Back in the late 80's and early 90's a couple of 20 + dead bass were found floating at Fork. These were fish that grew up in the brood ponds before the lake was completely flooded in 84. They swam out as
SAL's long before that program was put into play.

I have met one of the brothers that found the one over by the 2946 bridge. He said it was still alive but not for long. The turtles did a good job on it on one side.

So, why back then did Texas grow those biggest bass but not since then have any been caught?

Because Fork at that time was impenetrable. There were so many places bass boats could not get to because the standing timber was so thick. This is long before kayaks were ever thought about.

Now with the pressure I'd say perhaps any new lake being built and stocked by TPWD has a shot. It has been nearly 30 years since a 17 has been caught. Think Ethel.

That's funny right there. I GUESS most of ya'll might be too young to have seen this, and I would have missed it IF my dad hd not showed it to me.A article& photo. in sports page. CIRCA 73/ 76 of what would of shattered the current STATE RECORD. Caught by my boss. Out of his private pond. In the Dallas city limits, {was over 20lbs.} Aint No fish story.

she's out there somewhere

This is the most reasonable answer to Fork of all. Nice Bruce. Is there one out there? Maybe.

The problem in your equation here Ken is that they DID get that big with the same weather conditions at Lake Fork. Agreed on the Cali fish. If it wasn't in California I'd move to San Diego! Bruce's explanation of how they got that big at Fork is the best answer I've heard. But there is always a chance she's out there!

Give it one more year, there was a 16 plus caught at Fork this year

It will take a lake going through a new cycle such as flooding or extreme drought then flooding in my opinion. Such as falcon a few years after it fills up. If it wasn't for the cycles of flooding Rayburn wouldn't be half the lake it is now.

No arguing that Lake Fork was an anomaly Randy. However all lakes have a life cycle, even the Mighty Fork. I have been in water treatment for almost 30 years so that makes me kind of a water doctor so to speak.

Timber, vegetation, flooded debris begins to degrade & rot over the years. As it does it begins to emit sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) in the process. Many of us have waded in a lake or pond and smelled a foul rotten egg smell as we pulled our feet from the muck. Those are SRB's you are smelling.

SRB's occur in water, sediment, or water with a lot of decaying organic material like our lakes. The sulfate-reducing microorganisms reduce sulfate over time and emit acidic sulfide as waste. The chemical reaction that happens during this process depletes the dissolved oxygen in the water thereby making it less inhabitable for all marine life.

The acid produced by the SRB's lower the pH as well. This is why most private lake owners add tons of lime to their lakes about once a decade. The lime (calcium carbonate) helps buffer the pH of the water back up to a more neutral & healthy for freshwater fish life range of 7-8. The pH on the bottom of a lake can be as low as 1.0 if SRB's are present. This pH will not support most types of aquatic vegetation.

If left unchecked, the depletion of oxygen & lower pH levels will support much less plankton in the lake. Without plankton, the threadfin shad, glass minnows, baby bluegill population have no food source. It takes a TON of baitfish for a bass to grow to even ten pounds, much less state record status. All the stars have to align.

Additionally with the lack of grass in the lake, the baby fish have less habitat to hide in and survive the first few months of their life. Big fish eat little fish. It is the cycle of life.

This is not to say Lake Fork is doomed by any means. All lakes cycle but it is not a matter of months. It is years or even decades. It has been 18 years since Fork produced the State Record. All indicators would tell me that Fork is not capable of producing an 18 pound bass in the immediate future.

Don't get me wrong. I would love to see it happen. I would love to see ANY lake in TX produce a fish larger than 18 pounds public or private.

Naconiche

I can't find it any longer. I am pretty sure it was done by Mike Long. He pulled all his stuff down when he got outted for snagging.

Yeah it used to be everywhere but I can't find it either. HUGE bass just swimming up to 12" trout and eating em! Was super clear water and high def footage too. Will have to do some digging tomorrow and find out where those videos went.

She is swimming in Richland Chambers

Yes...It doesn't seem far fetched that there is 1 fish in TX that is just a genetic freak in good enough conditions (doesn't need to be ideal like CA etc. etc.). Think GA June 2, 1932

Simple answer is no.

I took care of "Flo" for almost 10 yrs. she got over state record size in her prime as did one other famous bass I had.

I think possibly there might be a few big girls left out there somewhere. Nac would be my guess..

Unfortunately I think Ken is spot on. Cali repeatedly produces these super giants because of the conditions and all we have are sightings of what could be a big fish.

There’s a chance for a statistical anomaly like Biwa that’s swimming around in one of our bigger lakes but I can’t say I’d put money on her being caught.

With the Florida strain being so hard to catch, I’m not sure we will ever know for sure.

But I’d LOVE to be wrong.