How rare are pin sized bass?

As I'm sure most of you are aware, catching a 7+ pound large mouth earns you a Bronze Pin if you get it weighed at a certified weigh statiton.

Which brings me to my question: how rare is it to catch a 7 pound or larger bass here in MA? I've been fishing almost daily all over the state and I haven't cracked anything over 5 pounds yet.

Quite a few of them are caught during the season by anglers who specifically target them. DSouth on this site is an example. A pin is not that important to these guys and the fish is usually released after a photo shoot.

There are definitely alot of 7+pounder bass all over the Massachusetts but some ponds/lake doesnt support that kind of big fish due to lot of reasons: fish kill, not enough forage, etcs...

However, make more harder is that many bass fisherman are fishing for them EVERYDAY. So, big bass are get smarter by not get hooked by lure/shiners. They are usually hard to find or hidden that you would never expected them to be there. Some day, you get lucky to get bites from them, some day you aren't get any luck bite from them.

I am already breaking several 5 pounders this year. HOWEVER, I caught those fish out of two lakes out of 20-25 of lakes/ponds that I had been fished at this year. Anyway, there is no 6 or 7 pounder bass yet to be caught for me.

A 7lb LMB CAN be rare depending on where you fish... Some places a 7lb will be the biggest bass in your other BOW others a 7lb will just be a average big fish along with a abundance of others around the weight range. Like said above find the waters that hold those big fish. Don't expect them to be at the same pond you pounded your whole life. Now im not saying there might not be a beast in your local waters, but try these two things


1. Change your technique for targeting bigger bass in your local waters

2. Fish at night

3. Find new places to fish.



Keep in mind just as DFM said

Some BOW don't hold the potential growth needed for large bass. I know everyones got that pond that they ask" Why can't i catch anything big outta my local pond. It has forage, cover/structure etc"

Some places i can tell you why others i have no clue...


For example since my neighborhood has a bunch of pond ranging from 2 acres to over 100 i have alot of different choices.

Two ponds that are very local to me offer some great fishing, only problem is the bass won't grow over 5lbs and i have zero clue. Theres enough forage in the pond as im aware of. Not all the fish in the pond are stunted. Panfish, perch, and some decect sized picks... All small bass though... Now i don't except every pond to be perfect especially when not managed, but some ponds will not produce big fish no matter what???! Not even that ONE random pond pig to outdo the rest????

Ohh kinda forgot you said you traveled around the state



In that case i would honestly just scout around the web and whathaveyou. Just look for places that hold a wide variety of fish. You want the primary gamefish to be LMB, but some heavy stocked trout waters hold some monsters

I've been primarily fishing Lake Winthrop in Holliston which, according to the guys over at Jerry's Bait and Tackle, consistently produces the most 8+ pounders they weigh each year. I've also been fishing the infamous Stump Pond in Westborough, and I live on the shore of Lake Louisa in Milford which according to legend threw out a 10 pounder in the 80's.

Don't get me wrong. I love fishing and even catching a small bass brings me enjoyment but one of my life goals (regardless of how silly it may sound) is to bring in that pin winning fish. I always bring a cooler with me with an aerator just in case.

I'll definitely take into consideration that some lakes just can't accommodate that large of a fish or the heavy fishing pressure doesn't allow the lunkers to grow to monster size. Maybe I need to change up my tactics. What's the general method for specifically targeting those huge hogs? The 10'' rubber worm, 5'' spoons, and jumbo shiners aren't doing it haha

some heavy stocked trout waters hold some monsters

This is why I believe the rumor of Lake Louisa holding a few monsters. The entire back side of the lake goes almost totally unfished due to the thick weeds. They stock the lake 3 times a year with trout...

What's the general method for specifically targeting those huge hogs? The 10'' rubber worm, 5'' spoons, and jumbo shiners aren't doing it haha

Swimbaits.

Haha funny u mention lake louisa my mothers neighbor swears he caught a 7-8lber there. I went there and caught a close to 5 but he has never weighed his fish so think he is off lb or 2 prob a 6 but with small sample sure there r some big ones in there. And the trout pond theory is true I caught a 7+lber at hopkinton res and I here they pull bigger ones than that through the ice.

IMO 7+ lb largemouth are rare, especially when you take into accoun the amount of fishing hours logged by the 1000's of guys in Mass who fish for bass. There might be 30 or so caught a year. Thats not a lot. I have been fishing HARD for 20+ years and I have only 4 lm over 7 lbs.

There is an article in a local newspaper up in Gardner I think of someone catching a 14.2 this summer but the picture doesnt look like it. Ill see if I can find the article.

Already found the article and I don't wanna be a tool but I think it looks more like a 6 to 8 pounder to me. If you look at other 14 pound bass they make this one look like a shiner.

http://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/ci_23658478/gardner-man-hauls-quite-catch?source=rss_viewed

If this IS true, than good for him, that is awesome!

His pic is in the articles.

http://www.billdanceoutdoors.com/bills-blog__3_photo.php?detail=1549&ll=0

No I agree. After I read the article I looked up some other examples and everything that was 14 plus had an ugly looking belly.

What can you do though

There is an article in a local newspaper up in Gardner I think of someone catching a 14.2 this summer but the picture doesnt look like it. Ill see if I can find the article.

No way that is 14.2 I would like to borrow his scale to weigh my fish with those scrawney little arms he would have been having a much harder time holdin up a 14 haha