New State Record Smallmouth caught at Pardee

Sean Graf · Post by **Sean Graf** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 9:33 pm

http://www.pardeelakerecreation.com/#state%20record

That fish may be the one that was caught twice earlier this season.

Same area, the lucky angler lost one he said was much bigger!

Go get it FishChris!

Kiss my Bass · Post by **Kiss my Bass** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 11:33 pm

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A ten plus lives there!!!!

Kiss my Bass

mark poulson · Post by **mark poulson** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 5:25 am

Man, that fish was huge, and almost all gut. Can't imagine the fight it put up. Smallies are amazing!

ash · Post by **ash** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 6:03 am

That is not the same fish that Ryan and Chris cought, the fish in this pic is much more bronze. WOW Pardee can really kick out some fish!

g-man · Post by **g-man** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 6:38 am

Dang, there are some big smallies in Pardee, and they just keep on coming! Nice fish!

Cooch · Post by **Cooch** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 7:43 am

it could be the same fish! Look at the lil dark blotch just above each anglers left hand. Then look at the dark streak mark right through the center of the tail. The overall coloration will be deceiving, since the first fish was caught pre-spawn in March, where that fish prolly was up in cooler, clear water, maybe even a lil deeper, where it's coloration will be more brilliant and defined. Versus this new fish looks like it may have been caught in shallower, stained water that is definately warmer than March temps. Looks like she's alive and feeding well!

Whether it is or not, that's one awesome Smallmouth bass, and clearly answers any questions about trophy smallies in Pardee! Let the mad rush begin! Beautiful fish Harold!

JRock · Post by **JRock** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 7:53 am

Cooch, Don't get Fish Chris started!

Cooch · Post by **Cooch** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 8:40 am

never know Rock, he may agree with me!

Either way, the crowd here will pound the clicks no matter what! HAR! HAR! HAR!

Sacto John · Post by **Sacto John** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 8:42 am

Looks like the same fish to me. if you look at the markings on the fish (while harder to see in the newest picture) they all match almost exactly.

When is this fish going to learn to stop eating plastic baits? Hopefully not until I get a shot at her.

ash · Post by **ash** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 9:20 am

What wasnt told in this story is that the guy fed a family of 20 some small mouth bass. Sorry John this fish is filleted, now everyone go back out to the Delta, Pardee is too expensive and far to fish...... I of course will have to make my way down there to personally verify this information.....hehehe

I see what cooch means with the markings on the tail and spot on the back and vaguley the spots under the dorsal.

supermat · Post by **supermat** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 11:13 am

You'd think that bronze girl would learn one of these days! She's getting to be famous with three appearances this year alone. Maybe if I camp out on Leveque Point for the next year I too can have a shot at that plastic-loving freak of nature.

Cooch · Post by **Cooch** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 3:51 pm

Boys of SoCal do that all the time at Dixon! HAR! HAR! Just don't be so careless as ta snag her after she hit's world Record class! HAR! HAR! HAR!

bassindon69 · Post by **bassindon69** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 5:41 pm

I wish I could see another pic of the fish without sun on it. I would say it's not the same fish, to many marks not the same.

Don.

biteme · Post by **biteme** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 6:30 pm

[quote="supermat"]You'd think that bronze girl would learn one of these days! She's getting to be famous with three appearances this year alone. Maybe if I camp out on Leveque Point for the next year I too can have a shot at that plastic-loving freak of nature.

[/quote
Seems like fish out of that lake like plastics. The last tournament I fish I threw a lot of big baits. A few guys cought seven and eight pounders on roboworms!]

Fish Chris · Post by **Fish Chris** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 9:25 pm

Well first off, what an absolutely outstanding catch ! Yes, I am VERY envious ! Not at all jellous though. Huge congrats to Harold ! He's the man !!!

Now, as for whether or not this is the same fish, I am 95% sure it is "NOT" the same fish, and here's why;

When Ryan and I caught "our fish" it went 8.50 and 8.94 with an outrageously huge gut. Total pre-spawn. This fish went almost 10 lbs "in JULY" !!! I'll bet when Ryan and I were messing around with our "little" 8.50 to 8.94 lb'er, Harold's fish was weighing 10 1/2 lbs ! And the even more amazing thing is, although this fish has to be getting close to the end of its life span, it still looks pretty clean, and healthy to me. (he did release it, right ?) I can totally imagine this fish being "over 11 lbs next Spring"........ while Ryan and mine's fish might be a little over 10 lbs.

As for the markings (and the color means absolutely nothing..... you could tint the photo purple, but the patterns and blotches, like finger prints on a human, do not change) it's really a tough one, with Harold's fish being somewhat washed out, plus some glare. However, from the markings I can see, the individual light and dark scales just don't line up (and this is how I compare fish BTW).

Granted, that small blotch above the anal fin is in almost the same area of the fish..... however, look at the individual scales of that blotch..... or, for that matter, the individual scales of markings on other parts of the fish.

So IMPO, it's not the same fish, but rather, and even more impressive catch than my own ! Most especially because it was over a pound bigger "in JULY" !!!

Just amazing,
Fish

PS, ......and I really thought I had a strong plan for targeting 15 to 17 plus Largemouth's next Spring. This might throw a wrench in things

Alameda Eric · Post by **Alameda Eric** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 6:02 am

Next spring that fish will be hanging on his wall.

Fish Chris · Post by **Fish Chris** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 7:40 am

Yea. The ol' state record thing, is kind of a sticky situation. I mean, what fisherman wouldn't want one ? However, I believe in most situations the Ca DFG wants to study the fish "inside and out".

I know that Bob Crupi's 22 lb Largemouth did not become certified as the Ca state record Largemouth, because he refused to keep / kill it. Hat's off to Mr. Crupi for that one...... But can one really expect a lot of other people to do this ?

Granted, an all-tackle world record is an infinitely bigger deal, than a Cali state record..... but most people don't know, or believe, how possible it is to catch the same giant fish twice.

Personally speaking, if the fish appeared to be doing okay in the livewell (but probably not during a heatwave in July) I might try to keep the fish around long enough for some of my buddies in the Ca DFG to at least see the fish (I'd tell em' to bring there X-ray camera

but if that were not enough, I might have to opt to release the fish, and take what's behind door #2......... Which is, the chance to catch that fish again in the future, when it has become the ultimate trophy.... An all-tackle world record !

Peace,
Fish

PS, ..... but I wouldn't / don't expect a whole lot of guys out there to think like I do. And I wouldn't slam somebody for wanting a state record {Of course one could talk about > how bad he wanted to release it.... and those jerks at the Ca DFG made me do it <

LOL

Hipster · Post by **Hipster** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 3:31 pm

Fish Chris,

I now want to throw up AGAIN!!

yes that fish did not live as I was up there as usual on my weekly trip to Pardee and heard of the catch. The fish is gone to DFG study!!

I cannot tell youi folks what I have seen, hooked, landed, broke off and caught from that pond since I started fishing it regularly in 1999. I love that lake

Fish Chris · Post by **Fish Chris** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 5:44 pm

Hey Mark, just to keep this clear, it wasn't something I posted that would make you want to throw up, was it ?

If you were saying, "........to see a world class Smallmouth bite the dust"..... yea'.... that's kind of rough. But as I had said, the guy (like many people) probably doesn't know how possible it would have been, to have C/R'd that fish again when it had grown to be even bigger.... maybe even an All Tackle World Record.

BTW, while sight fishing for the big one that I got earlier this year, I saw a REALLY HUGE brown bass, cruising in the same area as mine..... Looked a full 3 inches longer than mine, but it didn't have the big, over-inflated belly. I later said that fish looked to be 11 to 12 lbs. I wonder if that was the fish that was just caught ? (which probably would have been in the 11's during prespawn) ?
With any other lake I'd say, "It had to be" ! But in Pardee, who knows ?!?! That place might have 10 Smallies from 10 to 11 lbs in it ! You just can't compare the place to any other Smallmouth lake on the planet.

Peace,
Fish

bassindon69 · Post by **bassindon69** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 11:11 pm

WOW Chris! That means you agree with me all but 5% COOL! LOL!!!
All in fun buddy

Don.

Hipster · Post by **Hipster** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 5:59 am

No Chris not you,

The fish part having to be laid to rest.

I do not get into the discussions about people keeping fish to eat ect. they bought a license to fish, so be it who am I to tell them different.
BUT
I do think\wish the DFG should have a way to examine and release if that's what the angler chooses.

Fish Chris · Post by **Fish Chris** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 8:18 am

No kidding huh. But if it ever comes down to it, I might just have to release the fish right in front of the Ca DFG. I'd be like > You saw it, you weighed it, you examined it, you measured it, you saw it swimming upright in the live well, you counted the scales and fin rays, you took a DNA sample to determine pureness of strain..... Now if that's not enough..... Excuse me gentlemen, while I release this "future all-tackle World Record Smallmouth"

Honestly, I'm not positive (maybe somebody here will know) that the fish has to be killed. It might just be more "conveniant" for the Ca DFG to do some of the tests I just mentioned, back at the shop. But I wonder if they had to deal with some stubborn fish head like me, if they could work around that issue ??? I'd bet on something like this, they could pretty much make their own rules..... if they wanted to.

Hmmmm,
Peace,
Fish

stickbait · Post by **stickbait** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 9:46 am

Cooch wrote:it could be the same fish! Look at the lil dark blotch just above each anglers left hand. Then look at the dark streak mark right through the center of the tail. The overall coloration will be deceiving, since the first fish was caught pre-spawn in March, where that fish prolly was up in cooler, clear water, maybe even a lil deeper, where it's coloration will be more brilliant and defined. Versus this new fish looks like it may have been caught in shallower, stained water that is definately warmer than March temps. Looks like she's alive and feeding well!

Whether it is or not, that's one awesome Smallmouth bass, and clearly answers any questions about trophy smallies in Pardee! Let the mad rush begin! Beautiful fish Harold!

There is a black line in the middle of both the tails also .. could and most likley the same fish and a nice one at that!

Was it released alive ? Sure is sounding like a world record is in the works!!

Fish Chris · Post by **Fish Chris** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 7:01 pm

Hey Stickbait, that black line in the middle of the caudal fin, which you referred to, is simply the overlapping of a few of the rays in the center of the tail. A very common occurence. I could actually show you several Smallie and Largemouth photos with the same thing going on.

Not sure if you read my post, but a fish will not "lose a huge belly full of eggs, and gain 1 to 1 1/2 lbs at the same time, in a matter of a few months". Pretty much an impossibility.

Not the same fish, but as I had said, "It was a much more incredible trophy catch than my own.... not only because it was 1 1/2 lbs bigger, but even more so, because it was caught way into the post spawn" !!!

That fish had a CRAZY huge frame ! I "wish" I caught that fish in April, instead of my own..... But I think mine was pertier though

Peace,
Fish

PS, One other major difference between that fish and mine....... Mine is still in there, waiting for me to stick her again next Spring when she goes 10.1 lbs, and becomes the new state record

bassindon69 · Post by **bassindon69** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 9:32 pm

I hope you get her too Chris!

Don.

mjb · Post by **mjb** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 9:39 pm

Joe W. · Post by **Joe W.** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 7:48 am

Chris, are you saying that you have to kill the fish and turn it over the the Ca DFG for it to be a state record?

Skeeter1 · Post by **Skeeter1** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 9:06 am

The fish does not have to be killed to be verified for a St. Record. It does need to be weighed on a "Certified Scale" (they have one at Pardee) with at least 2 witnesses. It then needs to be examined to confirm the species DFG biologists and have the paperwork filled out. The tricky thing is that you can't transport live fish so taking the live fish to DFG is not the thing to do. What you would need to do if you want to release it is put the fish in the live well and get on the horn. Get the biologists to come to the fish, which may be difficult to do on a holiday or weekend, but should be no problem most weekdays.

Blue_R70 · Post by **Blue_R70** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 9:49 am

Skeeter1 wrote:The fish does not have to be killed to be verified for a St. Record. It does need to be weighed on a "Certified Scale" (they have one at Pardee) with at least 2 witnesses. It then needs to be examined to confirm the species DFG biologists and have the paperwork filled out. The tricky thing is that you can't transport live fish so taking the live fish to DFG is not the thing to do.

I'd like to think that in the matter of verifying a possible state record the "transporting live game fish" violation would be overlooked or waived. If holding the state record is that important to the angler he'd probably eat the ticket and accept the hassle anyway.

So if the DFG were to actually issue a ticket when all the angler wanted to do was to have his catch verified, it'd be a big black eye for the state and further erode public opinion of DFG...

Terry · Post by **Terry** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 3:51 pm

You do not have to kill your catch to have it verified as a state record, but you should provide as much information as possible. Good photos are very important. There is no law about how long you can keep your catch alive in an aerated livewell until you reach a DFG employee, you just can't move it from the water from where it was taken.

My staff and I will do as best we can to verify record bass, especially a world record. For a state record, make sure you meet the requirements on the following link:

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/fishing/html/Angl ... cord_0.htm

My office phone is 916-445-3777 on weekdays. Other numbers are available on the website, but a new-look website is coming this weekend, and I don't have that link yet.

Now someone go catch that WR!

Terry Foreman
Fisheries Program Manager
Fisheries Branch
California Dept. of Fish and Game

Fish Chris · Post by **Fish Chris** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 4:26 pm

Thank you Terry, and I'll tell you what, when I catch the next State record Smallie, if you and your co-workers will come certify it for me (before I release it), I'll pay for your gas

Fish

STONEFREE · Post by **STONEFREE** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 5:27 pm

IF THAT FISH IS DEAD, JUST SO SOMEONE CAN CLAIM A STATE RECORD ,THE PERSON THAT LET THAT HAPPEN. IS A FULL BLOWN IDIOT. IM PISSED OFF, THAT IS SOOOOOOOOO WRONG. JOHN LOWE.

Blue_R70 · Post by **Blue_R70** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 5:40 pm

STONEFREE wrote:IF THAT FISH IS DEAD, JUST SO SOMEONE CAN CLAIM A STATE RECORD ,THE PERSON THAT LET THAT HAPPEN. IS A FULL BLOWN IDIOT. IM PISSED OFF, THAT IS SOOOOOOOOO WRONG. JOHN LOWE.

Oh, c'mon...in the grand scheme of things, IT'S JUST A FISH. Don't blow a gasket...

Fish Chris · Post by **Fish Chris** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 5:45 pm

Come on man....

First off, you don't have to scream. The caps lock button should be 3 from the bottom on the left side of your key board

Secondly, you said > "Just to get a State record" < Uhhh.... I don't know about you, but a state record Smallmouth would be pretty freaking big news in my fishing book !

......then, if I didn't know that I could release the fish, and still have it verified as a state record too ???

I think maybe "you" should go catch a state record, then it would be your own choice as to what you would do with it

Peace,
Fish

PS, Don't get me wrong, you won't find "anybody" more pro-C/R for trophy sized fish, but when you have been around this block as many times as I have, you learn not to take it so personally.

Education is the key.

Jay Rowan · Post by **Jay Rowan** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 11:49 am

Fish Chris wrote:Thank you Terry, and I'll tell you what, when I catch the next State record Smallie, if you and your co-workers will come certify it for me (before I release it), I'll pay for your gas

Fish

Chris, I'd be the first one in the truck to go certify a new St. or WR for you or anyone else. No gas money necessary.

I met Chris on the Ramp at Pardee a few months ago, we talked a little and he told me that a State or World Record smallie was coming out of this lake in the next two years. It didn't even take 3 months.

You can always call the Region 2 office, there are a few of us that would be more than happy to go id a St. or World Record fish.

Jay Rowan
Lake and Reservoir Biologist
North Central Region
CDFG

Kentuck · Post by **Kentuck** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 2:45 pm

In today's Stockton paper. Fish caught July 3rd. Taken to DFG on July 5th.

On Thursday, Hardin took his trophy to the Department of Fish and Game's Region 2 headquarters in Rancho Cordova, where a team of biologists collected scale samples, counted fins and weighed and measured it. Biologist Mike Harris confirmed the fish was a pure-bred smallmouth and certified it as the record catch.

STONEFREE · Post by **STONEFREE** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 3:09 pm

STILL WRONG, THAT 25#LARGIE IS STILL DOING FINE. YOU HAVE 2 CENTS, SO DID I. NUFF SAID. JOHN LOWE

mac (Doyle McEwen) · Post by **mac (Doyle McEwen)** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 3:16 pm

Just out of curiousity, how do you know the 25# is doing fine, especially as no one caught it this year..I would be willing to wager a small amount, the fish no longer exists..Personally I hope I am wrong, but in this case no news could very easily be bad news..

mac

MikeD · Post by **MikeD** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 12:40 pm

http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/fish ... id=2931118

bad_angler · Post by **bad_angler** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 3:45 pm

Thats is an absolutely amazing fish. Hard to believe a smallmouth could get so big.

Fish Chris · Post by **Fish Chris** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 8:06 pm

So we meet again !

You had given me your e-mail on a piece of scratch paper, but unfortunately, it got washed, and the next time I saw it, it looked like a spitball. Doh !

Hey could you shoot me a PM with that again ?

Your just the kind of guy I like to bug the crap out..... err.... keep in touch with

LOL

Take care,
Fish Chris

Jay Rowan · Post by **Jay Rowan** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 1:57 pm

No problem Chris or any one else if you want to e-mail me with questions.
jrowan@dfg.ca.gov

Joe W. · Post by **Joe W.** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 2:11 pm

I fish a lot of lakes that have no ranger station or anything really near by. I always wonder what the hell I'd do if I caught one that pegged my 25lbs scale. Not that it's going to happen to me but I am sure others fish lakes that are similar. What if you're fishing from the bank and you land a WR? How would you even attempt to keep a fish that size alive long enough for someone to get there? I always think about crazy stuff like this. haha

Fish Chris · Post by **Fish Chris** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 7:52 pm

Hey Joe, this is just MPO, but a world record fish is an entirely different subject than a lake or state record.

As far as I'm concerned, if its a world record, it has nothing greater left to attain ! I don't care if its 22 1/2 or 50 lbs ! A world record of "any size" is as great as it gets !

I don't think I could bring myself to flat blast a 23 lb Largemouth in the head with an oar..... and "IF" it were strong enough to be transported "by the Ca DFG only" to a holding tank for further study, that would be all fine by me.

And one more thing, although records are meant to be broken, I'd be sure that nobody was going to catch my same fish a month later, when it had eaten one extra trout, to beat my WR, with my own fish.

But yes, I'd release a 22-3 Largemouth with no second thoughts.... in fact, there would be no other fish with which C/R would be of greater importance, because that would be "the fish" with the highest odds of becoming the next WR !

Just my .02 cents,
Fish

PS.... and yes, I'd expect a few haters to try to twist my words, and call me hypocritical for keeping the world record.... Then again, I expect a few haters here and there, even when I haven't caught a WR bass

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