7 pounder basses on the Ottawa????

[Big Bass 444]

O.k. people let's get this thing going....

Take a look at all the stats on the Pro Bass Quebec web site for the pass
4 years......average weight for first price lunker 6.01 pounds. Most of these basses are caught on the Ottawa river between Ottawa and Montebello. But most important they don't get near the 7 pounder range.

Here is what I think....a 6 pounds large mouth bass is the type of fish you don't get in the boat every day on the Ottawa river....like almost never for some. This is a huge fish. For each pound you add on a single bass there is a biiiig change in the shape and size.

So I want to know do you really think you can get a 7 pounder + large mouth bass using of course a Berkley digital scale on the Ottawa River.
I know one thing...a 6 1/2 will go on the wall for me if I ever get one.

If you believe in it I would like to here your comments on this.


Big Bass 444

[Canadian Bacon]

I believe theyare there.............I believe!!!!!!!!

[Big Bass 444]

Mid fall with large shiners at key spot would be a good way to get them I believe while they feed before winter..patience and slow presentation....search for hotest water around...rock formation ...look for warm fall days.

[Big Bass 444]

I got a 5.6 pounder last night....one of my biggest this year....what a ride she gave me!!!!! I will post it next month on this site...I got it on my cam corder right now....got to switch it on cd but I' m missing the fire wire!!!! got to buy one!

[iankrzyzanowski]

I heard that two - 4 weeks ago there was a tourney on constance lake, and a 7 pounder came out!! Didnt see it, but heard it from other tourney veterans!

I think they are few and far between but they are in there somewhere!

[BENLEGER]

I heard of 8 pounders caught and released around the Rockland Area, I have no doubt their is some swimming in the river.

BEN

[RJ]

My 2 cents for what's it's worth...

If there is an 8 pounder in this area odds are its in the Ottawa....

I think a majority of people haven't a clue what a 5 pounder looks like....I fished for a long time....and I've caught 2 fish that size....yet we all hear about the 5 pounders caught all the time...that is a huge fish for our short growing season...next time you see someone bang a big bass...guess it's weight....unless you do tournaments I'll bet you'll be over with your guess....I used to be... ...buy a digi scale..you'll be surprised...

CCB could chime in on this anytime now... ...Ed too...

I've also heard that there may have been an issue with the scale on that fish weigh in at the tourney...I wasn't there...I dunno...

There is so much pressure on that stretch of the Ottawa...and I think if there was a few 8's swimming around....they'd been caught by now....

Wow, look at me...Mr. Controversial...

RJ

[ganman]

There are 7 pound bass in the Ottawa. Never fished it but I'm sure there is. They are in many other lakes and rivers in eastern Ontario.

I saw an 8 lber come out of the St Lawrence and I'm sure I've caught at least one myself.

I caught one on Collins Lake outside Kingston that was just shy of 24" long and thick bodied. I double checked the tape then had my father check it. Then quietly slipped it back into the water. I was eager to get my jig back in. That was the third 20 plus bass in short order.

As a suggestion instead of getting it mounted get a replica done.

I caught a 15lb walleye and a 20 lb pike years ago... both from Quinte that I mounted. I have no idea where they are now. My taste in decor changed and my wife said people will think you're a redneck so I gave them to a guy who owns a bar.

I don't miss them but I sure wish I had something......a picture or mount of that big bass. I keep asking myself was it really 24"?

[Canadian Bacon]

I have to agree with RJ...everyone overestemates the weight...even the boys on the TV shows...I think people often add 2-3 pounds to a bass and much more top bigger fish! Yes that much!!! I caught what was said on a digi scale to be 5lb 3oz
I would have guessed it at 7....
Now I try to estimate smaller as opposed to what I really think...that way I am sure to atleast be closer to the correct weight!!

[ganman]

RJ,

I wish I saw your post before I posted mine. I will agree with you many people do not know what a 5lb bass looks like. Many anglers simply do not know where or how to catch a fish that size with regularity.

I have a rule of thumb. A 20 inch largemouth from our waters is 5lbs plus/minus 6 ounces but more often then not just under 5 on average.

A 22 incher should be a 6 lber.

Of course weights as a ratio to length change a great deal over the season. A 20" caught in early July might be 4/11 but by September 5/3.

One thing anglers do not look at is bone structure of a fish. I have fished in some southern waters and our bass are usually heavier for there length then they are down there. The reason? Our fish are older and have heavier bone development.

You mention growing season but our fish live much longer (providing they are not caught/killed).

There are exceptions, there is a lightly fished lake near my home where a 20" bass has the head of a 3 lber on the rideau. I'm not sure why but I've checked enough bass over the past 25 years to notice.

[Cancatchbass]

ganman is right on and has left me with little to add.

I know of one 8-4 officially weighed/certified scales LM from the St. Lawrence. I knew that fish personally. It was subsequently released.

I agree that there are 7 pounders in many Eastern Ontario waters, but the odds of catching them are astronomical. I have encountered 3 in MANY (read longer than most Hawk-Talkers have been alive) years of trying, not counting Florida fish.

Over the years I have seen bass as small as 3 1/2 pounds reported to be 5 pounders. I recently saw a report of THREE six-pound-plus bass caught in a small tournament on the Rideau River. Nope. Sorry. They need new scales.

I have a replica mount of a 7 plus, that I'll post later and try to give an idea of the awesome size of a true big bass.

Gotta go...

CCB

[Scum Frog]

I don't see why there would not be 7 pounders in the Ottawa. I have caught numerous 5lbs SM's in the Mississippi, so there is no reason for the Ottawa River not to hold 7lb LM.

[dana]

On that subject..
i usually under estimate the weights
5 pounders can be had ...there are quite a few.
I have caught several in the 6lb range...
my largest lmb, i caught a few years ago
and had no camera or scale..
yews adifferebt look to the fish[lunch box]
never weighed a 7 yet..heard of em.
saw a pic of an 8.05 lmb on the ottawa few years ago[wow]

also from what i have seen a 20 in LMB on the ottawa is generally way over 5 lbs.
i have seen 17 in 5lb SMB in the fall...can you say proker

[zaconb]

For what it's worth, I live in Gatineau(Angers) 10 minutes from a ramp and hit the Ottawa 3-4 times a week mostly in pm and week-ends. I have had the opportunity to catch several LM over 5 pounds and last week end got my best ever in the Ottawa 6.2- 6.4 (Berkely digital) he was 21+ the length was a problem due to not having a proper measuring device so I quickly used my leatherman.(that problem was solved this week with the addittion of two stickem fish tapes) The picture of this fish will be posted when my home pc is purged of viruses.
Now for a 7 pounder, thats what I'm waiting for! Almost every trip I make the Ottawa reveals what might be lurking below, I have turned some huge LM, 7 pounds who knows , but I'd bet their there!

[M.T. Livewell]

Are there 7 pound bass in the Ottawa? ... Only in Bacon's dreams!!!!

MT