Meandering

Top 5 Record Book - Who

Wed, February 01, 2017

To finish off the week, here’s a look at the all-time heavyweights, both anglers and bass.

The 20-Pound Club * = 2016 entry
32-13   Jake Breeson 2014 (9-4, 8-8, 6-6, 4-10, 4-1)
*32-13   Mark Balbinot 2016(7-7,6-8,6-5,6-5,6-4)
32-0   Gary Le 2014 (8-10,6-8,5-12,5-10, 5-8) 
29-7   Austin Chapman 2015 (6-4,6-2,6-0,5-14,5-3)
27-12   Jake Breeson 2015 (6-13,6-2,5-5,5-0,4-8)
27-6   Randy Sampson Sr 2015 (7-0,6-1,4-13,4-12,4-12)
*27-6   Jake Breeson 2016(6-3,5-13,5-4,5-2,5-0)
*26-4   Austin Chapman 2016(5-14,5-10,5-2,4-14,4-12)
26-1   Brice Wangler 2014 (5-11, 5-5, 5-2, 5-0, 4-15)
25-8   Brice Wangler 2015 (5-7,5-4,5-2,4-14,4-13)
24-14 Ty Hartlipp 2014 (6-11, 5-10, 5-5, 4-0, 3-4)
24-9   Terry Isbell 2014 (5-8,5-4,5-2,4-8,4-3) 
22-15   Adam Bean 2015 (5-13,4-9,4-6,4-2,4-1)
22-13   Mike Mooney 2014 (6-4, 5-7, 4-3, 3-9, 3-6)
22-12 Troy Jackson 2015 (5-13,4-13,4-10,3-12,3-12)
*21-8   Randy Sampson Sr. 2016(5-12,5-8,4-11,3-1,2-8)
*21-7   Brice Wangler 2016(4-8,4-7,4-4,4-2,4-2)
*21-3   Troy Jackson 2016 (5-9,5-4,3-9,3-7,3-6)
20-14 Troy Jackson 2014 (4-13, 4-6, 4-2, 4-1, 3-8)
20-9   Austin Chapman 2014 (4-15, 4-4,4-0,3-13,3-9)
20-1   Bruce Zilkowski 2014 (4-11,4-3,4-0,3-12,3-7)

Comments: For my money, a 20-pound limit is a solid achievement for this angler based on skill set, fishery access, free time, bad habits and, frankly, a little luck.  Four-pound fish just don’t jump into my boat or onto the bank.  And for those in the top half of our list we’re talking five and even six-pound average fish, way out of my league but super fun having a front row seat when those pics and details show up (even some cool video links this year as well).

Top 10 Top 5 Bass * = 2016 entry
9-4   Jake Breeson 5/23/14 Jig
8-10 Gary Le 5/4/14 Swimbait
8-8   Jake Breeson 5/23/14 Jig
8-0   Kamryn Kaesebier 4/13/14 Crankbait
*7-7   Mark Balbinot 12/11/16 Underspin
7-0   Randy Sampson Sr. 3/22/15 Jig
6-13 Jake Breeson 4/9/15 Swim Jig
6-11 Ty Hartlipp 6/11/14 Topwater Frog
6-8   Gary Le 8/16/14 Swimbait
*6-8   Mark Balbinot 11/20/16 Plastic Worm

Comments: Only takes a six and a half this year to get you into the all-time Top 10, kind of a tall order but definitely looking forward to what 2017 holds in store.  I find it pretty cool that seven different months are represented in these Top 10 fish as well as seven different lure types.

And just for fun…

All-Time Weights (anglers who have participated all three years)
Weights listed 2014, 2015, 2016
(Note: not all years were 5 fish limits for several anglers)
87-15 Jake Breeson (32-13,27-12,27-6)
76-4   Austin Chapman (20-9,29-7,26-4)
73-0   Brice Wangler (26-1,25-8,21-7)
64-13 Troy Jackson (20-14,22-12,21-3)
54-15 Bruce Zilkowski (20-1,17-0,17-14)
45-11 Mike Mooney (22-13,4-9,18-5)
41-3 Jim Junk (11-7,16-5,13-7)
38-3 Brent Jackson (18-7,6-10,13-2)
37-4 Jeff Marshall (12-5,5-8,19-7)

Comments: Thanks fellas for giving this a shot at the beginning and then electing to keep coming back for more.  Hope to hear from you all again and would enjoy reporting on a 100-pound “career” weight when the all-time update comes out in 2018.

So, we’re all caught up on the first three years of the Top 5 and ready to kick off 2017.  And don’t forget, if you pursue other species bring ‘em on as we take a stab at expanding our horizons and sharing some more fish stories and pics beyond bass.  Best of luck and talk to you later.  Troy

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