Oklahoma angler lands 13 lb. 4 oz. largemouth for lake record and “Top 20 Bass” list spot

            A Maysville angler put a new fish on Oklahoma’s list of Top 20 largemouth bass when he caught a 13 lb. 4 oz. lunker from Longmire Lake March 14.
            David Kinard caught the fish using soft plastic bait in the North Creek area of Longmire, located east of Paul’s Valley. The fish measured 26 inches in length and 23.25 inches in girth and was released. Taking the No. 17 spot on the state’s list of Top 20 Largemouth Bass from Randy Faddis’s 13 lb. 2 oz. fish caught in 1995, Kinard’s fish also stands as a new lake record for Longmire.
            Though it is not often that an angler lands a “Top 20 bass,” catching big largemouths this time of year is common. In fact, the No. 1 fish on the list, a 14 lb. 11 oz. fish caught by William Cross in 1999 from Broken Bow Lake, was caught March 14 that year, and a total of 13 of the fish on the list also were caught in March, with several others on the list caught in late February or early April. Nearly half of the fish on the Top 20 list were caught in the last 10 years.
            According to Gene Gilliland, central region fisheries supervisor for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, big bass such as those that reach 12-13 lbs. are certain to have significant genetic influences from the Florida strain of largemouth, which the Wildlife Department has been stocking in suitable lakes since the early 1970s.
            “They have the genetic potential to grow up to be trophies,” Gilliland said, and often more so than the native strain.
            While Florida largemouth bass carry the genetic potential to become large fish, the equation doesn’t end there.
            Trophy fish potential is the primary reason the Wildlife Department includes Florida largemouth bass in its stocking program — not to increase fish numbers. In order for that genetic potential to have full effect, however, bass also must have proper habitat conditions as well as time to grow to trophy sizes. According to Gilliland, it takes about 10 years on average for a largemouth bass with good genetics and good habitat conditions to reach the 10-lb. mark. Since Oklahoma is on the northern fringe of where Florida largemouth bass can be successful, warmer lakes such as those in southern portions of the state offer the best chances to grow big trophy bass, and the Top 20 list reflects that as well.
            According to fisheries biologists with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, now through the next month is a great time to be fishing for not only big bass, but also for high numbers of bass as water temperatures warm and as spawning season approaches.
            A number of good live and artificial bait choices are available including plastic worms, spinnerbaits and assortments of jigs as well as live minnows and even worms.
            According to Gilliland, anybody can catch a nice bass in Oklahoma, as long as they get out on the water and try.
            To fish in Oklahoma, anglers must have a state fishing license. Some municipalities and lakes also require anglers to carry special permits. Consult the current “Oklahoma Fishing Guide” for more information.
            To see a photograph of Kinard’s fish, log on to http://lake-record.ou.edu/fishsite/public/fishView.php?id=878  . Other lake record fish and information about the lake record fish program can be viewed through a user-friendly search feature on the Wildlife Department’s Web site at http://129.15.97.19/fishsite/
 
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