For those of you who care Mike Frazier caught a new lake record at The Bell yesterday that went 15.80. I don't have any more details but he emailed me a couple pics. I'll send em to ya if you wanna post them. The fish looked like a California bass. She was uncharacterisically short and Thick across the back. Whereas the 15.0 I caught last month was longer.

looking forward to seeing this BEAST

very nice....

What a beast
This fish is so wide you could eat dinner on it's back
A fine example of Camelot bell genetics caught by the man himself Mike Frazier
If I was stocking a private water I know where i would look for some fish!
Hope to get another big one Thursday!

Nice fish!

Thanks for posting Mark! I owe you another cheeseburger....

thick for sure..

Dadgum whopper!

Hard to tell with those pictures the sheer size of her. A giant for sure. If I caught a 15 pounder I would take some further away pics so you could get a true judge of the fish.

Ive got to get out to this place. Ive started a camelot bell piggy bank if anyone wants to throw in some coin.

Nice fish!

BEAST!

WOW

Was supposed to have fished Saturday and Sunday, but we cancelled due to the weather.

Lame super bowl game or camelot bell trip... hmmmmmmm lol

Beautiful Bass. Congrads..

Sorry Ken,Now ya gotta go back!

How about a trip to Camelot Bell instead?


Just kidding Ken.

Wow, that place will be holding a record breaker shortly!

Wow!

barrel fishing.. ho hum.

Man that lake is the bomb!! That's awesome Ken. Time for you to go back and hit that 16# mark!!! Does he have any idea of his biggest fish? Has the lake been shocked for survey's? Anything over 10 is just awesome and it seems that about average for that lake!!!! Thanks for sharing!!!

He had a confirmed 17 in there last January 2011 I believe
He feels the state record is in trhere now but we just gotta prove it
I'm starting to believe there are multiple fish well over 17 in there but we will see..
Time to stay tuned.
If it's a barrel it's a mighty big one with lots of cover and mean bass that lots of times will not bite or break your braid

$100 a pound, not bad!

No offense meant to you personally but you just showed your ignorance sir.

This fish broke the state record for private waters!!! 15.74 was the old one listed on TPWD's website. Nice

Dottie Jr. She will be easy to keep track of if she's caught again down the road. Great fish!

Mike has a 1,500 gallon aquarium at the ranch. There was a fish in there that was released March 30th, 2011. She weighed 17 lbs. even.

Ken this fish seems to be a lot darker in color than the other giants I have seen photos of from CB, that is one purty fish. She looks like she has been lurking in some grass...

No grass in the lake, Doug. I think the pale, gold color of the recent catches like Ken's, Hummert's and Dr. JL's were the result of water color and colder temps. The fish will be much more green and marked up from spring, on.

Really no grass? Is that a lake management decision, and I know zero about growing fish, and very little about catching them either, lol.. I am just curious.

Well I know she's a beauty for sure!!

Judging by the 100 pound grass carp, yes, it's a lake mgmt. decision.

None taken, I'm just not impressed with catching pets.

Fishing that lake has to be intense from start to finish. Congrats to Mike.

So this lake is open to the public to fish?

Jim Sr. - I've never fished this place but plan to at some point this year but have you not ever fished in a pond before? Didn't we all grow up fishing in ponds at some point? If you were 25 years old and new to bass fishing and caught an 8 pounder, would you not be excited? Of course you would. This is a 40 acre pond/lake. It's not like its a 1 acre farm pond where each fish has a name and has been caught 25 times. I believe the lake Dottie was caught in was 70 acres and CLEAR as a bell so you could see her regularly. Does she not count? If not for California laws around sight fishing, she would currently be the world record. This place is great for bass fishing and from all accounts appears it will break the state record at some point. I see no reason to discount anything about this lake or the fish that are caught from it.

Private for a fee.

Nice fish!

Nice fish!!

I have to admit it would be cool to catch a bass of that size, but after going to the website and seeing you can buy bass or giant deer ehhhh I will stick with public access stuff. I am with Jim Sr on this one.

" The forty acre lake that was built from scratch ten years ago is host to a pure Florida strain of large mouth bass. The lake was built in such a manner as to where no fish can get in or out," from their website.
All I'm saying is that a State record should not come from a fishery. I've fished private lakes/ponds, it's fun.
Am I envious, of course, but I'm not impressed that the owner set a lake record in his own lake...Great fish, of course,
but the circumstance is a little skewed, just saying.
And yes, sometimes I'm a little ignorant.

Interestng on the no grass descision , I wonder what the reasoning is?
Seems to be working however.

Great fish, would love to fish this lake someday.

There's seperate records for private and public waters.

Nice fish!

There will always be a debate of the validity and the importance of a fish caught from private waters. I will tell you this much. I have fished hard all my life for bass including my time as a professional angler and I still got a major thrill out of catching the 15# fish I caught at The Bell on Jan 7th.

Envy is an ugly thing and it makes people say some pretty silly things especially when they can hide behind their keyboards. I call em Computer Cowboys.

Say what you will about pond fishing, fish in a barrel or whatever you think it is like. I will be going back time and again and I will be posting pics of every trip when I catch a big one. If you want to show your ignorance and make some post about fishing in someone's aquarium so be it. It really has no bearing on my decision to fish private waters what so ever.

Like I've said before... Haters are gonna hate! LMAO

That fish is gorgeous! I'm sorry, the "ho-hum" "fish-in-a-barrel" attitude seems to come from a.) guys that haven't been on this lake b.)haters. The fish at this place are a result of hard work and meticulous planning. This isn't catching a big fish that's swimming in a goldfish pond. Congrats to anyone that's lucky enough to catch a fish of this stature!

And Ken, quit rubbing it in that you'll be going "time and again". If you're not careful, you might get there, open your tackle box, and find me hiding inside!;)

If you ever need a wing man please let me know! Ive yet to catch a DD and fish Falcon on the reg!

Awesome Fish!

If you're against something....JUST DON'T DO IT, that solves all of the worlds problems

How much does it cost to fish a day at "the bell", or is it free to some and some have to pay..?

Great philosophy to live by!

His new rate after ken caught the 15 pounder was raised to 1000 a day for 1 man or 1500 for 2.

Just turned both couches upside down for change. I've only got $997.50 to go!

Super nice toad, wish I could get a chance at catching such a PET!!! I would love to see one anywhere close to that on my rod, did and would not care if it was out of my bath tube!!

It is NOT free to anyone as far as I know, and it's expensive, also Mike has been overwhelmed with emails, etc since that first big week in january. He only fishes a few days a week-a wise decision. I pay and go because I can. I don't care about asterisks, or barrel fishing, etc,.. I go because I'm having a blast-simple as that. I like the thought that a super giant may bite my lure at any given moment-only a few waters public or private give me that feeling, so those are the places I'm gonna go. Gee it's just fishing and we all do it because we love it so just have fun and don't put down anything caught legally. If you don't like private water fishing that's cool-it's all good. They already have separate records for public and private waters.
LOL huckleberry--that's funny right there.

You better be guaranteed a fish of a lifetime at that rate. I'd be a little angry to go there and not break my pb.

I agree, everyone have a great time, it's only fishing.

Ok stupid ? The bass they have for sale on their web site. You buy for the genetics ? Would you put this fish (like the 15lb plus for $25,000) in your pond and hope it breeds ? I am sorry for the dumb question but was just wondering how that would work.

I wonder if its a tax write off. Im planning on winning the remaining four bass champs anyways.

Yessir on buying for the genetics. The fish he has at The Bell have genetics that best darn near any fish out there. Exceptional growth rate, life length, etc. It would take a few years to see results due to that giant being most likely the only pure florida strain in the pond, but you should get good fish. I have not fished Camelot Bell, but I have read why his fish thrive so well. They cull out the small fish, canceling competition. If I read right, no fish under 4 or 5 pounds stays in the lake if caught. All go to stocker pens or get the knife for those succulent baby bass tacos Fouz speaks of.

Barrett if its a company trip for a costumer it is lol

it is if you pay for it thru your company and take a client

Then certainly don't go. This is not a canned fishing trip. I've been skunked out there on more than one trip.

So, just because we don't have the same opinion as you about a fish means we are computer cowboys who hide behind keyboards or we are envious? Our opinion is our opinion even if it is different than yours Sir. No disrespect was ever meant. Sorry for not stroking your ego.

Congrats to Mr Frazier for catching that GIANT!!! Worth every penny, I'd personally rather spend my money on Camleot Belle than El Salto or any of those Mexican lakes!

Raider dale where did you read about this at. I have been to their website but did not find info like that. Just curious? Thought it would be interesting reading.

im not bashing the "barrel fishing" but i am curious as to why this fella got money hungry all in about a months time? correct me if im wrong but it went from 600$ to 800$ to 1000$ all in a very short period of time... i had emailed him when it 1st got posted and was 600$ but he never replied...

I call it capitalism and supply and demand. something our current president may want to read about some time. based on all of the work/money mike has put into this place, I seriously doubt he will be able to recognize a real profit for years even at those new rates

I just want to drive your car on the Tollway one time! lol

Ok so $1000 a day for 10 hours, that is $100 an hour, a lot cheaper than most of us spend if we put a pencil to paper to catch some decent fish (not 15 pounders).

I just did a quick audit of my bank account and I can afford apprx one half hour! lol

Hard to call it that in jus a months time...I mean cmon .....400 since Jan? Not knocking the man for what he has done for his fishery I personally think its great up until the fact that it went wild from publicity here on the TFF!

Free Advertising?

Free Enterprise?

Life as we know it will cease!

No sir that's greed!

And I still applaud what this man has done! I personally hope it kicks out a new state record!

Ken,

do you think the moon phase has any effects on this lake??

Thanks,

Rodney

Yessir.

I believe the moon has an effect on all fish.

thanks...

Isn't the picture on the cover screen of TFF taken at the Bell too?

Guy knows how to grow big fish and is his lake to charge whatever he wants..... I know fellas that pay way more to shoot an average whitetail. Bass 13-15 lbs are not average.......

fun to hook.. if you dont mind a heart attack before you see whats on the end of your line. . . .

Dear GAWD!!! Can we have ONE post on here about the place where Bass fishing dreams can be made and JUST celebrate a man’s catch!!!

Some of you fellas crack me up with the constant snide remarks about the man, his fishery and the genuinely good people that help him offset his cost to maintain it!

Tap the brakes guys, its fishing for crying out loud!!!...Bar ditch, creek bed, private pond or public water, it’s just fishing!

God Bless Mike Frazier….He is a great man, a BLAST to fish with and manages a great fishery, that ANY ONE OF YOU would be proud to fish, given the opportunity! I predict this one gets broken again in the 30 days or less…Mark my words!!!

Mike has a saying about people….If it wouldn’t get me banned I’d post it. For those that know him, you know what it is….”You just don’t ____ with people!” RANT OVER!!!

Stax, hope you get another shot at a knee-buckler!

Fuss??

+1
i think it will be broken in 28-29 days.

Yes, in some circles............Not so much in others! LOL!!! See ya on the 18th Brotha, Im PUMPED!!!

Gracias my brotha! My time is coming....I have some Fork time coming up over the next 30 days with some of the greatest minds/sticks on the lake. Who knows, maybe it comes from here this year!

Thanks again!

I want to go bad!! But I don't have Ken's bank roll!!(just kidding Ken don't hate me)!
I will say this I have a 1 acre pond in my back forty. It's got really nice bass in it, but many people have come out and got a big fat ZERO! It doesn't matter the size of the pond/lake fish are fish and you don't catch um all the time!! I would love to go and catch a double digit!! More than that I would love to go out during the spawn and just cruise around looking at big fish!!! It's a awesome looking lake!!

I wouldve posted for a cheeseburger....

What a fish! Cant wait to hit the bell again! Mike has a very special place there.
Congrats to Mike!

Love it!

And the bell of Camelot just keeps on ringing! Way to go Mr. Frazier!

This!!!


I don't know how that could happen. Did you not tell the fish who you ARE? Who you KNOW? O M G. Suprised they didn't send a diver out to cattle prod those canned fish into biting! (being a 'manther' has to have it's privileges)...the NERVE of those aquarium grown bass!

Cameron never let me fish the LFM aquarium.

My guess is he is being selective about who comes to his water. Seeing how he has a 40 acre private lake and high fence property he probably could let people fish for free and not affect his net worth. I know of two places close to this (in my county) and they let NO ONE but family on it. We all should be lucky to have an opportunity to even think about going there.

Cool deal...but shouldn't this be in the Plug section since it's a business and it's obviously a plug for the lake and it's tourism.

I don't see how everything else gets put up there but this topic....but apparently business is booming due to the TFF.

I think the people that cant go because of the outrageous price are irritated with constant posts about the same topic. Lets be honest its same people going out there and catching monster fish out of a small body of water and the same people posting on the internet about it. Its not like this place is available for everyone even if you have the 1500 to throw on it.

I honestly think thats the only issue. Its obviously a great lake but even the above average individual cannot afford the trip. Yet they get to read about it on the internet often. (yea yea yea dont click on the thread I get it.)

The great thing about the TFF is everyone is entitled to their opinion if given in a reasonable manner.

That being said I dont have any problem with the lake or the people who get the opportunity to fish it. I'm still looking for my first DD so maybe I need to just Fork up some money and get it over with.

I find this interesting, and as a computer cowboy I can only tell you that I have had a 45 acre watershed lake in SE Kansas for over 40 years and can honestly say that I've never been skunked on it. You can't fish the lake without catching something over 6lb (this is Ks. not Tx). With only trolling motors we can find the fish wherever they are that particular day and have time enough to find something they will bite. If you have been skunked several times is it that there are very few fish (though large) in the pond? I sure can't think of any other reason.

I haven't been on the lake yet but from what others have posted, this thing is managed very hard to the point they take every small to medium size fish caught out of the lake. therefore I would think the overall numbers of fish in the lake would be lower than a normal one...it sounds like the ultimate quality over quantity.

I really could less if the fish came from private waters. I love seeing BIG BASS.. The guy has the money and the smarts to raise big bass.
I am not a hunter but I do not see a difference than paying someone to shoot big game on the land with an enclosed fence.
I just wish I could afford to go

Maybe we could get the government involved (Obama)to fund the less fortunate for a trip to the bell (Bass Stamps). We need to issue a federal small water bass tax on these fortunate anglers.....it's just not fair!

The management of this lake is like none other that I have ever heard of. The owner takes EVERY fish 7# and down out and either sells it or moves it to his brother's lake just down the road.

This lake is not kicking out Giant bass by accident. It has been managed since it was flooded in July of '99. He stocked Coppernose Bluegill and threadfin shad and nothing else for one year in order to let them get a foothold. The next year he added 250 pure Florida bass and that is all the bass he has ever stocked.

This is NOT a lake where you are going to catch high numbers of fish. It is being managed as a true trophy fishery with the purest strain of Florida bass. These fish are WAY susceptible to cold fronts and weird weather patterns.

If you have fish private lakes and never been skunked then you are just obviously superior to me and the others on there that have been. I have fished this lake 2 times this year and caught a grand total of FOUR FISH. One went 15.0 and one went 12.0. The other two fish were 4 pounders.

The owner of the lake is VERY selective about who he lets fish his place. He has that right. If you are one that feels like "I pay $1,500 to fish this exclusive private lake, I had darn well better catch a fish over TEN pounds" Move along. He has no interest in having you on his lake. If however you just love to fish and want the opportunity to catch a true fish of a lifetime REGARDLESS of where it was caught then by all means call him. Mike is a great guy and a hoot to fish with but he has no patience for pinheads. He reads every post on here about his lake and calls me laughing his butt off. Every time I fish with him he gets multiple calls from folks wanting to come fish his lake. He really doesn't want a lot of people fishing there. Ideally he wants to fish it about 2 to 3 times a week and no more.

I mean no offense to anyone by calling out the Keyboard Cowboys that get on here and troll around to see what kind of response they can get. It's all good guys.

It's just fishing and in the grand scheme of Life fishing is pretty insignificant.

Ken

I knew I liked you. I need to meet you face to face someday, just to say hey. Rock on Ken.

If he'll throw in a new bass boat he's got my vote!!

"If you have fish private lakes and never been skunked then you are just obviously superior to me and the others on there that have been."

"I mean no offense to anyone by calling out the Keyboard Cowboys that get on here and troll around to see what kind of response they can get. It's all good guys"


And yet you do. I asked a simple question, and know one is telling you they are superior, just stating facts. I'm sure that anyone who has fish for any length of time would not get skunked on the watershed lake I described. So I'm a "keyboard cowboy". If the answer is few fish than say so, you and fouz seem to have a problem when folks don't agree or have a different opinion. That's unfortunate. But it's all good guys.

Oh, and thanks ChrisG for an answer to the question.

No problem...Dannie tells me you are a good guy right after bashing me for not going to Falcon with him

I haven't been on the lake yet but from what others have posted, this thing is managed very hard to the point they take every small to medium size fish caught out of the lake. therefore I would think the overall numbers of fish in the lake would be lower than a normal one...it sounds like the ultimate quality over quantity.[/quote]

I love this thread. I am learning alot. But I have another stupid ? Chris How do they know that these small and medium size fish they cull out do not have the genetics to be the 15 or 20 lbers ? I understand the reasoning for keeping the population under control but the 15lbers they are catching now where once 3 or 4 lbers. I know they can clone just about anything now. I am not sure they (Camelot Bell) do it or if it is even possible but I assume you could pull a scale off the fish and then clone him or her ? Is this just me watching to much discovery channel or is this what is going on. Do bass eat each other or do they just compete for the same food ?
Thanks Rob

Is there a discount to fish his brothers lake? I'm not afraid to slum it;)

I love this thread. I am learning alot. But I have another stupid ? Chris How do they know that these small and medium size fish they cull out do not have the genetics to be the 15 or 20 lbers ? I understand the reasoning for keeping the population under control but the 15lbers they are catching now where once 3 or 4 lbers. I know they can clone just about anything now. I am not sure they (Camelot Bell) do it or if it is even possible but I assume you could pull a scale off the fish and then clone him or her ? Is this just me watching to much discovery channel or is this what is going on. Do bass eat each other or do they just compete for the same food ?
Thanks Rob [/quote]

Rob,

I will answer this...

The reason Mike Frazier built his lake up on a hillside is so no other lakes could flood and run off into his lake thereby introducing other fish into it. Thats what he means when he says nothing gets in and nothing gets out.

The smaller fish in his lake DO have the same genetics as the 15 pounders. It is all about the available food source to grow giant bass. If you have a bunch of 3-5 pounders swimming around eating baitfish then that will decrease the food source. It takes a LOT of bait for a bass to reach 15 pounds.

Everything has to be right to grow Super Bass. His goal is pure & simple: Grow World Class Bass. It has never been to have a fishery where you can pay to go catch a 100 bass a day for fun. There are lots of those.

I love this thread. I am learning alot. But I have another stupid ? Chris How do they know that these small and medium size fish they cull out do not have the genetics to be the 15 or 20 lbers ? I understand the reasoning for keeping the population under control but the 15lbers they are catching now where once 3 or 4 lbers. I know they can clone just about anything now. I am not sure they (Camelot Bell) do it or if it is even possible but I assume you could pull a scale off the fish and then clone him or her ? Is this just me watching to much discovery channel or is this what is going on. Do bass eat each other or do they just compete for the same food ?
Thanks Rob[/quote]

I'm no expert but have spent some time talking with TPWD about stock pond mgmt and it all depends on what you are after as the goal for the pond/lake. The theory would be that just about of the fish in this place have a very high chance of having the genetics capable of getting to a 15# fish given how detailed Mike appears to manage this place, but that doesn't change the fact you still have to manage it if the goal is for it to be a trophy lake and to me that means taking out fish that could grow to that size.

Please leave TFF moderation to the TFF moderators. If you have a question or comment concerning moderation, email one of us. And Jimmy, for the 15 thousandth time, you need to steer waaaaaaaaaaaay clear of topics like this.

We need to sit back and respectfully appreciate how an individual took his resources and built a dream lake for people to enjoy. Granted, many won't have either the resources or need to fish this lake. But the true fact of the matter is its there, it involves Bass fishing, and it's an extra OPTION for anglers to consider for enjoying a day on the water with friends and/or family.

this debate seems to happen every time a post is made about another giant being caught at this place...I'm just not going to feed the topic any longer. This place is a dream for many people and others just won't agree....its both the blessing and the curse of forums like this

Too bad that back in the 80's people were just happy to see big fish being caught anywhere in Texas, private or public.We have digressed a long way since then.Too bad.

all that is missing now if for Zona to film a show on this lake...that would be priceless

Exactly! It is a Sad Thing too....

A man catches the Freaking Fish of His Lifetime and these "Know-It-Alls" come on here and knock him for his accomplishments. Good Job Guys. You should be proud.

Unbelievable......

Well said Ken, and with that nice closing statement, I think it's time to move on.