Giant Bass caught on Rodman on MLK Day

[Deadeye]

I didn't know if you guys saw this posted or not. Story is from the FWC:

Hall of Fame bass caps three days of fishing on Rodman Reservoir


Dewight "Richie" Whitmore, 27, from Ringgold, Georgia, caught, documented and released a 14-pound, 1-ounce Florida largemouth bass at Rodman Reservoir on Martin Luther King Day. Whitmore, fishing with Georgia friend Josh Broome and Florida fishing guide Sean Rush, was using live shiners when they laid into the behemoth around 8:30 in the morning.

Whitmore, who has been freshwater fishing all his life, joined Broome for a three-day guided trip during the long weekend. Fortunately for them, they hooked up with Rush, who is very familiar with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC) TrophyCatch program.

"TrophyCatch is an incentive-based conservation program for anglers who catch, document and release largemouth bass heavier than eight pounds in Florida," said KP Clements, the FWC's TrophyCatch director.

Data from the program helps the FWC enhance and sustain trophy bass fishing, and Rush has helped his customers document many such catches, including Season 1 champion Bob Williams from New Jersey.

Consequently, when Whitmore landed this bass, Rush immediately called the FWC. Although not required to verify a Hall of Fame fish, FWC fisheries biologist Travis Tuten came off holiday leave with his kids to witness the catch, obtain additional measurements and take a fin clip for genetic analyses. They were also able to video the live release of the first Hall of Fame entry for Season 3 of TrophyCatch (visit www.Facebook.com/TrophyCatchFlorida to see the video).

As a Hall of Fame entrant, Whitmore will receive a free replica of his bass, produced by New Wave Taxidermy, $200 in gift cards from TrophyCatch partners like Bass Pro Shops, a Fitzgerald rod and a sweatshirt-sunglasses combo from SpiderWire™. Right now, he also is in contention for the TrophyCatch championship ring that will be awarded by the American Outdoors Fund for the largest verified bass at the end of Season 3 (Oct. 1, 2014 to Sep. 30, 2015).

During their three-day trip, Whitmore also caught and released four additional bass that are eligible for other TrophyCatch awards, and his buddy caught two more.

"This lake is truly one of the best bass fishing and wildlife sanctuaries in the world," said Rush, who is a fourth-generation Floridian. He loves showing his customers all of the eagles and other wildlife in this reservoir fishery.

Whitmore couldn't agree more, and immediately booked another trip. He said he's coming back to Florida as often as possible to fish Rodman Reservoir.

People can participate in this citizen-science effort and help encourage live release of trophy bass by registering at www.TrophyCatchFlorida.com. Simply registering makes people eligible for a Phoenix bass boat, powered by Mercury and equipped with a Power-Pole anchoring system and Navionics charting.

I will post a pic of it from my phone shortly

[Deadeye]

Here is the pic

[Smallie_Stalker]

I did see that. What an awesome fish! Thanks for posting the pic. The one I saw had watermarks for copyright purposes on it so it couldn't be posted here.

[Reservoir Runner]

 I saw that article from FWC. Caught it on a shiner. I see they are ramping up the battle again to drain Rodman. Huge fish, hopefully will be caught again.

[Donald Garner]

Beautiful looking fish there.  Tks for sharing the story and picture.

[MCS]

Nice and there gonna drain the biotch. U post this on FBN deadeye?

[Deadeye]

Nice and there gonna drain the biotch. U post this on FBN deadeye?

I don't know what FBN is.

[Wizard]

Great bass! Now, imagine what a 22 lb. bass would look like. Missouri state record is 13+ lbs. on Bull Shoals.

[LgMouthGambler]

WOWZA!

[Lee Smith]

that sucker is huge! 

[MCS]

that sucker is huge! 

And the river keeper and the jacksonville port authority made a deal to knock the dam down in exchange to dredge the port.

[MCS]

I don't know what FBN is.

Florida bass network. A florida only forum with regional reports.

[Dark3]

Florida bass network. A florida only forum with regional reports.

You said they plan on draining it?

[MCS]

You said they plan on draining it?

Yes it is all over bbc and FBN as well as news up here

[MCS]

Here is just one of many articles http://mayportmirror.jacksonville.com/sports/outdoorsoutside/2015-01-17/story/bob-mcnally-politics-st-johns-dredging-shouldnt-be-connected

[Dark3]

Thats a shame. So much for the effectiveness of the trophy release program in that body of water

[bassindude]

Great bass! Now, imagine what a 22 lb. bass would look like. Missouri state record is 13+ lbs. on Bull Shoals.

Rodman is the lake that Doug Hannon practally lived on looking for the world record.  He was convinced that if there was a 22lb+ fish in florida to be caught, that is where it would be. 

Jim

[Smallie_Stalker]

Here is just one of many articles http://mayportmirror.jacksonville.com/sports/outdoorsoutside/2015-01-17/story/bob-mcnally-politics-st-johns-dredging-shouldnt-be-connected

Business and politicians. That pretty much explains it. 

[MCS]

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2015-01-24/story/controversy-builds-putnam-county-unites-save-rodman-reservoir