03-03-2009, 11:12 PM
It's interesting to note that Florida created its own Big Catch Program in 1990 and, last year, certificates issued paralleled those of BASS's Lunker Club awards with Lake Walk-In-Water, Stick Marsh/Farm 13 and Lake Istokpoga nailing down the top-3 spots. The program is now sponsored by eAngler.com and recognizes bass that are caught legally in Florida and weigh more than eight pounds or are longer than 24 inches. Of 426 Big Catch certificates for bass issued in 1999, 134 were recorded at Walk-In-Water, 24 from Stick Marsh/Farm 13, and 23 from Lake Istokpoga, according to Jim Estes of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
In January 2000, John Balint of South Bend, Indiana, picked off a 14-pound, 8-ounce largemouth in Lake Kissimmee, while [#ff0000]Steve von Brandt of Wilmington, Delaware, collected a pair of trophy bass from Lake Jackson on successive days that scaled 10.4 and 12.4 pounds, and all three of these released-alive prizes were captured between 10 a.m. and noon.
[/#ff0000]
Since it has now been doubly confirmed that Florida has regained its Big Bass Capital of the World crown, it doesn't take a genius to conclude that the Sunshine State is the place to be for folks seeking that 10-pound or above wall-hanger.
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In January 2000, John Balint of South Bend, Indiana, picked off a 14-pound, 8-ounce largemouth in Lake Kissimmee, while [#ff0000]Steve von Brandt of Wilmington, Delaware, collected a pair of trophy bass from Lake Jackson on successive days that scaled 10.4 and 12.4 pounds, and all three of these released-alive prizes were captured between 10 a.m. and noon.
[/#ff0000]
Since it has now been doubly confirmed that Florida has regained its Big Bass Capital of the World crown, it doesn't take a genius to conclude that the Sunshine State is the place to be for folks seeking that 10-pound or above wall-hanger.
[signature]