The other threads were great and got me thinking, what is a big bass here? In my part of Alabama, a 5 pound spot is a good one and a large mouth over probably 6. (Non farm pond)

I’d say 7 from bham north and prob 8 for south Bama

8+

Depending on area. 12 pounds is a good one for larger lakes, ponds, and rivers. Depending on species on the small river's a 4-7 pounder would be special.

Two filets the size of a dinner plate.

Any river in Alabama 7 lbs is hard to come by .20 years ago were everyday thing at Pickensville now not many that size to be found .never hear of one over 8.

Big is one thing, a trophy bass is another, and 10 lbs is the gold standard, magic mark for a trophy largemouth and always has been. I’d say 7lbs for comparable trophy spots and smallies

Almost exactly what I was going to say...7+ is big, 10+ is trophy. We don't have smallies down here, and I don't differentiate between spots and largemouth...bass is bass.

Bigger than the one the other guy in the boat caught

Got to differentiate on trophy status by species. Official World record largemouth is 22lb 4 oz, Mack Weakly caught a 25lb 1 oz largemouth in CA in 2006 but it was foul hooked so it did not count. The World record spot is only 11lb 4 oz.

4-8lbs

Biggest one that gets you paid in a tournament. I've seen 2-3lbrs win hundreds of dollars in tournaments

I have a favorite meme I keep handy for use, "Pond bass don't count as personal bests". When I see a post about "kid catches 14 pounder in farm pond" I basically just yawn.

So strictly talking about large public rivers and impoundments. If you go to Eufala or Guntersville (or Wedowee), it's probably 8+, with 10 pounds not being unrealistic. If you go to the Coosa or Alabama rivers (or basically anything other than those three lakes I mentioned), you're probably looking at 5+, with 7 pounds not being unrealistic. And again, I'm talking largemouths only. For spots and smallies, my idea is 5+ to be realistic, but 6-7 pounds would be enormous.

^^^^I agree 100% on the pond bass deal. Kinda like hunting in the "small pen" for big bucks. Most of the time, if the pond is mature and has a large enough forage base, trophy bass are there and have very little if any real fishing pressure on them. Catch them on public waters and you've done something. LIke I said above, 8 is big and anything 10+ is a trophy. As far as public versus private waters, just ask John Travis about the difference between "free range" and the "big and small pens". He can explain it to you.

Good analogy

7+ lil pond or big lake they all pull hard 😀

All of this.


My wife caught her 10+ out of a private pond. She still gets pissed if I call it a cheater fish.


I've been tournament fishing for 15 years at a club and state level. Not sure that I've seen many 8+ pound fish weighed in. I've only caught 3 that big in my entire life on public waters.

Any 6 and above is a big bass. A trophy depends on the angler.This thread is about big bass.Many here have never caught a 6 and it would be a trophy for them.

psssh. You must have been facing left during your entire timeout. Everyone gets a trophy if they feel they deserve it? You've switched your vote to Biden havent you?

Just kidding glad your back Perch. I do agree with your comment. I know some people that have 4 and 5 lb bass mounted. To each their own and if it makes them happy and they are proud of it, then good for them. When I am on the front deck out looking in the spring, 90% of the time, I will trolling motor past 7s, 8s and 9s without even stopping or making a cast at them and most of those would be the fish of a lifetime for some. Some days, if I am bored, conditions to look are not great, or I have someone in the boat with me that has not caught a lot of big bass, I might stop and catch a couple real quick just to get the "skunk" off the boat. Like Perch said, everyone has different standards for themselves and that IMO is how it should be. Personally, from late Jan through the end of April, if I'm on a lake that has big fish, I'm only looking for and fishing for fish over 10.