The Secrets of the Lunker Largemouth Bass
If you are an angler who loves a challenge and a thrill, you probably dream of catching a lunker largemouth bass. This is a term that anglers use to describe a very big largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), a freshwater fish that lives in North America. The word lunker comes from “lunkhead”, which means a dumb or clumsy person. Anglers use this word to joke about how a big and smart fish can avoid being caught by most fishermen.
There is no official rule for how big a largemouth bass has to be to be called a lunker, but some people say that it has to be more than 10 pounds. However, some people think that a trophy largemouth bass has to be even bigger, because the biggest largemouth bass ever caught was 22 pounds and 4 ounces. It was caught by George Perry in Georgia in 1932. To beat this record, someone would have to catch a largemouth bass that is at least 2 ounces heavier.
How to Recognize a Largemouth Bass?
A largemouth bass is easy to recognize by its big mouth that goes past the back of its eye when it closes it. This big mouth helps the fish to eat prey that are bigger than its head, like frogs, crayfish, mice, and other fish. The largemouth bass also has a black stripe that goes along its side, and a green or brown color that changes depending on where it lives.
The largemouth bass is part of the sunfish family (Centrarchidae), which includes other fish that anglers like to catch, such as the smallmouth bass, the bluegill, and the crappie. The largemouth bass has other names too, such as black bass, green bass, bucketmouth, bigmouth, and Florida bass.
Where to Find Lunker Largemouth Bass?
You can find largemouth bass in almost every state in the US, and also in some parts of Canada and Mexico. They live in different kinds of freshwater places, like lakes, ponds, reservoirs, rivers, streams, and swamps. They like warm and clear water with lots of plants and places to hide.
But some states are better than others for finding lunker largemouth bass. These are:
| State | Reasons | Examples of Lakes |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | Numerous lakes and reservoirs that offer ideal conditions for bass growth. | O.H. Ivie Lake, Lake Fork, Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Falcon Lake |
| California | Stocked trout provide a rich food source for bass. Southern California lakes have produced most of the world record contenders. | Dixon Lake, Castaic Lake, Lake Casitas, Lake Perris |
| Florida | Abundant and diverse population of largemouth bass, including native northern strains and introduced Florida strains that grow faster and larger. Year-round fishing season and mild climate. | Lake Okeechobee, Lake Tohopekaliga, Rodman Reservoir, Lake Kissimmee |
| Georgia | Holds the current world record for largemouth bass since 1932. Many natural and man-made lakes that offer excellent habitat for bass. | Lake Lanier, Lake Sinclair, Lake Seminole, Montgomery Lake |
Other states that might have lunker largemouth bass are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
How Does the Largemouth Bass Act?
The largemouth bass is a very flexible and smart fish that can change its behavior depending on what is happening around it and what food it can find. It usually lives for 16 years, but sometimes it can live longer or shorter depending on things like how many fishermen there are, if it gets sick, or if the water is dirty.
The largemouth bass usually hunts by itself or with a few other fish. It uses its good eyesight, smell, hearing, and lateral line to find and surprise its prey. It can also use its big mouth to suck in its prey in one bite.
The largemouth bass is most hungry in the morning and evening when it eats near the top of the water or close to places where it can hide.
During the day, it likes to go to deeper water or shady areas where it can rest and digest its food. It may also get more hungry when the sky is cloudy or when it rains because there is less light.
The largemouth bass mates in spring when the water gets warmer. The male bass makes a nest in shallow water and guards it until the female bass comes and lays eggs. Then the male bass guards the eggs and the baby bass until they can swim away.
Lunker largemouth bass are one of the most exciting fish to catch for anglers who like a challenge and a thrill. Largemouth bass are named after their big mouth that lets them eat big things. They live in most states in the US, but some states have more chances of having lunker largemouth bass than others. These are Texas, California, Florida, and Georgia. Largemouth bass are very smart and flexible fish that can change their behavior depending on what is happening around them and what food they can find. They are most active in the morning and evening when they hunt near the surface or close to cover. They mate in spring when the water gets warmer.
