[robbor]

Sorry but I could talk for hours on the 3 weeks that led up to that fish. I got one bigger all the way to the boat(no landing net) then lost another the next day. Then switched lakes and did real well to say the least. I switched up to the 12" castaic and the fish just kept getting bigger and bigger. I fished nothing but trout lures for about 3 months in persuit of big girls. This fish came from my lake X, (so dont ask) it was 12.5#'s on my scales and I trucked her to a friends house for pics then back to the lake to let go. I had 3 fish like that from there. and tons of fish in the 5-9lb range. We would catch fish 3-9# on the 9" castaic and way bigger on the 12". I could easily catch 6 times the fish using a castaic over the slammer. I had some fish on the slammer though. This lake was so hot i took my mom out fishing and have pics of her with an 8 and a 9 in each hand. I have not fished trout lures on a long time though. I will start back probably this winter when i move. Its not that hard to fish trout lures but you have to put in the time and practice and build up muscle and a strong back. I thought the 9" was work until i moved up. After you THROW a lure that weight well over 1# all day long then you know what pain is. The 9" is like childs play now. I cant tell you how many time i dropped to my knees on my boat and yelled when one of these fish got off. My fishing buddy came one time and i had one on about 16 and she came up and rolled and he never saw her. Its addicting. I had a shore fisherman take that pic and when I pulled her from the livewell he sh_t a brick and even worse, right there I walked inton the water and let her go, everybody was yelling at me,those crude meat fishermen.

[WVaGitzit]

She's a beauty. Can you tell me this much, what state? California I am guessing.

[robbor]

Yes Ca, and about every lake in the state has bass that big in it.

[WVaGitzit]

I am in WV, not one lake in the state has a fish that size. That fish would be easily a new state record.

[robbor]

For here it really not so much of a big deal now anything over about 15 is very nice. I will tell you what. trout lures make great search baits. On lakes that contain biger bass say(3-7#) and trout you can throuw the 9" castaic and when you get around them shey will follow it very often. Then you know to concentrate on that area. They dont all have to be giants, I have caught many 5+ the smallest was about 3# though, You can try the castaic bluegill also.

[acklac7]

Originally Posted by robbor

Yes Ca, and about every lake in the state has bass that big in it.

Check the spring issue of infisherman...All sorts of good info on why those Ca largemouth get so big!..One of the reasons is due to the fact that they are constantly in cooler water..Searching for those trout!...The cooler water triggers there pre-winter metabolism...Which means that all that fat gets stored up!..Picture yourself sitting at home on the couch eating wendy's triples (mmmm....fatning) for 12 winter months on end....Your gonna get FAT...lol