Who says bass don't grow up north?

[John_S]

Here is one my son got on Sunday, in the Adirondaks. Released so it can grow-up

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: Who says bass don't grow up north?

Nice fin, Looks to be about a 4 pounder. Is that a pumpkin senko I see hanging there.

 

[John_S]

Re: Who says bass don't grow up north?

"Nice fin, Looks to be about a 4 pounder. Is that a pumpkin senko I see hanging there."

Yes, that is a pumpkin senko. Good eye.

I was not there, but they are claiming around 6 1/2 lbs. My son has caught 5 lbers (scaled) and has that for comparrison. Also, the friend who took the cell phone photo, has participated in the bass fishing contests around NY state for the last 2 years, as non-boater.

But even with those trained, experienced, and calibrated, eyes are bigger than scales

 

[gonefishie]

Re: Who says bass don't grow up north?

That looked to be at least 5 and I would doubted that it's 6lbs. They do get big up North but it takes a long time. The biggest bass I've ever caught, a 10lb 2oz, was at a small lake in CT.

 

[commuter]

Re: Who says bass don't grow up north?

That fish is very close to 5lbs. She's a pig nice fish.
I personally use a 5" Senko in Baby Bass color.
This past weekend in the Adirondacks on my lake crankbaits were pretty hot.
The pike were enjoying the crankbaits as well. Mostly baby and small pike the big boys are still pretty deep in the colder water.

Commuter

 

[John_S]

Re: Who says bass don't grow up north?

Yea, I wished they measured it to get a better estimate, but it had suffered enough from all the picture taking.

They reported getting a number of smallies in the lake, nothing big, but decent 15-16"ers, a few pickeral - one 26", and another large-mouth a little smaller than that one.

They came up empty on crank baits. Smallies came on drop shot and shakey head worms. LM on plastics, no weight.

If all goes well with work, I have this coming weekend planned for all fishing, and will be hitting the same area on day 1.

This is the one he caught in summer '03 from the same area (it measured 22"):

 

[tntitans21399]

Re: Who says bass don't grow up north?

Bass do grow up north. The only difference is the rate of growth. I read somewhere the difference is that the Bass in the warmer area grow faster, so if you had a 6 month bass in both areas the one in the warmer water is about twice the size or so. The warmer water helps it grow faster, I'm guessing because they are more active longer while in the north when the water gets colder faster they go deep and don't use as much energy. But Bass do grow all over the US.

Nice Bass.

 

[commuter]

Re: Who says bass don't grow up north?

You son should be proud those are some fantastic large mouth bass.

Here is a pic of one I landed fishing Lake Champlain this summer.
Man I love fishing that lake!



Commuter

 

[John_S]

Re: Who says bass don't grow up north?

Nice bass. I continue to hear good things about Champlain. I lived in Dutchess Co (below Wappinger Falls) for a couple of years, but wasn't able to do much fishing. There was a few small lakes around in Putnam and Orange Co, I'd would have liked to have given a try.

"You son should be proud those are some fantastic large mouth bass."

Oh, you betcha he is! He has been doing a bit trash talking for the up coming weekend. I'll admit he can beat me on occasion in the LG catagory, but he hasn't begun to aspire to my smallie, walleye, and pike empire!

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: Who says bass don't grow up north?

Bass do grow up north. The only difference is the rate of growth. I read somewhere the difference is that the Bass in the warmer area grow faster, so if you had a 6 month bass in both areas the one in the warmer water is about twice the size or so. The warmer water helps it grow faster, I'm guessing because they are more active longer while in the north when the water gets colder faster they go deep and don't use as much energy. But Bass do grow all over the US.

Nice Bass.

It's not necessarily that they grow faster down south, they have a longer growing season in the warmer climate.

Five and six pounders are not uncommon here in Pa. but when you start to get over the 6 pound mark it is a true trophy. The thing I like about that radical change in weather from late fall to close to ice over is the awesome fall bite. The river smallies here right now are really firing up and it will only get better. The lakes still have not shown much sign of the fall feeding frenzy, We have had lack of rain and warm temps, thus keeping the water temps up a bit. But the fall bite will be here soon.

 

[luckyinkentucky]

Re: Who says bass don't grow up north?

Here in Kentucky we are catching 6 to 10 pounders all day long on Lucky Craft Pointer Jerk Baits. The Lunkers are fattening up for the winter months, and eating anything they can get their mouths on. If you are serious about them try some 3 1/2" to 4" jerk baits that run either 3 to 5 ft. or 5 to 7 ft. I wouldn't waste my time with the Rapala Jerk Baits since they are a cheaply made bait. Spend the extra money and buy the Lucky Craft. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

 

[John_S]

Re: Who says bass don't grow up north?

Flathead,

Yea, waiting for water here, too. Susquahanna is too low to boat in most sections. Need some rain to raise the level and fish can start moving.

 

[burroak]

Re: Who says bass don't grow up north?

My son sent me this picture of the new Winnipeg northern pike record. Apparently the angler landed both fish in at the same time. The "little" one was 36".

 

[John_S]

Re: Who says bass don't grow up north?

Ahh, the real reason bass don't grow up north, they are still considered bait!

 

[gonefishie]

Re: Who says bass don't grow up north?

Here in Kentucky we are catching 6 to 10 pounders all day long on Lucky Craft Pointer Jerk Baits. The Lunkers are fattening up for the winter months, and eating anything they can get their mouths on. If you are serious about them try some 3 1/2" to 4" jerk baits that run either 3 to 5 ft. or 5 to 7 ft. I wouldn't waste my time with the Rapala Jerk Baits since they are a cheaply made bait. Spend the extra money and buy the Lucky Craft. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

Really? where have you been doing that at? I agreed that the Lucky Craft is nice but a Rapala is still a fine lure. Just remember, way before LC came on the scene, Rapala and Smithwick was doing the majority of the works. They both cost $3-6 each.

 

[commuter]

Re: Who says bass don't grow up north?

Ahh, the real reason bass don't grow up north, they are still considered bait!

This is precisely the reason there is not a huge bass population on my lake in the Adirondacks. Eagle Lake in Ticonderoga is a 420 acre lake. the state stocks it with trout every year but the past few years the guys who troll for trout have been catching fewer of them. Seems the trout are snacks for the pike! I have caught and released quite a few bass over the past 4 years I have fished there most of them below 3lbs. I have caught 4 LMB over 4 lbs and 1 that was just over 5 lbs. The pike population in the lake seems to be growing. I have been catching more pike mosltly babies and smaller ones over the past couple of years in early spring and fall. By no means do i have any proof but it would seem the pike are just eating everything. Could just be when and where I fish but I would think there should be more and larger bass in this lake.
I still love the place though.

Commuter

 

[John_S]

Re: Who says bass don't grow up north?

Sounds like you should start Pike fishing.

On this water, the pickeral were very dominent for many years. They have seemed to decline somewhat over the last five years, but bass are now being caught more often. I'm happy to catch just about any freshwater gamefish. Mostly Pike (pickeral, northerns, & muskies), Bass, and Walleye, but even trout, cats, and carp, at times. If it bends my pole, I'm a happy man.

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: Who says bass don't grow up north?

Sounds like you guys in NY have the same dilema we have in Pa. The fish commision seems to be almost exclusively geared to trout. They put them in and the one day wonders fish em out. Pa. has a put and take mentality when it comes to fish stocking. I wish they would focus more on warm water species that thrive in the waters where the stocked trout die off.

That picture with the pike posted ,, That went around about two years ago also. If the little one is 36 that makes the big one over six feet. Whats the Winnipeg record?

 

[commuter]

Re: Who says bass don't grow up north?

I do fish for the Pike!!!!
And the 2lb lb crappie and the huge perch that live in there.
I must say the large and small mouth are my favorite.
I use power pro braid whenever I fish for bass with crank baits or spinner baits because many times a pike will grab it.

Commuter

 

[John_S]

Re: Who says bass don't grow up north?

I don't know if these are old or not, but received 3 pics in the email today. One is what was already posted. These pics gives you more of a perspective of its size: 56" 55lbs