Just before midday on December 13, a routine winter kayak trip turned into a once-in-a-lifetime moment for Max Lee of Clovis, California. As morning fog began to lift from the lake, Lee was scanning the water with his forward-facing sonar, searching for exactly one thing, a truly giant largemouth bass.
At 31 years old, Lee has spent countless hours learning his home waters, but on this day, technology and timing aligned perfectly. As sunlight started warming the surface, his Garmin Livescope revealed a single, massive fish suspended 15 feet down over a 30-foot-deep ditch. There was no bait nearby and no school to follow, just one unmistakable oversized mark on the screen.
Lee wasted no time. He made a long, precise cast to the sonar target using a homemade six-inch minnow-style soft plastic paired with a 3/16-ounce jig head. His Shimano spinning reel was spooled with 22-pound braided line and finished with a 15-pound fluorocarbon leader, a setup strong enough for a giant fish yet subtle for cold water conditions.
Watching the lure descend on the sonar, Lee slowed its fall as it approached the fish. When the bass finally committed, the strike was unmistakable. Lee loaded the rod and tightened down, letting the hook do its job.
Despite its size, the bass stayed deep through most of the fight, rolling the surface only once and never jumping. Lee believes the cold, roughly 50-degree water limited the fish’s energy and helped shorten the battle. From hookset to landing, the entire fight lasted less than one minute.
Without using a net, Lee carefully lipped the bass beside his kayak. Nearby, fellow kayaker Joseph Tax paddled over to help document the catch. Photos were taken quickly while Lee unhooked the fish and prepared it for release.
Back in the kayak, Lee weighed the bass on a tournament handheld scale at just over 16 pounds and measured it at 27 inches long. The fish had a thick, pot-bellied profile that suggested age, health, and a steady diet of forage.
The bass spent less than one minute out of the water before being returned. Lee supported the fish until it regained its balance, then watched it swim off with a powerful tail kick.
Lee declined to reveal the name of the lake, explaining that it is a public reservoir managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and receives heavy fishing pressure. Even so, the fertile, stained water continues to produce exceptional largemouth bass.
This body of water has become Lee’s home lake, and he believes even larger bass live there. He has no plans to commission a replica mount of the 16-pound fish, choosing instead to wait.
Lee is confident a heavier bass, possibly pushing 17 pounds, is still swimming in that lake, waiting for the right moment to appear on the sonar screen.
Image/Source: Wired2Fish
