It never fails. Sometime around the turn of the new year, Texas bass crowds always start pondering thoughts about the next state record largemouth. It’s only natural for chatter to surface about where the special fish might be caught. And when.
There was a time when it seemed like no state record bass was safe in Texas. Amazingly, the hallowed mark was set and reset six times on four different lakes in 12 years spanning 1980-92. It’s been a waiting game ever since.
The Run on Records
Jimmy Kimball got things rolling in 1980 with a 14.09 pounder from 2,000acre Lake Monticello that broke the state’s earliest record, 13.50-pounder caught in 1943 from Lake Medina in Central Texas.
Kimball’s mark didn’t last long. John Alexander boated back-to-back state records in 1981 from Lake Echo, a private lake near Canton. The first was a 14.2 pounder in January, followed by a 15.5 pounder in February.
Alexander’s record held until February 1986, when the late Earl Crawford busted it with a 16.90 pounder out of Lake Pinkston. Crawford’s record held for only nine months before Lake Fork fishing guide Mark Stevenson cracked a 17.67 monster at Lake Fork. Barry St. Clair of Athens set the record straight again in January 1992 with an 18.18 pounder, also from Fork.
Now, here we are some 33 years later, still reflecting on the past and speculating about the future.
Technology: Bass Can’t Hide
There was a time when I thought St. Clair’s record mark may never be broken, but I’m not so sure about that any more. Neither is Jake Norman.
Norman is a Tyler-based fisheries biologist and largemouth bass coordinator for Texas and Parks Wildlife Department. He’s also a hardcore angler and a student of the sport with an innate passion for fishing for the big ones.
Norman believes the chances of someone catching a record bass in Texas are better now than at any time in recent history.
At the heart of the hunch are forward-facing sonar and the budding number of anglers who have become proficient at using the real-time technology to sniff out heavyweights in deep, open water where they were previously unmolested.
For those who may not know, FFS is all the rage these days in tournament and recreational fishing arenas nationwide. In skilled hands, FFS helps detect fish and cover from a considerable distance. It also allows for making precise bait presentations to fish and, more importantly, seeing how they react. Sometimes it’s possible to hound an individual fish with different baits until it bites, and depict large fish from smaller ones.
Numerous Texas bass weighing upwards of 15 pounds have been turned over to the Toyota Share-Lunker program over the last four years, including a pair of 17 pounders in 2022-23. Most were caught from Lake O.H. Ivie by LiveScopers targeting individual fish over deep water with casts that never would have been made five years ago, Norman said.
“Prior to the flurry of fish in the upper teens during last few years, very few biologists or credible anglers felt we would ever see a another new state record largemouth caught,” Norman said. “Forward-facing sonar has undoubtedly changed that. While we would like to think the recent surge in catches of bass topping 15 pounds is tied directly to changes in management strategies or biological changes, I believe technology is playing a major role. It’s showing everyone what is still swimming around in our Texas water bodies.”
While it is entirely possible a new record largemouth could come from almost any lake in Texas, Norman says there are only handful that show the most promise.
Here are his picks:
O.H. Ivie
Norman says O.H. Ivie is deserving of the top spot for obvious reasons; no other lake has produced a bass upwards of 17 pounds in 33 years. ‘Ivie has cranked out a pair of 17 pounders and multiple 16 pounders during the last three years.
The big bass flurry resulted in a significant spike in fishing pressure. Norman believes increased fishing pressure seems to be catching up with angler success, but it also increases the chances of an angler crossing paths with a state record bass out West.
“Growing an 18-pound largemouth is a major challenge in itself,” Norman said. “Then an angler has to cross paths with the fish and get it to bite. The chances of this happening are very small, but ‘Ivie has the best chances in Texas of this happening.”
Lake Fork
Norman says Lake Fork has a solid population of 8-10 pound bass, plus the forage, habitat and structure to keep them fat, sassy and gaining weight. He pointed to a 15 pounder caught during the 2021 Bass Champs Mega-Bass event as reminder that the legendary fishery still has what it takes to grow a giant.
“The right angler, on the right day, may still run across a true giant that threatens the current state record,” Norman said. “For similar reasons as ‘Ivie, I believe the amount of fishing pressure actually helps these chances, and Fork definitely isn’t hurting for angling pressure.”
Conroe
Some may find it as a surprise see Conroe on the list, but Norman says there just too much history at the 20,000acre fishery to deny its potential. The lake record there is a 15.93 pounder caught by Ricky Bearden in 2009.
“Conroe receives enough fishing pressure, especially during the right time of year (late winter/early spring), for an angler to cross paths with a true giant,” he said. “Vegetation has improved on the top end over the last few years. The improved habitat not only improves spawning success, but also improves foraging efficiency. Big bass can truly sit and wait for a meal to come by, thus burning fewer calories and getting fatter. The lake is also in a great climate to extend the growing season for bass and has enough quality summertime habitat to prevent heat stress and reduced growth potential.”
Celebr
Richland Chambers
Norman is convinced that 41,000-acre Richland Chambers may be one of the most underrated big bass fisheries in the state. Likewise, it just doesn’t see enough angling pressure at optimum times to showcase what he believes is finning around out there.
The biologist says RC’s biggest downfall is eye appeal; a high percentage of the lake doesn’t appear very attractive to the bass guys.
“Eliminate 10-20,000 acres of water and what’s left is prime bass habitat chockfull of gizzard shad for bass to gorge on,” he said. “Winning tournament weights continue to highlight the quality of bass present in RC. We just need a few anglers to devote 90plus days every winter/early spring to chasing giant bass. I believe the lake can produce a state record, but the problem is there is so much water for anglers to cover that it significantly reduces the probabilities of a record bass and angler crossing paths.”
Small lakes and dark horses
Norman says Texas is home to a number of little lakes that pack a wealth of big bass potential. Among them are lakes Nacogdoches (2,200 acres), Naconiche (700 acres), Holbrook (650 acres) and Tyler (4,500 acres), all of which have produced Legacy Lunkers or new lake records over the last few years.
“These lakes have continually produced double-digit bass and will continue to do so,” he said. “Put the right angler on the lake on the right day with forward-facing sonar and the stars may align.”
Bois D’Arc: A Future Contender
Texas’ newest lake isn’t a heavyweight contender just yet, but Norman believes it will be. Bois D’Arc opened for fishing last spring has already produced fish pushing 10 pounds.
“We are several years away from those bass having the potential to break the current record, but the quality fish that have already been caught warrant some discussion,” he said. “The first generation of bass in a lake historically perform the best. Look at what Fork did over its first 10 years of fishing. The nutrients leaching out of freshly flooded timber and the surrounding watershed give the food chain a big shot in the arm, and all species in the lake should be benefiting from it.”
Norman noted that Bois D’Arc is the only Texas lake that has been stocked almost exclusively with Lone Star Bass — fish with Legacy Lunker genetics on both sides of the family tree.
“Their growth rates have been outstanding, but it is too early to understand what their true size potential will be,” he said.” I think it is fair to expect a Legacy Lunker or two caught from the lake in 2-3 years. If those fish can keep putting on the pounds there is a chance we see a new state record in the near future.”
J.B. Thomas: Missed the Cut
Lake J.B. Thomas has been the hottest lake in the state for fish in the 10-12 pound range over the last 18 months, but Norman doesn’t believe it is capable of producing a fish to challenge the record, mainly because the water is very turbid.
“I’m just not convinced the lake has the capability to grow fish past the size we are seeing caught there right now,” Norman said. “I would love to be proven wrong, but the poor water quality alone should seemingly put a cap on fish growth. If we don’t see a 16-pound-plus bass caught from ‘Thomas soon, I will feel more and more confident in saying it won’t happen.”
Matt Williams is a freelance writer based in Nacogdoches. He can be reached by email, [email protected].
