Thats the same bass I saw mounted, he had it at a Fishing Show at the Civic Center a few years back. I was amazed at how wide the fish was from its back to its belly. The girth was far more impressive than the length.
#69261 - 09/21/0405:27 PM
Re: RECORD LARGEMOUTH!!!
Jighead
I love re-re-opening day
Registered: 04/05/02
Posts: 11190
FYI on skin mounts - Way back when I worked for CT Taxidermy Specialists, I learned a few things about skin mounts. I'm not criticizing this specific mount without seeing it, but thought that inquiring minds might want to know.
If in fact the mount you are talking about was a skin mount, keep in mind that you are working with a skin that is really no different than a wet towel at that point. It's up to the artist then to make it look like a bass again and maintain proper proportions. Length and especially girth, can come out different than the actual measurements. If the seam on the back side of the fish is left open a bit, you can add girth to the fish. (trust me - I left mine open a bit ) and you can easily make a fish look thicker than it was.
I'd been out of the Fishing game for a while and was sad to hear he wasn't in westbrook anymore, He sold the place and went to Florida I think, Someone else bought it but they specialize in Saltwater, very little Fresh gear in the Store. Anyway that was some Bass but I think todays FiberGlass Repo's look a lot Better but it also helps to have a good photo for the proper colors and shading
Think Like A Fish !!!! No Matter How Weird It Gets !!!
I was given copies of all the CT DEP Trophy fish records from 1965 through 1984 as well as 1985, 1987, 1988 and 1989 for all species. I realize that the data is from some time ago and that many trophy (OVER 6 POUND) largemouth bass are not registered with the DEP. I offer the following summary solely for informational purposes based on the data I was given:
Total Trophy Largemouth Bass over 6 pounds caught during those years: 1179
Of those 1179 Trophy Largemouth Bass, here is what comprises those totals:
6 pounds and over, but less than 7: 765 (65%)
7 pounds and over, but less than 8: 242 (26%)
8 pounds and over, but less than 9: 83 (7%)
9 pounds and over, but less than 10: 14 (1%)
10 pounds and over, but less than 11: 2
11 pounds and over, but less than 12: 1
12 pounds and over: 0
The data suggests that 91% of the trophy largemouth bass caught and registered in CT are under 8 pounds and that 98% of the trophy largemouth bass are under 9 pounds. Registered bass over 9 pounds only make up about 1.5% of the total.
My take on this is that the data suggests that verified largemouth of over 8 pounds are very tough to come by, and that 9, 10 and 11 pound bass caught in Connecticut waters are truly the bass of a lifetime.
I wish everyone well in their quest for trophy bass. I'd love to see more 9, 10, and 11 pound bass caught and released. It only takes one cast with the right bait into the right spot, at the right time...
That makes sense. I will be shocked if I see that state record broken in my lifetime. It would be great though. Look at the frequency in which a 10+ lber is caught - I'd be willing to bet it's about less than one per year (at least according to this data), that tells you that a 10lber is exceptionally rare. Yes, I'm sure some aren't reported, but if you look at this data you'd be hard pressed to disagree that the chances of a fish close to 13lbs being slayed in CT are about 1 in a million.