It was great to see the new smallie state record broken this year. It seems logical that you would increase your chances of catching a state record smallie by fishing lakes that have at least shown the potential of putting out large fish. I can think of a dozen or so lakes that have had 7 pound or greater smallies weighed and I definitely think the potential is there to see the record broken again. However, what I find amazing is how far away we are to ever breaking the largemouth record. The biggest largie weighed in our club tournaments last year was 5.6. When I looked around at some of the big bass weights from other clubs, I think the biggest one I saw was around 6.5. I realize that some people have caught some larger largies than that, but it's still a long ways away from almost 12 pounds! If no one is catching 7 or even 8 pounders, I doubt a 12 pounder is swimming around in Michigan. What are your thoughts? Do you think the LG record will ever be broken? Do you think the SM record will be broken again within 3-5 years? I say no way on the LG record and yes on the SM record. Also, for guys that tournament fish, what's the biggest largie weighed in any tournament you've fished in Michigan. Merry Christmas and hopefully Santa brings everyone their new PB in 2016!
I agree with you about the state record largemouth, as I feel that Michigan record is going to stand from now until the sun burns out. The only way I see that record being broken is if you get some fish with a mutation that causes it to grow at two - three times the normal rate. Michigan just doesn't have the conditions to create the largemouth factories like you see in various lakes down south.
As for the smallmouth record, I do see that being broken again, but I'm not sure about it happening in the next to 3 - 5 years. I have no reason for this other than the record that was just broken had stood since the early 1900's. I don't think it will take over 100 years, but I don't think it will happen quickly.
In the last couple of years I've seen a couple LM in the upper 6 pound range weighed in at tournaments. I've also seen one over 7 pounds caught locally but not during a tournament, and a young boy caught one over 10 lbs on a lake near Gun Lake a couple years ago (picture is on the wall at Al and Bob's Sports in GR). Breaking the record will be a tough chore for sure, but if there's one there's more so it's not impossible. I know a local angler (you know him as Mr. 2K jigs) that had a HUGE bass on a crank bait in the same lake the current state record came out of, and he swears it was 10+. Known the man a long time, if he says HUGE it was HUGE. There are some things you don't BS about, and that is one of them. I have personally caught several 6+ pound fish from that lake and lost some others that were at least that big or bigger.
As for the SM record... 2-3 years and it will be upped again, perhaps only by an ounce or 2 but that's all it takes.
The odds are in favor of the smallmouth record being broken again in a few years though the odds are still kind of long I think because of how long it takes a smallies to get the big and considering most will be near the end of their life so they may not intersect with an angler's lure before they die of old age.
The largemouth record is real tough because I've only seen pictures of 2 10 pound+ Michigan largemouth bass in my entire life. I've heard stories and rumors of bass up to 17 pounds but they are almost impossible to prove if they are true or unexaggerated. I think the odds are better than never but still very low that someone will catch a 12 pounder in Michigan. There may be a few swimming around but they are not eager to bite lures probably.
If more anglers fish early and late in the year though now, as seems to be happening, and the new bass season may increase that effort, then I think the odds go up because it is more likely to catch real giant bass early and late in the year in cooler water. I know I will be trying ;D whenever I can get out.
Cool link to check each states records >>> http://www.landbigfish.com/staterecords/default.cfm
What long lake was the old record taken from?
Quote from: BIGSHOW on December 26, 2015, 04:26:12 AM
What long lake was the old record taken from?
From the LONG one. LOL
There are soooo many Long Lakes in Michigan.
Here's the short list on lakes named Long lake in Michigan
Long Lake Alpena 45°12′17″N 083°28′40″W 630968
Long Lake Antrim 45°03′06″N 084°51′41″W 630946
Long Lake Baraga 46°36′43″N 088°14′03″W 630960
Long Lake Barry 42°28′28″N 085°14′39″W 630924
Long Lake Barry in Hope Township
Long Lake Barry by Fine Lake
Long Lake Cass
Long Lake Benzie 44°41′43″N 086°10′07″W 630943
Long Lake Cass
Long Lake Cheboygan 45°31′57″N 084°23′56″W 630949
Long Lake Clare
Long Lake Grand Traverse 44°43′N 085°45′W 630966
Long Lake Hillsdale
Long Lake Ionia 43°06′48″N 085°07′19″W 630974
Long Lake Iosco 44°25′08″N 083°51′17″W 1620610
Long Lake Kalamazoo 42°11′40″N 085°31′20″W 630921
Long Lake Kalkaska 44°34′20″N 085°17′56″W 630942
Long Lake Livingston 42°37′08″N 083°44′15″W 630963
Long Lake Mason 43°57′22″N 086°05′31″W 1620609
Long Lake Montmorency
Long Lake Oakland 42°48′52″N 083°17′28″W 630930 Oxford Township
Long Lake Oakland 42°48′41″N 083°26′03″W 630929 South of Brandon Gardens
Long Lake Oakland 42°47′31″N 083°14′02″W 630928 near Lake Orion
Long Lake Oakland 42°45′39″N 083°33′37″W 630927 Northwest of Davisburg
Brendel Lake Oakland 42°38′27″N 083°30′30″W 621920 Variant Name: Long Lake; west of Oxbow
Long Lake Oakland 42°36′37″N 083°27′24″W 630926 West of Union Lake
Long Lake Presque Isle 45°13′56″N 084°12′12″W 630947
Long Lake St. Joseph
East Long Lake Branch 41°51′01″N 084°58′04″W 630917
Little Long Lake Barry/
Kalamazoo 42°25′23″N 085°26′36″W 630681 in Prairieville Twp/
Richland Twp
Little Long Lake Genesee 42°51′08″N 083°42′41″W 630682 east of Lake Fenton
Little Long Lake Iosco 44°24′23″N 083°51′17″W 630685
Little Long Lake Clare 44°01′35″N 084°47′06″W 630684
Little Long Lake Osceola 44°01′22″N 085°18′34″W 630683
Lower Long Lake Oakland 46°35′18″N 086°17′42″W 631177 Bloomfield Township
Lower Long Lake Oakland
Long Lake Livingston
Upper Long Lake Oakland 42°35′42″N 083°19′08″W 1615408 Bloomfield Township
Lake Fenton Genesee 42°50′21″N 083°43′00″W 625897 formerly named Long Lake
Baldy Lake Alger 46°13′02″N 086°39′10″W 1619078 formerly known as Long Lake & Bass Lake
Lake Stella Alger 46°10′51″N 086°46′39″W 1621769 formerly known as Long Lake
Wetmore Lake Alger 46°22′05″N 086°35′33″W 1622122 formerly known as Long Lake
It was the Long Lake in Cheboygan County.