CTFishTalk.com: New CT River PB - Connecticut Bass Fishing Reports ( CT Bass Fishing Reports ) - A Community Built for Connecticut Fisherman.

Justin Tralli · Joined: 05 May 2007 Posts: 656 Location: Glastonbury, CT

Caught and released this fish last Monday on the River. The pictures sadly dont do the fish justice. I'm 6'2, 225lbs to give it some scale. This fish was caught from the Haddam area. She tipped the Normark scale back and forth between 9.5 8.15 and 9.3 . I was going to bring the fish back to the launch and use the equalizer scale but I didn't want to stress the fish out anymore and I don't care about getting anything official. I passed the info along to my good buddy Bill Foreman over at the DEP. We both guessed that this fish was over 25 years old. I have caught many 5's and 6's out of the River over my 25 years out there and none of them were ever nearly this big. It was truly an honor to catch her and I hope nobody including myself ever catches her again. Surely a lifetime memory!

Me with the fish...

My friend Rob with the fish.
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DirtyDawg10 · Joined: 27 May 2009 Posts: 2238 Location: Granby, CT

Awesome fish!! Nice job!!! What did you catch her on?

x182dan · Joined: 19 Mar 2009 Posts: 329 Location: Seymour, CT

congrats man! I really wish I lived closed to the CT there are always nice fish being caught out of there. Good job on the release!!!!

BassRican · Joined: 21 Mar 2011 Posts: 116 Location: Meriden

AMAZING catch! Congrats on catching a PB of that size and age. I gotta get on the river.
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When in doubt, rip their lips out!

Nickp · Joined: 07 May 2007 Posts: 708

You do know the mass record is one of the oldest northern strain largemouth ever scientifically studied and it was 10-12 years old right? Bass dont live much past that in the north. It does look like a 9lber though. Certainly know where near 25 years old- the fish would of looked like complete trash if it was even close 12 years old.

CT_BASSman · Joined: 23 May 2011 Posts: 349

Awesome catch! Was this the bass I read about in the DEP's weekly fishing report? It said a 9.3lb LMB was caught out of the CT river

CT_BASSman · Joined: 23 May 2011 Posts: 349

Justin Tralli · Joined: 05 May 2007 Posts: 656 Location: Glastonbury, CT

Thanks everyone! It is indeed the fish mentioned in the DEP report. Rob and i couldnt breath for about 20 minutes. Neither of us have ever seen a fish like that come out of the River. It was amazing and I can still see the fish come up to the surface next to the boat. I was shaking like a leaf. Lol We filled the livewell ( which she barely fit in), put in some ice and keep alive and let her rest for about 20 minutes before snapping some quick pictures and turning her loose. I'll always have the image of it swimming away because it looked like a 12 pounder when she swam off. I'm glad my buddy was there to experience it with me. Nobody would have believed it. I know I wouldn't have.

I didn't know that Nick. That's interesting. I'll have to check that out. It does make sense though. I have all the measurements but didnt get a scale sample. I wish I had thought of that at the time. Bill Foreman said they could have gotten a decent estimate of the age. Oh well I guess. Im going to have a replica made. It will be my first mounted fish.

CT_Bassman I don't think Nick was knocking me. Just passing his information along. No sweat.
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EAST HARTFORD LAUNCH
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SAP284 · Joined: 07 Jun 2011 Posts: 655 Location: Central, CT

Very nice! I did see that report on the weekly fishing report. I read it every week and even posted something about that 9.3 lber in the Bass Fishing section. I know there are some monsters in the river, glad this one will live another day.
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Steve

steven1smith · Joined: 05 Apr 2010 Posts: 206 Location: South Windsor

I thought that fish from the DEP report was total bogus until I saw this. Congrats on a fish of a lifetime! Very Happy

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Catch and release only.
A 4lb bass is not going to grow to 8lbs on your wall.

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rxpxtx · Joined: 06 May 2012 Posts: 259

Wow. You must be thrilled Justin. I'm curious what you caught her on and the length. I dont think he was knocking you either. It's fishing, and thats what we do in discussion groups. I poked around on the net and it seems 15 years is a good average life span for a LMB, depending on climate. Colder = older. One chart I found for midwest had an average length of 20.7" being about 10 years old. Very dependent on food supply though. Doesnt matter really....thats one sweet filly. If it's all the same to you though, I'm going to keep fishing with catching her in mind. That is why we release, right? A little more ammo for the conversation about whether a broken CT LMB record would come from the river or a farm pond. I tend to favor the river. Congrats again.
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Dave..... I can be a pain in the bass.

Michael · Joined: 28 Jan 2012 Posts: 3823 Location: Bridgeport

OMG!!!!! What a catch!!! Awesome job Justin!!!

rxpxtx · Joined: 06 May 2012 Posts: 259

Haha... Mike, that one in your avatar would have been a snack for this fat belly!
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Dave..... I can be a pain in the bass.

Justin Tralli · Joined: 05 May 2007 Posts: 656 Location: Glastonbury, CT

Thank you all very much. I have been thrilled all week. Everyone wants to see the blown up pictures.

I'd rather not say exactly what I caught it right now other than it was a discontinued top water lure a good friend of mine used to make. The hit wasn't very exciting, she just kinda of slurped it under. I just hope that if she's caught again she is treated well.
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CT RIVER
Every Tuesday Night @ 5 p.m.
EAST HARTFORD LAUNCH
$10 Per Person
Winner Take All!

pikePERSUADER1 · Joined: 07 Dec 2010 Posts: 521

Nice fish!!! Hell yea, man i love the river, another ct river giant! Nice job!