it was a world record; I thought maybe it could be a line-class record. This huge bass was hooked by Jerry Basgal Feb. 25, 1990. He was 55. And shoot, maybe even catch a world record bass. An official with the California Department of Fish and Game named William Cox identified Trew's bass and signed her application for the record based on the photograph and testimony of the three witnesses. With crisp morning temperatures, plenty of sun and a north wind, the conditions have largely been quite good, with mixed results from the anglers. The largemouth bass is one of the most sought-after records of all," said Doug Blodgett, records director at the IGFA, adding that close to a thousand records applications for numerous fish species come through the IGFA every year. Hince, Clear Lake is currently rated the #1 bass fishery in the United States, Thank you for reading and remember to keep it reel ! Largemouth bass and other species of the bass family can reach more than generous sizes for freshwater fish. The Fishing Hall of Fame, however, isn't throwing the baby out with the bathwater. The biggest problem: She released the fish before anybody could examine it. "Technically, is it a record-holder? He feared the fish would break off. "But when I put it in the bottom of the boat and saw the size of it, I said a lot of words I don't want to repeat." Spring Lake sits in a regional park, and the Trews were concerned about a park rule against removing "animals, dead or alive," which they saw posted on a sign. READ MORE », The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame is excited to announce its first Digital Hall of Fame Week, which will be anchored by a massive online auction offering up an incredible selection of fishing-related items not available elsewhere. "The issue is that the fish was not available for examination by a biologist, or a taxidermist, for that matter. Understanding the potential impact of its decision, Blodgett would not say whether the IGFA was leaning toward or away from certifying it as the new largemouth bass world record, but he did hint that a decision could be coming soon. Eight days after his mother caught her storied bass, Javad Trew caught an enormous bass of his own. Both organizations say that her application and the steps she took to measure the bass seem to be on the up-and-up, including using an IGFA-certified scale. A lot of topwaters, swimbaits, jerkbaits and spy baits were being offered to the schoolers on main lake points. He weighed it on a bathroom … In the mid-1980s, the 74-acre lake was completely drained for hydrilla control. READ MORE », FLW and Explore La Crosse announced Thursday that the 2021 Tackle Warehouse TITLE, the Pro Circuit Championship, will be held Aug. 17-22, 2021, on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wisconsin. "We didn't really realize how big it was," he said. Also, they are unofficially acknowledging it as an all-tackle record while at the same time maintaining Perry's 22 pounds, 4 ounces as the official record. So, most anglers feel that Mr. George Perry and Mr. Manabo Kurita have tied for the worlds largest bass.-I have saved the biggest bass for last. You want to release it if it's healthy." So Leaha Trew released her 22 1/2-pound bass back into Spring Lake. We're not going to make a decision without being 100-percent certain about it." Witnessing the fish and its measurements were Leaha and Javad Trew plus a man named Charles Fleming, who was picnicking nearby. Plus, he said they didn't even realize that a 22 1/2-pound largemouth would qualify for a world record until he looked it up later that night. This is the only photo taken of the fish. In 1997, that was where Paul Duclos reportedly caught a 24-pound largemouth bass, which would have shattered Perry's record by almost 2 pounds. If Spring Lake, Calif., sounds familiar to record-class bass anglers, it is. – The largest largemouth bass to be legally caught in California weighs 21 pounds 12 oz. Of course, there are a few details to be worked out first. We will have a press release when (the decision) has been finalized." –  Don = 4REEL Fishin’, 4Reel Fishing: Does the World Record Bass live…, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window). (No gas-powered motors are allowed on Spring Lake.) In 1997, that was where Paul Duclos reportedly caught a 24-pound largemouth bass, which would have shattered Perry's record by almost 2 pounds. In other words, the fish has to be killed for us to recognize it, which is unfortunate." Still, Smith hammered out a pair of top 10s and a 27th-place showing en route to the title, and his style of fishing was simply perfect for this season in the Southeastern Division. No other bass fishery produces the quanities of huge bass being caught . Unfortunately, they were only able to take one snapshot. Largemouth Bass 21Lb 12oz Castaic Lake. I agree with those who feel that the world record bass lives and swims freely in Clear Lake. READ MORE », Championship Saturday of the Toyota Series Plains Division opener at Lake Dardanelle presented by Fish-Intel followed its pattern of the week with anglers failing to capitalize on sparse opportunities. "We made up our minds and that's what we're going to do with it," Dzialo said. Javad, who said he has been fishing recreationally for about four years, and Leaha Trew knew it was a special fish, so they paddled back to shore to weigh and measure it. Part of its inscription reads: "(Perry) received $75 worth of sporting equipment for his record catch. There has been some “hub-bub” over the years about Mr. Perry’s catch. It appears to be feast or famine so far, but there will be some solid bags crossing the stage starting at 3 p.m. PT this afternoon. "Obviously, this is a very important record. As of the first week in December, the IGFA was still considering Trew's record application, which she submitted in late September. – The largest largemouth bass to be legally caught in California weighs 21 pounds 12 oz. He said that he and his mother practice catch-and-release exclusively. Working near a weedline in about 15 feet of water, Leaha Trew made a cast with a 7-inch Storm Wildeye Swim Bait in mossback pattern. READ MORE », It was a gloomy start to the first day of competition for the Toyota Series Eastern Division event on the Potomac River, and though it seems like a fishy day, so far the fish don’t seem to think so. With low tide this morning around 8:40 a.m. At one point while he was trying to work the net over its head, Javad Trew said the big bass smashed headfirst into the side of the boat. It has to be examined internally to be an all-tackle record. Is this bass the largest ever caught? After he took it, Javad Trew realized that it was the last shot on the roll. Why are all these record-class bass apparently coming out of the little waterway in northern California? Another roadside marker commemorating Perry on Highway 117 reads, in part: "The longstanding record is one of the reasons that the largemouth bass was made Georgia's Official State Fish." The main impasse at the IGFA regarding Trew's catch isn't the lack of physical evidence - the organization routinely awards records on released fish if the paperwork is in order and the story checks out with local officials - but the relative lack of visual proof. Places like Lake Okeechobee and Lake Toho are known by bass anglers everywhere, but the largemouth potential in Florida is not limited to these famous haunts. Trews' story Trew, 45, landed the bass while fishing with her 21-year-old son, Javad. Indeed, the Fishing Hall of Fame's Dzialo said the most his organization offers for a record are a certificate and a little publicity. But his mother "was really concerned about the fish," he said, so they ultimately decided to let it go and hoped the one shot came out all right. The great news from Hartman’s catch is that, pending approval from the International Game and Fish Association, it’s the new women’s World Record for a largemouth bass on 2Lb test line. It's the biggest one I've caught, but I've caught some big ones before and every time it's magical." At least one Spring Lake largemouth has made the record books, though. For that reason, she has shied away from speaking publicly about the fish until the IGFA hands down its ruling. December 9, 2003 Since they had no livewell and were concerned about the health of the fish, they kept it in the net and held it in the water over the raft's side as they paddled back in. He weighed it on a bathroom scale, however, and only two other people saw the fish. "He kept going on and on about how he had no idea that fish could get that big in (Spring Lake)," Javad Trew said. ", Tags: The next world record bass will be worth 8 million dollars, plus endorsements." Perry's record, which represents the epitome of the most sought-after fish in America, has stood for so long and been pursued by so many millions of anglers over the years that the burden of proof in trying to unseat it is enormous. jeff-schroeder  Just over the hill we have the #1 rated bass fishery in the entire United States. The one that got away? READ MORE », The second day of the Toyota Series Western Division event on Clear Lake began with slightly cooler weather, but it has turned into a beautiful day here in the Golden State. Back in 2006 the largest bass ever recorded was hooked. "As far as the money, they've got to work that out for themselves," he said. "Yeah, we only got one photo. The decision to release the fish might come back to haunt Trew, at least in terms of laying claim to the largemouth bass world record. If Spring Lake, Calif., sounds familiar to record-class bass anglers, it is. And whether or not the bass is ultimately given the world record, both of the Trews are hoping for the best, but they also just seem satisfied about the catch simply for its own sake.