I voted Probably Not and I'll tell you why.

There seems to be a ceiling for largemouth bass in Texas around 16 pounds, even in HIGHLY managed private waters like Camelot Bell. I witnessed a fish twice at CB that I am certain was larger than the 15 I caught in Jan 2012. It was the same year in April. Saw her twice the same day but she would not take a bait. I actually believe she was post-spawn and simply resting & recooping. Was she over 18 pounds? Maybe... She was certainly longer than my 15 by a couple inches. However, I am afraid that even that window has closed.

Don't get me wrong. Nothing would make me prouder than for ANY lake in our Great State to produce a fish over 18#!!! Private land owners have been attempting to do it since the beginning of time and nobody has done it yet.

"If Falcon could fill up and stay relatively full for 9 or 10 years" I would love nothing more than this, but this is dreaming big. Hahaha.

If it's been hot water for that long then I doubt there's any real giants (12+) in there. The heat causes the fish's metabolism to run so fast so long they don't live long enough to get to true giant status. Great example is Monticello. Over the last 8 years I know of exactly 2 verifiable fish over 10# to come out of there and nothing 11+. And Monti has the highest % of Florida alleles of any lake managed by TPWD today.

What about Lake Naconiche? It was set up for big bass, excellent genetics. I think lake record is 14lb + so far.

Yes! I think shes swimming around in Ray Roberts, probably never even seen a lure.

I think it will come from a deep cold water lake. ( they live longer ) Is what Dave Campbell said years ago, and Alan Henry or PK would be my pick.

The only place I think it is possible is Falcon and only if the right conditions hold for 5 or 6 years. Which is almost impossible.
I think our winters are just cold enough to keep the majority of fish from getting that big.
Are there 18 lb fish swimming in Fork? Most likely but there are very few and the odds of those fish being caught in a lake that big are astronomical.

The rancher/Dr. that has la pearla? lakes in south texas is probably the only one that has mild enough winters to have a chance. But I haven't heard much out of there. Drought has to be tough on him even though he has the means to pump in water.

I saw one in PK before the golden algae years that looked like a submarine. She was in a little drain back in Bluff Creek. Crystal clear water and I watched my worm tap her on the nose on the fall and she just turned and slowly faded into the deep. Never seen another one close to that. No clue what she would have weighed but it was a lot.

I haven't talked to the good doc in probably 6 months. Last I heard he had some salinity issues in La Perla that set him back a couple of years. He's gotten past them now, but it was a set back none-the-less. As far as I know Jalisco is still doing well. That lake is 4.5 years old now I think and should have 10lbers in it. (had 8lbers in it 1 year ago). In my opinion that might have one of the best shots. He can't fish it without TPWD for another 12 years or so. I image it'll hit peak potential in about 5 years if Gary is able to stomach the bill to keep her full of forage.

On the Rio Grande on the back side of Falcon Dam saw a school of Bass that probably went 10 to 12 lbs. each they where eating crawfish that where probably 8 inches long. Was using a Texas rig Berkley plum craw which they had no interest.

It's only been hot since 2009. I think there could have been one there before that.

Biggest I've ever seen, eye to eye, was in Waco last spring. A giant. If I actually new what I was looking at BEFORE I ran the boat in on her, I might have got to weigh it. But...I thought it was a freakin LOG! And I almost hit her. She swam under the boats bow and she was gone. I mean easily 14+. A record fish? Doubt it, but I will never know.

some of those big fish survived the algae

IMO, it will come from a new lake less than 15 years old. As a general rule the first 12 to 15 years of a new lake are the best years as the forage and the bass grow up together. The first generation of bass on a new lake have the best odds. There is a growing trend in Private Lakes to drain them after 15 years and start over. Lakes that are drained, reworked to add new habitat, new fertility by allowing them to go dry for months or a couple of years, with new genetics and forage are your best candidates. Having the lake in the southern 1/2 of the state to extend the growing season is a big plus.

I don�t think so. Amistad would be my pick if not private water.