A Gathering Of Eagles, Page 48

A Gathering Of Eagles, Page 48

The advent of the “live well” in boats probably contributed heavily to the unau- thorized spread of the Florida bass. But the widespread notoriety of the huge bass catches also is probably responsible for the tremendous increase in the fishing tackle industry products such as bass lures, rods, reels, depth finders, PH meters, trolling motors, bass boats and just about every- thing else that has to do with fishing. There would be no Bass Pro Shops and hundreds of local tackle shops without the

tremendous growth of the bass fishing industry, bass tournaments, bass clubs, etc. According to records compiled over the years at Western Outdoor News and also according to B.A.S.S. headquarters in Alabama,

22.31 22.25 22.01 21.75 21.69 21.20 21.01 20.94 20.86 20.75 20.25 20.25 20.13 19.70 19.50 19.50 19.50 19.44 19.25 19.19 19.19 19.15 19.06 19.04 19.03 19.10 19.00 18.94

pounds: pounds, pounds, pounds, pounds, pounds, pounds, pounds, pounds, pounds, pounds, pounds, pounds, pounds, pounds, pounds, pounds, pounds, pounds, pounds, pounds, pounds, pounds, pounds, pounds, pounds, pounds, pounds,

these are a few of the top bass ever officially caught in the world record quest. I’ve heard of a few other fish apparently caught in California and Texas which may qualify for this list, but they have not be authenticated.

El Salto, with its friendly guides and big Florida bass, became a favorite of the author.

Lake Biwa, Japan, Manabu Kurita, July 2, 2009. Montgomery Lake (Georgia), George W. Perry, June 2, 1932. Castaic Lake (California), Robert Crupi, March 12, 1991. Castaic Lake (California), Michael Arujo, March 5, 1991. Lake Dixon (California), Jed Dickerson, May 31, 2003. Lake Casitas (California), Raymond Easley, March 4, 1980. Castaic Lake (California), Robert Crupi, March 9, 1990. Lake Miramar (California), David Zimmerlee, June 23, 1973. Castaic Lake (California), Leo Torres, Feb. 4, 1990. Lake Dixon (California), Mike Long, April 27, 2001. Lake Hodges (California), Gene Dupras, May 30, 1985. Lake Miramar (California), Johnny Garduno: March 25, 1990. Big Fish Lake (Florida), Fritz Friebel, May 19, 1923. Lake Mission Viejo (California), George Coniglio, March 31, 2006. Lake Miramar (California), Keith Gunsauls, Feb. 29, 1988. Castaic Lake (California), Mark Balloid, May 28, 1990. Lake Casitas (California), Randy Crabtree, April 9, 2002. Lake Dixon (California), Mac Weakley, May 20, 2003. Lake Miramar (California), Chris Brant, March 22, 1998. Lake Morena (California), Arden Charles Hanline, Feb. 17, 1987. Lake Wohlford (California), Steve Beasley, Feb. 3, 1986. Lake Ikehara (Japan), Kazuya Shimada, April 22, 2003. Lake Miramar (California), Sandra W. DeFresco, March 14, 1988. Castaic Lake (California), Danny Kadota, Jan. 8, 1989. Success Lake (California), Larry Kerns, Jan. 27, 2001. Lake Baccarac (Mexico), Bruce Knutsen, January 17, 1993 Lake Tarpon (Florida), Riley Witt, June 26, 1961. Lake Isabella (California), Keith Harper, April 7, 1984

48 SILVER EAGLES _ July 2011