Mac Weakley, Mike Winn, and Jed Dickerson, life long friends woke up
around 3 AM and headed for Dixon Lake in Escondido, California.
They arrived just before 4 AM and rented a
campsite
so they could be the
first anglers at the window to purchase a rental boat and their fishing
permits. They loaded the gear in the boat and were on the water by 6:05
AM. After leaving the dock the three headed straight to the spot that a
monster Largemouth bass was spotted the day before.
The boat was positioned and the anchors were set, there was a light
rain shower falling with clouds overhead and a breeze from the west.
The strategy was all mapped out. Set up off the bedding area, place
the bait in the zone and repeat until “The Beast” as the trio had named
her picked up the bait. So after close to twenty casts the slack in Mac
Weakley’s line disappeared and the rod tip twitched. The fight was on.
On the second attempt the fish was in the net. At that point everyone
knew that the fish would easily shatter the standing world record.
The problem was apparent as soon as she hit the net. The hook was not
lodged in or around the mouth of the fish, but behind the gill close to
the dorsal fin. The fish was unintentionally foul-hooked.
The boat was motored over to a pier and the fish was carefully
removed from the net and placed on a stringer. The three exited the boat
and prepared to lift the big gal out of the lake and weigh her.
Mac manned the video camera, Jed readied the scale and Mike Winn
removed the fish from the lake. The fish was hung on the scale and
immediately eclipsed the 24 pound mark and continued to rise. The scale
finally settled out at 25 pounds 1 ounce.
Mac stated that his arms felt like “Jell-O” after fighting the fish
and that’s why he had Mike Winn hold it. He feared he might drop it and
he did not want her to be over handled and stressed.
The video was shut off and three still photos were snapped. The three
looked at one another smiled and agreed that it was time to release what
could have been, and still may be the world record bass.
The drama begins. Will the IGFA or some other sport fishing
organization recognize the fish as a world record? Some will claim foul
and other may say it is all a hoax. There were three un-biased
by-standers present to corroborate the entire story.
The story as offered by the folks at Dixon Lake --
Escondido, CA 92027
As related by the father of John
Kerr a fishing companion of Mike Winn and Jed Dickerson, part of the
crew with Mac Weakley, who caught the 25-pound, 1-ounce bass.
Lake Dixon is a small (70 acre) lake, it was mostly known for
trout fishing years ago. My son, John, and Mike Long have fished the
lake since they were kids. They discovered that the lake hid some really
large bass...they kept it a secret, and called it their "honey hole"
(Read in Sports A-Field 3 years ago.)
About 6 years ago John spotted an enormous bass, it was on a
Sunday, but he couldn't get the fish to eat his bait. He finally called
Mike, and told him about the fish. John had to work the next day, but
Mike was off, and went to hunt the big fish. Mike found the big "lady",
but he also couldn't get it to eat his bait....but he went out the next
day (John had to work again), and he caught it! 21.7 lbs of giant bass!
After that, their "honey hole" was history, every big bass hunter in the
area was alerted.
Mac Weakley, and Jed Dickerson were fairly novice bass
fishermen back then, but saw the opportunity at a big cash prize. They
became obsessed with the idea of a world record and the money end of it.
They quizzed John about his techniques....as quoted in the book
Sowbelly, Jed said, "I learned a lot from John Kerr".
Mac, Jed, and their friend Budda devoted almost every day to the
search for the "big" fish. Three years ago, Jed finally caught the same
fish Mike had caught two years earlier...21.11 lbs. After that, Mac,
Jed, and Budda spent almost every day on the lake (during spawning
season), they did very little fishing the rest of the year.....by this
time they were in it for the money, and fame (by their own admission.)
June 2, 1932 - World Record Largemouth
Bass Caught
The world record bass was caught near Jacksonville, Georgia
on June 2, 1932 by George Perry. It weighed 22 pounds 4 ounces
and was caught from Montgomery Lake near Jacksonville GA. One of
the most sought-after records in the fishing world.
World Record
Bass as listed on
Georgia Department of Natural Resources website.
They finally realized their dream Monday of this week. They had
been out the day before, and knew the big fish was there. They made sure
they were first on the lake by buying a camping permit which gave them
first place on a rental boat. That had been their practice in the
past...being first in line if at all possible....I can't fault them for
that...they were dedicated! Everyone knew the record was in Lake Dixon,
and they found it.
I asked John my son how he felt about it tonight...he was on his
cell phone, on his way to Lake Mead to fish the pro Miller High Life WON
tournament this week-end. John just said, "I wish he had of got a good
hook up instead of a foul hook.". When I told him I wished it had of
been him that caught the big girl, he said, "Dad, I just don't have the
time any more, and those guys must have more money than me...it costs
over $50 a day to rent the boat, permits and all, and they fish it at
least five days a week, and I still have to work!". (John and Mike won
the WON team tournament at Otay Lake last Saturday...$5,000, I said,
"Use some of that and have another crack at it!")
I do not know Mac, Jed, or Budda personally, only through others, and
my son John. But I have no reason to criticize what they
accomplished...they were committed, and dedicated to an end....maybe
they accomplished that end yesterday!
Footnote: It is not against the California fish and game laws
to foul hook a fish unintentionally. In most tournaments you must
release the fish no matter though.....and no matter the motive, Mac did
release the fish, which in my opinion, was the right thing to do.
John Kerr
Disclaimer: The above is my own understanding of the facts, as
related to me by friends, and my son...plus some information from the
book Sowbelly. If there is any error in my recollection...I apologize.
More: What other anglers are saying about the
largest
bass landed in the US.
