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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum Quetico Forum Largemouth in the Q |
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01/25/2013 12:31PM (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
So, I have a fish story to tell, and wanted to see what people's experiences were with largemouth bass in Quetico.
There's a spot in Jean Lake, that I've mentioned in here before, that is absolutely incredible for both largies and smallies. On two different trips, we took huge bass. But as I am researching this, I am starting to think maybe they were even bigger than I thought. One trip, we took in a largemouth that weighed in at 9 pounds. On another trip to the same spot, caught 2 (ate one) that were over 9 pounds, one close to 10, according to the little hand scale we brought.
Now, after that trip, I remember seeing that the record largemouth in the US was about 17 pounds. So, while 10 pounds was big, it didn't seem special. But according to the Ontario MNR website, Quetico is basically the northern limit of largemouth bass. And the largest largemouth caught in Ontario was only 10.2 pounds. So, holy crap, we had near-record size fish? Like, just a few ounces short of it? Multiple of them?!?!
Have other people fished for largemouth in the park, accidentally or intentionally? How big were they? And how the heck did I stumble upon an apparent school of record-size largies in Quetico of all places???
I realize this sounds like chest-thumping, but I'm being completely honest here, and I think I even have a picture of one of them somewhere. I would have taken more pictures, including the scale, if I knew at the time how big these really were. Is Quetico a secret bass heaven or something?
There's a spot in Jean Lake, that I've mentioned in here before, that is absolutely incredible for both largies and smallies. On two different trips, we took huge bass. But as I am researching this, I am starting to think maybe they were even bigger than I thought. One trip, we took in a largemouth that weighed in at 9 pounds. On another trip to the same spot, caught 2 (ate one) that were over 9 pounds, one close to 10, according to the little hand scale we brought.
Now, after that trip, I remember seeing that the record largemouth in the US was about 17 pounds. So, while 10 pounds was big, it didn't seem special. But according to the Ontario MNR website, Quetico is basically the northern limit of largemouth bass. And the largest largemouth caught in Ontario was only 10.2 pounds. So, holy crap, we had near-record size fish? Like, just a few ounces short of it? Multiple of them?!?!
Have other people fished for largemouth in the park, accidentally or intentionally? How big were they? And how the heck did I stumble upon an apparent school of record-size largies in Quetico of all places???
I realize this sounds like chest-thumping, but I'm being completely honest here, and I think I even have a picture of one of them somewhere. I would have taken more pictures, including the scale, if I knew at the time how big these really were. Is Quetico a secret bass heaven or something?
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01/25/2013 12:48PM
Well you found some very rare fish that were probably 20 years old plus. Never heard of anything close like that in size for largemouth in Minnesota or Ontario. Maybe you caught the same fish more than once?
01/25/2013 01:06PM
I remember reading your original post and wondering if you knew what you were talking about :)
Although largemouth are not uncommon in Quetico, big ones are uncommon. For MN/Ontario 6-8 pounds is a really big fish so what you caught was exceptional.
Did you by chance measure the fish? the MN state record largemouth was 8#15 oz. and was 23.5 inches long. So I would expect that a 10# fish would be 24-25 inches. I don't really trust the hand scales---I've seen them off too many times---either too light or too heavy :)
BTW even if your scale was off these are exceptional fish. Heck for all we know these fish were heavier.
T
Although largemouth are not uncommon in Quetico, big ones are uncommon. For MN/Ontario 6-8 pounds is a really big fish so what you caught was exceptional.
Did you by chance measure the fish? the MN state record largemouth was 8#15 oz. and was 23.5 inches long. So I would expect that a 10# fish would be 24-25 inches. I don't really trust the hand scales---I've seen them off too many times---either too light or too heavy :)
BTW even if your scale was off these are exceptional fish. Heck for all we know these fish were heavier.
T
01/25/2013 02:55PM
I'm as flumoxxed as everyone else. I've done a lot of fishing, but honestly, had never otherwise caught anything spectacular, at all. Heck we don't even really fish for bass up there typically. We catch smallies by accident going for walleye sometimes. But that bay just looked like "bass here" to me, from previous experience in other places. I am by no means some master fisherman, at all. I think I just got very, very lucky.
And I completely understand people being skeptical - I would be too! I will see if I can find the picture(s), scan them into the computer, and post them (this was back in the early 90's, well before digital photos were commonplace).
And I completely understand people being skeptical - I would be too! I will see if I can find the picture(s), scan them into the computer, and post them (this was back in the early 90's, well before digital photos were commonplace).
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01/25/2013 03:31PM
Also I should mention...
1. I wasn't the one who caught them. In one case, two of is were fishing, but I only got some relatively small ones. The other, I was being a guide of sorts, just paddling someone into the right spots.
2. Lures used, I don't recall exact details, but they were a smallish Rapala, and a small-medium spinner with a weedless treble.
1. I wasn't the one who caught them. In one case, two of is were fishing, but I only got some relatively small ones. The other, I was being a guide of sorts, just paddling someone into the right spots.
2. Lures used, I don't recall exact details, but they were a smallish Rapala, and a small-medium spinner with a weedless treble.
Nullum magnum ingenium sine mixtura dementiae fuit
01/25/2013 03:41PM
OK, I looked back at some picture on a website we have for our wilderness co-op, and on one of the trips, we did have one picture of a guy (not me) with a couple big bass. I can't recall for sure if the bigger one is one of the 9+ pound guys. Here it is... the guy in the pic is 6'5". Judging by the size, hard to say, looks like about a quarter of his body length, which makes it like 19" long and change? Or so? Can't say for sure because it is close to his body, but can't tell how close.
Judge away!
Crap, I can't get the Add Photo to work, here is the direct link...
http://www.middleofsomewhere.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/MLBass.jpg
Judge away!
Crap, I can't get the Add Photo to work, here is the direct link...
http://www.middleofsomewhere.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/MLBass.jpg
Nullum magnum ingenium sine mixtura dementiae fuit
01/25/2013 04:24PM
quote PINETREE: "A 10 pound bass would probably be 26 inch plus range.
"
OK, that's a good start. So this was probably 6" short of that, give or take. But... Ontario record largemouth bass that was 10.2 pounds, according to the Ontario MNR, was 22 inches long: http://www.ontariofishing.net/fishrecords.html
Assuming that site is accurate. I don't know.
Nullum magnum ingenium sine mixtura dementiae fuit
01/25/2013 08:23PM
Eh? Well apparently I'm a doofus and can't use a scale.
Now that I've thoroughly embarrassed myself... I'll just close with... I may be very wrong about those fish (apparently they aren't even largemouth? Even the bigger one? You are telling me there are smallies that long?)... but I sat there and looked at a scale myself, that went above 9 pounds. Or I thought it did. I did say I wasn't exactly a master fisherman!
Sorry to have caused a ruckus. Still seems hard for me to believe, even looking at that 10 year old badly scanned picture, that those are smallies, and only 3-4 pounds. But I'll take your word for it, as I am sure most of you are much more experienced than I am.
Now that I've thoroughly embarrassed myself... I'll just close with... I may be very wrong about those fish (apparently they aren't even largemouth? Even the bigger one? You are telling me there are smallies that long?)... but I sat there and looked at a scale myself, that went above 9 pounds. Or I thought it did. I did say I wasn't exactly a master fisherman!
Sorry to have caused a ruckus. Still seems hard for me to believe, even looking at that 10 year old badly scanned picture, that those are smallies, and only 3-4 pounds. But I'll take your word for it, as I am sure most of you are much more experienced than I am.
Nullum magnum ingenium sine mixtura dementiae fuit
01/26/2013 12:41AM
I don't think it is a function of not being able to use/read a scale, it is a function of trusting a hand held scale. They are poor at best--not accurate. That's why records are determined by official calibrated scales. Many a fisherperson has brought in a "record" only to be fooled. I have no doubt your scale said 9-10 pounds but unless your friend is 20 feet tall, the scale was wrong.
They are definitely smallies--it isn't a bad picture. No ruckus at all. I still like your story and a good discussion.
Largemouth are typically green in color and have a lateral line or stripe down the middle. Smallmouth are brown and have bars. If you close the jaw (your pic the jaw is open so can't use this) the eye of a largemouth will be obviously behind the jaw.
T
They are definitely smallies--it isn't a bad picture. No ruckus at all. I still like your story and a good discussion.
Largemouth are typically green in color and have a lateral line or stripe down the middle. Smallmouth are brown and have bars. If you close the jaw (your pic the jaw is open so can't use this) the eye of a largemouth will be obviously behind the jaw.
T
01/26/2013 11:16AM
Yeah DWT, don't sweat it. I also don't trust hand held scales and just measure the length.
Smallmouth can really vary in weight in the Q. The older ones around 19-21 inches can get a football shape to them and they are very powerful fighters with usually multiple jumps. These are absolutely my favorite fish to catch and with barbless hooks it's quite a challenge to land them.
Largemouth are fun to catch too but aren't near as powerful as a smallie pound for pound.
Smallmouth can really vary in weight in the Q. The older ones around 19-21 inches can get a football shape to them and they are very powerful fighters with usually multiple jumps. These are absolutely my favorite fish to catch and with barbless hooks it's quite a challenge to land them.
Largemouth are fun to catch too but aren't near as powerful as a smallie pound for pound.
"Life is not about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself." --- George Bernard Shaw
01/26/2013 12:29PM
Sorry...I was hoping my reply didn't sound like I was insulting your intelligence. I just don't trust handheld scales...I've used them in the past only to scratch my head and think to myself that can't be right.
Only use tape measures nowadays, they don't lie and I don't really care how much a fish weighs anyway.
Only use tape measures nowadays, they don't lie and I don't really care how much a fish weighs anyway.
01/27/2013 04:16PM
Oh I wasn't offended by anyone's responses. IN fact, given how far off it appears I was (even if they were more than 3-4 pounds, still a ways off from 9), I am impressed with the patience you all showed with me. Thanks.
Haha, clearly that was the scale I must have been using!
quote jeroldharter: "don't worry about it. I only use scales that measure at least 9 lbs. Has improved my results greatly."
Haha, clearly that was the scale I must have been using!
Nullum magnum ingenium sine mixtura dementiae fuit
01/28/2013 12:12PM
Both of these fish are pretty good size around 20" for the Small Mouth and 24" on the Lrg Mouth. They were 6.5 # and 8.5. #.
I would guess the weight on yours around 3 to 3.5 #s. Nice fish ether way.
BTW those fish were mounted about 25 years ago, so don't yell at me about catch and release. I photo and release now.
JB
You can't explain the obvious to the ignorant.
01/28/2013 02:52PM
quote jb in the wild: "
Both of these fish are pretty good size around 20" for the Small Mouth and 24" on the Lrg Mouth. They were 6.5 # and 8.5. #.
I would guess the weight on yours around 3 to 3.5 #s. Nice fish ether way.
BTW those fish were mounted about 25 years ago, so don't yell at me about catch and release. I photo and release now.
JB"
Which state or states did you catch those nice fish?
01/28/2013 04:46PM
quote chipaddler: "quote GeoFisher: "
This smallie was close to 5.....something like 4.7.
And this Largemouth was 5.2
"
That smallie is a freakin' pig... Look how fat. Hah"
Even though it was only around 5.......if I could have gotten that one out of the park.......it would have gone on the wall :) :)
Looked GREAT.
Later,
Geo
01/28/2013 06:56PM
quote PINETREE: "quote jb in the wild: "
Both of these fish are pretty good size around 20" for the Small Mouth and 24" on the Lrg Mouth. They were 6.5 # and 8.5. #.
I would guess the weight on yours around 3 to 3.5 #s. Nice fish ether way.
BTW those fish were mounted about 25 years ago, so don't yell at me about catch and release. I photo and release now.
JB"
Which state or states did you catch those nice fish?"
Lrg Mouth was in Connecticut and the Smallie was here near Elk River in the Mighty Miss.
You can't explain the obvious to the ignorant.
01/29/2013 12:17PM
quote DancesWithTrees: "Oh I wasn't offended by anyone's responses. IN fact, given how far off it appears I was (even if they were more than 3-4 pounds, still a ways off from 9), I am impressed with the patience you all showed with me. Thanks.quote jeroldharter: "don't worry about it. I only use scales that measure at least 9 lbs. Has improved my results greatly."
Haha, clearly that was the scale I must have been using!
"
First off, a Hearty Welcome to the site DancesWithTrees. And, please do not feel embarassed. We here are dedicated to learning from one another, and offering advice to those who need it. Its what we do and I think I speak for the community when I say "Welcome to the BWCA.com Family!"
Andy
05/27/2015 10:57AM
quote BlackSwanAdventures: "I am just happy you didn't keep and eat a 9 pound bass.
Over 2-3 pounds, take photos and release these perfect spawning, not very good to eat fish.
Thanks."
Well, for the record, I just assumed they were largemouth because they were so damn big. Also it appears the scale we had must have been awfully friendly, because it was pointed out there was almost no way we caught 8-9 pound smallies. All I can say is, they were bass, and they were really big.
We generally don't keep and eat bass much anyway.
Nullum magnum ingenium sine mixtura dementiae fuit
06/19/2015 12:27AM
Is this thread for real? I can certainly understand confusing a smallmouth and a largemouth, but confusing a fish that weighs (generously) three pounds with one that weighs nine or ten pounds seems odd to me.
Could the guy holding the fish honestly not tell the difference between 3 lbs and 10 lbs? That's a *big* difference, no matter what species of fish it is. If he went to the grocery store and bought three pounds of apples but was charged for ten, would he not catch the difference??
Sorry for the skepticism, but something seems fishy. :)
Could the guy holding the fish honestly not tell the difference between 3 lbs and 10 lbs? That's a *big* difference, no matter what species of fish it is. If he went to the grocery store and bought three pounds of apples but was charged for ten, would he not catch the difference??
Sorry for the skepticism, but something seems fishy. :)
06/23/2015 09:10AM
quote carmike: "Is this thread for real? I can certainly understand confusing a smallmouth and a largemouth, but confusing a fish that weighs (generously) three pounds with one that weighs nine or ten pounds seems odd to me.
Could the guy holding the fish honestly not tell the difference between 3 lbs and 10 lbs? That's a *big* difference, no matter what species of fish it is. If he went to the grocery store and bought three pounds of apples but was charged for ten, would he not catch the difference??
Sorry for the skepticism, but something seems fishy. :)
"
Can't blame you for the skepticism. I'd be too. All I can say is, way back then, we weighed out (with one of those very small scales) an 8+ pound bass. The one in the picture is maybe not the exact one, but one of the larger ones we caught. As incredulous as you are, I am equally incredulous that it could weigh only 3 pounds. I am quite sure it was more than that.
Considering the provincial record smallie is around 10 pounds, it's obviously unlikely the one we caught was 8-9 pounds, so I was puzzled later as well. Not sure what else to say. Its embarrassing to have to keep rehashing this, but one thing I can assure you is, this was not an intentional exaggeration on my part.
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07/28/2015 01:21PM
Hello,
I am headed to Quetico this weekend. I am wondering if you mind sharing what weight rod you are using in this picture? I have a 5lb rod, and I am worried it is too light for the action?
Thoughts?
M.
I am headed to Quetico this weekend. I am wondering if you mind sharing what weight rod you are using in this picture? I have a 5lb rod, and I am worried it is too light for the action?
Thoughts?
M.
07/28/2015 02:10PM
quote MCorbett: "Hello,
I am headed to Quetico this weekend. I am wondering if you mind sharing what weight rod you are using in this picture? I have a 5lb rod, and I am worried it is too light for the action?
Thoughts?
M."
Many people would recommend 8-10 pound line. See, for instance, recents threads in the Fishing Forum. Having said that, however, a friend of mine loves fishing for smallmouth with light tackle and 6 pound line. I use 8-pound with a medium power rod (6-12 pound).
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