Largemouth State Record Anniversary Prediction

[rsimms]

It has been exactly 2 years today since Gabe Keen caught the new TN State Record Largemouth from Chickamauga Lake (See Gabe's interview on that historic day here: https://youtu.be/4IR0N1g655g).

At the time many fishermen, including Gabe, said they expected the record to be broken again, and perhaps very soon. It hasn't happened, yet. Do you think the record will be broken:
-- This year
-- Within 5 years
-- Within 10 years
-- Within 20 years
-- It won't ever be broken

What's your prediction and why? (I might use your response in print) ...

 

[flipper]

I would think if not caught within the next few yrs. this one will hold up for many yrs. to come.I feel this lake is to small for all the pressure it has had and will have on it. I know of a few 10 and 11 plus pound fish that have been taken out of the lake (that is there prerogative)That's just ones I know of.That is just my opinion.

 

[Tenncrapie]

I'd say the gill netters have broke it but won't tell.

 

[Nauticman]

Sorry for my pessimistic assessment. "It won't ever be broken". Extreme overfishing by sportsmen, wall mounters, meat fishermen and commercial fishermen. Have you been out there on a weekday any season of the year? The bass fishery on the Chick is in decline, witness the winning weights at tournaments. Like the TWRA said, this lake was in a sweet spot for a time, the news got around and the rest will be history. Just sayin'. Honestly, I hope I am wrong. Now you can beat on me for my opinion.......................

 

[fishinvol]

It will be broken in the next 10 years IMO.

Now here's my assessment of the lake.
With so many bass between 14 inches and 3lbs that my clients and myself have caught , I hardly see the lake as headed towards a decline anytime soon. Pressure is an issue and eventually may be one of the biggest factors in the long run but in my opinion with what I'm seeing day in and day out the lake is very healthy ! Last several spawns have been outstanding ! Weights at tournaments have been a little down over all this winter, but ( again it's my opinion) I truly believe the up and down weather and water temps along with the lake levels fluctuating has affecting tournament weights more than anything. Not saying anyone is wrong, but I believe we are in good shape.

 

[silvertalon]

If that record fish had been egg laden and ready to spawn -say in late March, It probably would've been close to 17lbs. There was a 5 fish bag last week at 42lbs and fish # 5 was only 5lbs!, I've seen several 9-12 lbrs as of late. I think the 13-14 pounder's are scarce but they are out there-and growing. I also think that the reason a few big ones are still popping up is because there are thousands of folks out there heaving rigs. I do agree the lake has seen its hay day for now. I say - 5 years. But, 10-15 years from now may be another story with the florida bass stocking of Nick and WB. There are other issues weighing on the TN River in general like industrial pollution. Anything can happen. I say 5 years.

 

[Hook1]

I strongly disagree with our lake being in a decline. I've been involved with night tournaments for the last 5 years or so and it's unbelievable how much weight it's taken the last couple of years to win. Not to mention what it can take to get big fish. Last year we broke 20 lbs over ten times. My brother and I had almost 25lbs one night. We had over ten bass over 10lbs weighed in. At least 3 of them were over 11lbs. I've stayed out later after weigh ins to fish longer and caught plenty pushing 10lbs. The bass are in there they just got smarter. With all the vegetation in our lake now I think it can be sustained to a high level of production. Anglers will be forced to adapt and change things. The record WILL be broken and it will be within the next 2 years.

 

[Hook1]

I forgot to mention that all of our night tournaments I mentioned above are 3 fish limits. A 7-8 lb average on a weekly basis is hardly concern to me about a decline.

 

[churly]

H1 hybrids are the biggest and meanest. As time goes on, it will be harder to get an h1. Twra said it themselves, this first generation will be the biggest....I am sure one that will blow
Our minds swims right now, but as times goes on, it's gonna be be harder to beat

 

[silvertalon]

Hook1 - 2/13/2017 9:55 PM

I strongly disagree with our lake being in a decline. I've been involved with night tournaments for the last 5 years or so and it's unbelievable how much weight it's taken the last couple of years to win. Not to mention what it can take to get big fish. Last year we broke 20 lbs over ten times. My brother and I had almost 25lbs one night. We had over ten bass over 10lbs weighed in. At least 3 of them were over 11lbs. I've stayed out later after weigh ins to fish longer and caught plenty pushing 10lbs. The bass are in there they just got smarter. With all the vegetation in our lake now I think it can be sustained to a high level of production. Anglers will be forced to adapt and change things. The record WILL be broken and it will be within the next 2 years.

Let us know when you start to see Fourteens coming in at night. That would be a good indicator of a possible new record.

 

[porthos33]

More about the H1 Hybrids from Mike Jolley


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptvdy6eVRDg&index=44&list=PLrHYtWwg-24DbLVeV480kL67gkTXN-ygc

 

[Hook1]

I will silvertalon. And by the way it won't surprise me at all if it happens this year. I hope I catch it though lol

 

[SpurHunter]

Ill break it in the next two years on natural swim baits.

 

[derek81]

SpurHunter - 2/14/2017 12:42 PM

Ill break it in the next two years on natural swim baits.

Cheater

 

[SpurHunter]

derek81 - 2/14/2017 3:39 PM

SpurHunter - 2/14/2017 12:42 PM

Ill break it in the next two years on natural swim baits.

Cheater

Sentiments like that are why its going to feel sooooooo good. HAHAHAHAHA

 

[jimwarden]

I heard a handsome senior crappie guide caught a monster largemouth on Chickamauga today that was sure to be a new state record. Here's his photo...anyone know this guy?

 

[porthos33]

jimwarden - 2/14/2017 8:52 PM I heard a handsome senior crappie guide caught a monster largemouth on Chickamauga today that was sure to be a new state record. Here's his photo...anyone know this guy?[/QUOT</p>

5lber?</p>

 

[occasionalfisher]

I read someplace years ago, that most every lake in the Southeast that has good forage and habitat has between 10 and 50 World Record Largemouth bass swimming in it at any given time. You never see them because they are old and they didn't get that way by biting every spinnerbait they see. If that is true then I think Chick will pump out another state record in the next few years. It is a tremendous fishery right now, it will continue to be so for a while, but all lakes ebb and flow. Falcon was the only place to go a few years ago and then they had a couple of off years for there and now it looks like the lake is bouncing back. Before Falcon it was Amistad, heck even the Big O has off years, but once you get a lake to the level that the Chick is at now, it will tend to stay at that kind of level for a while. A lot can happen to hurt the fishing, too much pressure, a few bad spawn years, water levels yo-yoing, pollution, killing off the grass, all those things can and will hurt the lake, but as long as the spawn numbers stay strong the fishing will stay strong. But it takes a big effort by anglers, and the TWRA and the TVA to keep a lake like this one at this level for long periods of time. Enjoy it while it is here, protect it as much as you can, and maybe one of us will catch the next one.

 

[SethColeman]

occasionalfisher - 2/15/2017 1:07 AM

I read someplace years ago, that most every lake in the Southeast that has good forage and habitat has between 10 and 50 World Record Largemouth bass swimming in it at any given time. You never see them because they are old and they didn't get that way by biting every spinnerbait they see. If that is true then I think Chick will pump out another state record in the next few years. It is a tremendous fishery right now, it will continue to be so for a while, but all lakes ebb and flow. Falcon was the only place to go a few years ago and then they had a couple of off years for there and now it looks like the lake is bouncing back. Before Falcon it was Amistad, heck even the Big O has off years, but once you get a lake to the level that the Chick is at now, it will tend to stay at that kind of level for a while. A lot can happen to hurt the fishing, too much pressure, a few bad spawn years, water levels yo-yoing, pollution, killing off the grass, all those things can and will hurt the lake, but as long as the spawn numbers stay strong the fishing will stay strong. But it takes a big effort by anglers, and the TWRA and the TVA to keep a lake like this one at this level for long periods of time. Enjoy it while it is here, protect it as much as you can, and maybe one of us will catch the next one.

Agree 100000000%

 

[smbass77]

I'd say it will not be broken any time soon. I think that fish, and others of that caliber, are left over of the original Florida Strain's stocked in the lake. Many are dying off from old age. Yes their genetics are now mixed with the native bass, and while they will still grow big, many biologist seem to feel that cross breeds don't grow as large as pure Florida Strain bass.