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WILL LAKE DIXON PRODUCE RECORD -- gollaz-ONS -- 14mar07
Lake Dixon is the new epicenter for world record largemouth bass quest
By CYNDI GOLLAZ Outdoor News Service
ESCONDIDO -- The 25.1-pound bass landed at Lake Dixon last March seemed too good to be true. It was almost three pounds over the current world record, and it was landed by a man and his fishing partners that have been far more dedicated to the sport than most.
But the Mac Weakley's bass was not the prize it seemed. It would not become the new record catch, even though the fish was significantly larger than George Perrys 22 1/4-pound record caught in 1932 from Montgomery Lake, Georgia. Why? The Carlsbad resident's bass would not replace the most coveted and well-know record of all time because he unintentionally foul-hooked the fish just below its dorsal fin. State law requires that unless a fish is hooked in the mouth it must be released.
So after weighing the fish, Weakley and his crew -- Mike Winn and Jed Dickerson, who have fished together at Dixon for years -- let the beast go.
Although the largemouth did not qualify for the world record, it did create worldwide attention for Lake Dixon.
Its great to know we have living proof, said Jim Dayberry, Lake Dixon park manager. Weve been saying since the 90s that the world records going to come out of here.
With the fish possibly still swimming the lake, the hype is increasing as the one year anniversary of Weakleys catch approaches.
It hasnt been seen since it was released, said Dayberry. People estimate the fish is 14 years old.
Most largemouth bass do not live past 10 years of age and 15 is the upper limit of their lifespan. Could the fish still be alive? Could it have become even bigger? And perhaps more importantly for the anglers coming from all over the country -- from all over the world -- to fish Lake Dixon, what will bait or lure will con the record fish?
Most anglers believe that you give them a bait that resembles what helped grow them to that size, something that imitates a hatchery-sized rainbow trout.
For a bass to reach the size of Weakley's fish, you have to give em lots of trout, said Dayberry. Biologists believe the fatty, high protein rainbows are a critical component to growing a new world record. The big females -- and all the biggest bass are females -- eat the rainbows in the winter and early spring, actually gaining weight during what is normally a lean time of year for fish. Besides allowing them to gain weight, a trout diet also puts the bass in top condition as they develop eggs for the spring spawn.
Since big bass feed on rainbow trout, giving them something that looks familiar, something they like, makes the most sense to some. The larger swimbaits, such as the nine- and 10-inch Stocker Trout, the 12-inch Castaic trout, the Huddleston Deluxe, A.C. Plugs, the Rago Live Trout, and similar lures probably account for more hefty bass than any other class of bait. The goal of all these lures is to imitate rainbow trout.
Theres a lot of newer swimbaits being used, like the bigger, trout-style baits. The brands are Rago, Huddleston, Castaics, and the Reaction Strike, said Luke Ofield, owner of Anglers Choice, a tackle shop in San Diego frequented by bass anglers who fish Dixon.
But some believe its about a fishermans intuition and not the particular bait.
You see this thing and you just know [it will work], said Richard Studinka, Lake Dixon park ranger.
The best bet is instinct.
Or luck.
If the record bass still swims in Dixon, all anglers wonder if it will be bigger this spring than when Weakley pulled it out.
Growth rates are slow because of the fishs estimated age, said Dayberry, explaining how the bass could be bigger. It depends on if its full of eggs or if it just ate. A couple of rainbow trout in the bass stomach would add a pound or more to its weight.
Lake Dixon has a history of beastly bass and is home to nice catches that have come close to the record before Weakley landed the 25-pounder. In April, 2001, Mike Long landed a 20-pound, 12-ounce bass, and in 2003 Dickerson caught a 21-pound, 11.2-ounce bass. But there are several waters in Southern California that have produced bass over 20 pounds, but only Dixon is certain to have grown a bass bigger than George Perry's fish.
Dedicated bass anglers know that.
I came to Southern California to fish Dixon. I will fish at other places, but I know the history of the lake, and all about Weakleys catch last year, said Connecticut angler, Christine Rostowfske.
Park rangers at Lake Dixon just hope that someone with a passion for fishing lands the next world record.
No one can define how its going to go, but I hope it is landed by someone who is dedicated, said Studinka. Or by some six-year-old with his Snoopy fishing pole.
Lake Dixon is the new epicenter for world record largemouth bass quest
By CYNDI GOLLAZ Outdoor News Service
ESCONDIDO -- The 25.1-pound bass landed at Lake Dixon last March seemed too good to be true. It was almost three pounds over the current world record, and it was landed by a man and his fishing partners that have been far more dedicated to the sport than most.
But the Mac Weakley's bass was not the prize it seemed. It would not become the new record catch, even though the fish was significantly larger than George Perrys 22 1/4-pound record caught in 1932 from Montgomery Lake, Georgia. Why? The Carlsbad resident's bass would not replace the most coveted and well-know record of all time because he unintentionally foul-hooked the fish just below its dorsal fin. State law requires that unless a fish is hooked in the mouth it must be released.
So after weighing the fish, Weakley and his crew -- Mike Winn and Jed Dickerson, who have fished together at Dixon for years -- let the beast go.
Although the largemouth did not qualify for the world record, it did create worldwide attention for Lake Dixon.
Its great to know we have living proof, said Jim Dayberry, Lake Dixon park manager. Weve been saying since the 90s that the world records going to come out of here.
With the fish possibly still swimming the lake, the hype is increasing as the one year anniversary of Weakleys catch approaches.
It hasnt been seen since it was released, said Dayberry. People estimate the fish is 14 years old.
Most largemouth bass do not live past 10 years of age and 15 is the upper limit of their lifespan. Could the fish still be alive? Could it have become even bigger? And perhaps more importantly for the anglers coming from all over the country -- from all over the world -- to fish Lake Dixon, what will bait or lure will con the record fish?
Most anglers believe that you give them a bait that resembles what helped grow them to that size, something that imitates a hatchery-sized rainbow trout.
For a bass to reach the size of Weakley's fish, you have to give em lots of trout, said Dayberry. Biologists believe the fatty, high protein rainbows are a critical component to growing a new world record. The big females -- and all the biggest bass are females -- eat the rainbows in the winter and early spring, actually gaining weight during what is normally a lean time of year for fish. Besides allowing them to gain weight, a trout diet also puts the bass in top condition as they develop eggs for the spring spawn.
Since big bass feed on rainbow trout, giving them something that looks familiar, something they like, makes the most sense to some. The larger swimbaits, such as the nine- and 10-inch Stocker Trout, the 12-inch Castaic trout, the Huddleston Deluxe, A.C. Plugs, the Rago Live Trout, and similar lures probably account for more hefty bass than any other class of bait. The goal of all these lures is to imitate rainbow trout.
Theres a lot of newer swimbaits being used, like the bigger, trout-style baits. The brands are Rago, Huddleston, Castaics, and the Reaction Strike, said Luke Ofield, owner of Anglers Choice, a tackle shop in San Diego frequented by bass anglers who fish Dixon.
But some believe its about a fishermans intuition and not the particular bait.
You see this thing and you just know [it will work], said Richard Studinka, Lake Dixon park ranger.
The best bet is instinct.
Or luck.
If the record bass still swims in Dixon, all anglers wonder if it will be bigger this spring than when Weakley pulled it out.
Growth rates are slow because of the fishs estimated age, said Dayberry, explaining how the bass could be bigger. It depends on if its full of eggs or if it just ate. A couple of rainbow trout in the bass stomach would add a pound or more to its weight.
Lake Dixon has a history of beastly bass and is home to nice catches that have come close to the record before Weakley landed the 25-pounder. In April, 2001, Mike Long landed a 20-pound, 12-ounce bass, and in 2003 Dickerson caught a 21-pound, 11.2-ounce bass. But there are several waters in Southern California that have produced bass over 20 pounds, but only Dixon is certain to have grown a bass bigger than George Perry's fish.
Dedicated bass anglers know that.
I came to Southern California to fish Dixon. I will fish at other places, but I know the history of the lake, and all about Weakleys catch last year, said Connecticut angler, Christine Rostowfske.
Park rangers at Lake Dixon just hope that someone with a passion for fishing lands the next world record.
No one can define how its going to go, but I hope it is landed by someone who is dedicated, said Studinka. Or by some six-year-old with his Snoopy fishing pole.
