???

Because the person who catches the fish will own the fish and can pimp the fish out plus endorsements...

Ivie

Lake Austin was well on its way to kicking one out... TPWD caved and ruined that one.

My best guess for a potential state record would be Choke or Ivie. Choke and Ivie are about to come back to life, although they probably need another year or two.

Potential lakes are always Fork, Caddo, Toledo, Rayburn, Alan Henry, & Amistad.

Our reservoirs are simply too aged and too pressured. I'm becoming increasingly pessimistic that the fish just doesn't exist right now. Certainly not on public water. I'm reminded of John Hope's tracking studies. In the early years he had 9 large fish he tracked on Houston county. Every single fish was caught at least once by an average angler during the spawn over a 2 year period. If we had appreciable numbers of fish that were flirting with the record, we'd see them getting caught. Right now, the best we are seeing is a handful of 13-15's getting caught in the spring each year. Those fish by the way, are at peak weight during that period, and are a pound or two less the rest of the year.

Something dramatic is going to have to happen or I don't think we see it any time soon. By dramatic I mean:

1. A new large reservoir somewhere south of Dallas and north of Houston is impounded.
2. One of our larger reservoirs in the zone mentioned above getting seriously low for 5+ years, and then suddenly catching a pile of water.

At some point I'm sure Falcon will catch water. A few years later it'll start pumping out a bunch of DD's, but I just think it's too far south to get the longevity required to push into the upper teens. Same story for Jalisco.

Someone's lake/pond with perfect conditions, the best genetics, the most food and the LEAST amount of fishing pressure.

If not there, a newly constructed public reservoir. Years 10-18 after that new lake opens.

ALL water bodies begin to deteriorate in habitability around that same time. As does the chance at a Texas record.

When P&W stops being in the spraying business, starts dumping forage fish instead of fingerling bass, and starts fertilizing public water like private managers do. Some reprieve from the greater DFW and Eastern Texas Jersey boys would help too.

I think you're onto something TMP.

Seems like everyone is describing my pick to me. New body of water, standing timber, xx years old.

I’m thinking Choke after the water has been up for a bit. Then again, I have no actual reason to suggest that. Just wishful thinking I suppose.

Ivie or jumping out on a limb and say Alan Henry, still has some big fish in it with little pressure.

What happened to LaPerla Ranch?

I think something like this has the best chance

I agree with you too . The lakes needs to be restocked with bass but also food , I really think a lot of fish are in the lakes just not enough food.

I think it’s the soonest contender for a future record. If Choke or Falcon could ever fill & stay full for several years, they’d be contenders; but they don’t.