THE BASS COLLEGE

What delaware lake or river do you think has the potential to hold the next record bass.

Unfortunately it is NOT Red Mill right now. It was before years ago, but after the fish kill they had it is not. If it is managed properly, which I will be talking with you about, it is the place to produce it. The lake needs REAL shad and some brood stock added. Also some offshore structure. We will talk more later.. 

For now, there are several places that hold a state record, they are usually the places with trout or shad, and since we have no trout, the shad places are it. Fishing pressure does not matter as these fish never take the baits or tactics that most people use. You must actually fish for the state record and not other fish if thats what you want. Noxontown has it. Silver Lake in Dover most likely has one, Silver lake in Rehoboth probably has one if there was not too many killed in the last fish kill like Red Mill. The bigger bass are effected by the kills first. Any of the lakes that have good cover, a depth of 6 feet or more in spots, and SHAD, have at least one bass that is 9 or 10 pounds or better. It is just that they do not hit convential baits which is why they are that big. That is why the World Record was caught on a BLUEGILL!! 

Iv'e been reading that there hasn't been a record fish of any kind in Delaware in the last 10 or more years. I'd sure like to make one of my private ponds into a record bass pond but I know it's alot of work. I'm hoping to catch this supposed 8+lber in the neighborhood pond where I caught the 6 and a half pounder. There are some big bluegill in there in the 7+ inch range. As last resort I'll put a big bluegill on the hook and try my luck.

It is not 10 or more, lol, it is 1980. It was supposedly caught in January in Andrews on a shiner.That was 32 years ago. Before that, I would have held the state record, if that fish was not caught.

Here is my fish from Noxontown. 10.16

I meant bluegill, bass, pickeral etc... Is that your biggest bass ever or did you catch some big ones in California or Florida?

I have bigger bass from Florida. 11 pounds. I have never caught one bigger than that though, but I will. I will go to texas to OH IVIE and maybe Fork with Lance Vick in a few years and I except to better it there as well as catch another here that will break the record. 

Yeah You are right when you include the other species Greg. There would be if people concentrated on it, but except for bass they are caught by accident. If you spend the time to really research each body of water, take readings, forage samples, map the lakes, take Ph and temperature, study that species forage base and habits, then go after them at all times of the day and night when the conditions exist to have the best chance, you may get them, but just random casting is not going to do it.

One other note on this:

Even if the lake has the right depth, structure, forage, and has no kills, it still may never produce a state record unless the genetics exist to create it in the bass you have in it. That is not an easy task, but it can be acheived if you want it. This is the idea behind the "Share A Lunker" program in Texas, and it works. thats why all these giants are coming from Texas lakes. 

Delawarebass at November 29, 2011 at 11:46 PM

I have bigger bass from Florida. 11 pounds. I have never caught one bigger than that though, but I will. I will go to texas to OH IVIE and maybe Fork with Lance Vick in a few years and I except to better it there as well as catch another here that will break the record. 

well dont forget to get me 1st lol JK

Also for consideration, in my mind steve holds the delaware record unofficially, the fish caught from andrews was in january, when have ponds in delaware ever been unfrozen in january??? and if it was documented and evaluated why have no pictures been posted anywhere, ........

It didn't take long after the last discussion to get a supposed record bass.

Pond's never froze this past January and Steve has the info. on the last state record.  Look around.

Here is the new Delaware Record. Click to view>