The below story is yet again a story that could be Fact, Fiction or half Truth.
Story as Received in Email:
For those of you who don’t know where Big Bass Lake is, it’s in Iosco County Michigan. Probably the biggest nearby town would be Hale, about three miles away…a beautiful little lake full of Pike.
You will never, ever – see me swim in Big Bass Lake…
WOW!!
This is NOT a fish story !
This is a new record Northern Pike in Michigan .. It was caught on Big Bass Lake.
Check this thing out.. The man (in the photos below), was fishing, and caught a 36″ Pike.
As he was reeling it in, a 56″ – 55 lb Pike tried to eat it !!!!!
He landed them both in the same net. The last picture is unreal.
As a resident of Michigan I have not heard about this massive fish until today. I want to see what is out there for stories. I have fished that area before have seen some big one’s but nothing of that size. I assume we will hear more and more stories as time goes on but for now I am hoping this is a fish in a lake near my cabin, the story holds true and I will actually get to see the fish mounted. Let me know what you have heard.
Update:
Record Northern Pike Part 2
About Jason Gill
I live in the area and have heard nothing of the sort. Maybe this is why?????
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?t=217511
I also vacation in the area and have never heard of the fish. Since the posting I have received evidence that this story has been around for years. Still not sure of the origin but the details so far are it is not from Michigan.
My grandfather. John Pearsall speared a 58 inch northern pike in 1977. On Higgins Lake. Pretty sure that record stands. Let me know if record has been broke.
This is awesome. While fighting a 36″ northern pike, a 54″ – 44 pound northern pike attacked the smaller fish and was brought into the boat…!
The Pike was recently caught at Rainy River in northern Minnesota.
another version of the story posted in February 2000
Bass Lake is 34 acres. While it may be possible to support some nice Pike in even a modestly sized body of water like that, the pictures shown here look like a larger body of water. The current state record in Michigan for Northern Pike is 39 pounds, at least on the DNR website. It would be highly unusual for a state record to be broken by such an incredibly large increase (just about 40% larger). Yes, Pike can grow into the 55 pound range – Wikepedia gives a record weight of 68 pounds – but it was in Germany. So, while this is quite probably a “real” photo set – not doctored up – it would seem more likely that it was taken somewhere else besides Bass Lake in Iosco County. Normally, the fisherman with a record fish like that would have his name listed as well – as on the website staterecordfish dot com that I’ve included above.
John, Thanks for the data. I am still trying to find the origin. I have not seen anything that this is doctored so I will let yo know as more details come in. Thanks for the post and if you hear anything more let me know
I did some more poking around and found reports as early as 2007. The best lead I found was on a Basspro forum: (I don’t think this will hotlink, but hopefully the text will still post for cut-and-paste follow up, if you’re interested).
http://forums.basspro.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=006329
Following a link in that forum, it took me to a verifiable story in a Canada newspaper about a fish that was 55.5 inches long – not 55 pounds (it was 47.5 lbs) – which makes a lot more sense – not quite such a stretch in the weight increase over the other record fish. (State Record Northern Pike in the US are almost all under 40 lbs. Even in Montana, Alaska and Minnesota.)
Here’s the newspaper story. Alas, the archive has no photos – but it was the best I could find before I decided it wasn’t as important as other things I needed to do.
http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/local/story.html?id=4adb5406-5536-44aa-9244-be011d9e023f
Take a look at the lake in the background…tundra…few trees…does not look like any lake I’ve ever seen near Hale, and I’ve visited the area where my parents lived (on bass lake near Indian lake) for perhaps 30 years. Someone’s pulling your leg with a fish probably from Canada.
What kind of net did he use again. I personally have never seen a net big enough to net this fish. And supposedly both fish were netted at the same time??
This picture circulated two years ago in Minnesota and was found to be a fake. This fish was supposed to be caught in northern Europe. Don’t believe everything you hear.
This picture has been around for a few years, as someone above indicated. Also, I have seen it on a few other people as well. What I have not been able to figure out is how it can be imposed on someone else. If you know, please post how here or email me.
I wil keep looking and seeing if we can find out how it can be done. Usually When I find a doctored picture there is something similar that pops up as the original. I will keep digging and let you know if I can find it
I’ve mounted a zillion (OK, maybe not QUITE that many!) pike from Michigan, and I have gotta say that fish is NOT a Michigan fish. It looks suspiciously like a European pike. The size alone suggests it, and the color confirms it in my book. I agree with Brian….Northern Pike alright—Northern Europe!!
The last I heard the fish was taken at the mouth of the Saginaw River ,this is not confirmed as the blog reflects.
I personally found out about this a couple of weeks ago when my friends dad showed my the photos on his email. He is good friend was the man driving the boat and taking the photos. Since hearing the news we have planned to make a trip up there soon. The fish was caught in bass lake and that fish is real weighing in at 55lbs and 56 inches
fyi big bass lake is in irons michigan
Wardo and John Britt: There are many “Big Bass Lakes” in MI. In just a few minutes worth of searching, not extensive at all, I found one in Iosco, Lake, and Otsego counties. Isn’t it interesting how we think we know just what or where someone is talking about because of our own preconceptions or baises?
fish is for real not in record book yet thanks to good ole dnr was caught out of season
ive seen these pics a couple times there not in michigan its a bunch of bs that guy is from australia
and everyone ive heard it from supposedly knew the guy some how not to dis on the other guy but for real
I just received an email today from a friend and here is how the first paragraph read:
“For those of you who don’t know where Huron Lake is, it’s in Central Michigans E.side…..
probably the biggest nearby city would be Augres, it’s a beautiful resort and lake.
You will never, ever – see me swim in Huron Lake ! ”
I dont know anything about Michigan but if the place the fish was caught is being changed in the email, then maybe it wasnt caught in Michigan.
I have had that picture for 3 or 4 years on my computer. The 3 rd picture .
I have fished Great Bear Lake in NWT and have caught some monster Northern on days when the weather was too bad out on the lake to troll for lake trout. We fished back in the coves and got hit on about every cast with BIG northern. This is a trophy only lake and so far north Ice floe only allows it to be fished 3 months or so. World record lake trout came out of it. One morning I caught 14 lakers over 15# in 3 hrs trolling 4″ spoons on 6.5″ spinning rod using 12# test. No down riggers needed. Trip of a life time, but $$. I’m betting on someplace way north.
FOR ONE THING LOOK AT THE BACKGROUND. THIS IS A TUNDRA LAKE. MEGA REMOTE. PROBABLY NUNAVIK. NOT IN MICHIGAN.
Im wanting to take my wife fishing in Michigan, Dont know where to go for the best walley and pike fishing, Could anybody out there help me pick a place Thanks okie
I grew up on Big Bass Lake, and based on the photo there is no way it was taken on the lake. It’s a tiny lake and even the one area where pike sre known to be in the lake could never produce one this big.
This picture again? These are all b.s. stories. This picture has been going around for some time now. It is a real fish, however it did not come from Michigan – certainly not Big Bass Lake. It’s not even from North America. This is a European fish and it was caught in Holland. Put an end to the rumors already.
This is not the bass lake near Hale and most likely a BS picture . it could be the lake near sand lake al so known as Big bass lake . I lived on bass lake near Hale all my life.and fished it awhole lot. my father was a Flint cop one of the first cabins built on the lake ..so this is all bull shit LOL
This photo comes from across the pond (europe). People put it up as as hoax everywhere. Happened up here on our forums as well. I’m from canada.
I saw the same photo, the one with the pike in mouth, about 18 months ago and they were attributed to a Canadian Lake.
Not trying to be a ball buster. For all those saying this is a fraud you’re correct. This email surfaced 4-5 years ago and originated saying it was caught in the northern part of Canada. This type of Michigan record, if true, would have been showcased all over news papers, Michigan sportsman forums, and Internet articles. Instead it is just being shown as a hoax on Facebook and a few blogs here and there.
I’m NOT a pro-fisher by any means. Strictly sport. My first reaction to this was it’s not a NORTHERN Pike….it’s snout is too short and round. That’s my unprofessional opinion. Anyone share?
Not to be a downer, but that cannot be a state record as he did not catch the fish he netted it. To be considered it has to be hoohed.
I will be confident We have see this exact same form of statement elsewhere, it needs to be gaining popularity while using people.
I heard it was taken in canada. That pic has been around for a while. This is why i hate the internet. Nothin but bull$!¡ /