Best Fish of 2012

We asked our B.A.S.S. Facebook fans to submit photos of their best fish of the year, and here they are!

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<p>We asked our B.A.S.S. Facebook fans to submit photos of their best fish of the year, and here they are! From steelhead to musky to enormous bass, these fish are beauties! Come share your best fish on our <a href=
We asked our B.A.S.S. Facebook fans to submit photos of their best fish of the year, and here they are! From steelhead to musky to enormous bass, these fish are beauties! Come share your best fish on our Facebook page.
<p>Brad Houchins caught this 5.96-pound bass on High Rock Lake in North Carolina in June. He said it wasn’t his biggest of the year but definitely his most memorable. “This was the first tournament I had collected a check in close enough to home that my son, Hayden, could make it to the weigh-in,” said Houchins. “He was so excited. It was awesome!”</p>
Brad Houchins caught this 5.96-pound bass on High Rock Lake in North Carolina in June. He said it wasn’t his biggest of the year but definitely his most memorable. “This was the first tournament I had collected a check in close enough to home that my son, Hayden, could make it to the weigh-in,” said Houchins. “He was so excited. It was awesome!”
<p>“These two were caught on my best day of the year, a 5- and a 7-pounder,” said Brad Houchins. He caught them on North Carolina’s High Rock Lake in early December on a square bill crankbait.</p>
“These two were caught on my best day of the year, a 5- and a 7-pounder,” said Brad Houchins. He caught them on North Carolina’s High Rock Lake in early December on a square bill crankbait.
<p>Branden Burkhardt caught this 7-11 bass in Claremore, Okla.</p>
Branden Burkhardt caught this 7-11 bass in Claremore, Okla.
<p>Dylan Newton caught this 9 1/2-pounder using an umbrella rig. He was fishing in 15 feet of water in late February in North Carolina.</p>
Dylan Newton caught this 9 1/2-pounder using an umbrella rig. He was fishing in 15 feet of water in late February in North Carolina.
<p>Gary Emery III caught this 5-pound, 9-ounce beauty on Lake St. Clair using a Jerk Money 120 (Sally color).</p>
Gary Emery III caught this 5-pound, 9-ounce beauty on Lake St. Clair using a Jerk Money 120 (Sally color).
<p>Greg Moore caught this 9-pounder on Feb. 17 on North Carolina’s Lake Waccamaw.</p>
Greg Moore caught this 9-pounder on Feb. 17 on North Carolina’s Lake Waccamaw.
<p>Heath Hutchison was wielding a drop shot when he caught this 5 1/2-pounder in southern California right before Christmas.</p>
Heath Hutchison was wielding a drop shot when he caught this 5 1/2-pounder in southern California right before Christmas.
<p>Hector Hinojosa caught this 9 1/2-pounder on Kawhea Lake in summer, dragging a Mojo rigged with a red and gold flake Keeper Baits bug.</p>
Hector Hinojosa caught this 9 1/2-pounder on Kawhea Lake in summer, dragging a Mojo rigged with a red and gold flake Keeper Baits bug.
<p>August Lingnau caught this massive bass in central South Africa using Strike King Redeye Shad (green gizzard) and 12-pound Berkley 100 Percent Fluorocarbon. It is currently under consideration for a record in South Africa.</p>
August Lingnau caught this massive bass in central South Africa using Strike King Redeye Shad (green gizzard) and 12-pound Berkley 100 Percent Fluorocarbon. It is currently under consideration for a record in South Africa.
<p>This 47-incher was Jared Gibbs’ best musky of 2012. He caught it from shore at Banner Marsh in Illinois.<br /> <br />  </p>
This 47-incher was Jared Gibbs’ best musky of 2012. He caught it from shore at Banner Marsh in Illinois.
 
<p>Jared Gibbs not only catches musky out of Illinois’ Banner Marsh. Check out this 5-pounder from the same body of water. He caught it on a J-Mac jig and a Grass Pig swimbait.<br /> <br />  </p>
Jared Gibbs not only catches musky out of Illinois’ Banner Marsh. Check out this 5-pounder from the same body of water. He caught it on a J-Mac jig and a Grass Pig swimbait.
 
<p>Jay Johnson caught his personal best, this 6-4, in Spanaway, Wash., in May.<br /> <br />  </p>
Jay Johnson caught his personal best, this 6-4, in Spanaway, Wash., in May.
 
<p>Jeremy Burns caught this 5.6-pound largemouth on Kentucky’s Fishtrap Lake in October.<br /> <br />  </p>
Jeremy Burns caught this 5.6-pound largemouth on Kentucky’s Fishtrap Lake in October.
 
<p>“I caught this fish at a golf course pond in Claremore, Okla., on April 3,” said Jimmy Randall Allen. He caught it on a crankbait.<br /> <br />  </p>
“I caught this fish at a golf course pond in Claremore, Okla., on April 3,” said Jimmy Randall Allen. He caught it on a crankbait.
 
<p> </p> <p>Jon Treash caught these 7-pounders out of Lake George in upstate New York near the Vermont border in early summer. “I got one on a Mepps #3 Aglia using ultralight gear,” said Treash, “and the other on a hunk of crawlers using a 10-foot cane pole.”</p>
 
Jon Treash caught these 7-pounders out of Lake George in upstate New York near the Vermont border in early summer. “I got one on a Mepps #3 Aglia using ultralight gear,” said Treash, “and the other on a hunk of crawlers using a 10-foot cane pole.”
<p>Jon Treash was fishing with a 1/8-ounce Roostertail (orange/orange) tipped with raw shrimp when he caught this 12-pound steelhead from the St. Joseph River in Indiana in early fall.<br /> <br />  </p>
Jon Treash was fishing with a 1/8-ounce Roostertail (orange/orange) tipped with raw shrimp when he caught this 12-pound steelhead from the St. Joseph River in Indiana in early fall.
 
<p>“This chunk was landed in the beginning of December at Marsh Landing in Jacksonville, Fla.,” explained Josh Kennedy. “It was an overcast evening around 4 p.m., and I was throwing a Culprit worm (red shad, green flake). Estimated weight is around 8 pounds.”<br /> <br />  </p>
“This chunk was landed in the beginning of December at Marsh Landing in Jacksonville, Fla.,” explained Josh Kennedy. “It was an overcast evening around 4 p.m., and I was throwing a Culprit worm (red shad, green flake). Estimated weight is around 8 pounds.”
 
<p>Josh Rhoades caught this 9-pound, 12-ounce largemouth out of Garrisons Lake in Delaware. It was Oct. 13, and Rhoades coaxed the bass out of heavy lily pad cover using a double willow spinnerbait (white). “This was my best fish for 2012 and my new all-time personal best fish so far,” said Rhoades.<br /> <br />  </p>
Josh Rhoades caught this 9-pound, 12-ounce largemouth out of Garrisons Lake in Delaware. It was Oct. 13, and Rhoades coaxed the bass out of heavy lily pad cover using a double willow spinnerbait (white). “This was my best fish for 2012 and my new all-time personal best fish so far,” said Rhoades.
 
<p>“My son, Kevin, caught this 7-0 on a shiner in the Butler Chain in Florida in March while we were on vacation,” said Tim Jarrold. “He was quietly happy, but I almost cried when he caught it.”<br /> <br />  </p>
“My son, Kevin, caught this 7-0 on a shiner in the Butler Chain in Florida in March while we were on vacation,” said Tim Jarrold. “He was quietly happy, but I almost cried when he caught it.”
 
<p>This 6-3 lunker came from the Del Valle Lake reservoir. Kyle Chung caught her using a 1/2-ounce Strike King Redeye Shad KVD’s Silent Stalker (orange belly craw) in late April or early May.<br /> <br />  </p>
This 6-3 lunker came from the Del Valle Lake reservoir. Kyle Chung caught her using a 1/2-ounce Strike King Redeye Shad KVD’s Silent Stalker (orange belly craw) in late April or early May.
 
<p>Check out these bad boys caught by Landon Valentin!<br />  </p>
Check out these bad boys caught by Landon Valentin!
 
<p>Linda Casto caught this nice smallie on Lake Erie’s eastern end in May using a Strike King Coffee Tube.<br /> <br />  </p>
Linda Casto caught this nice smallie on Lake Erie’s eastern end in May using a Strike King Coffee Tube.
 
<p>“An early May 4-pounder caught on a KVD 1.5 in the bluegill color, caught on the St. Joseph River in Centreville, Mich.,” said Martin Baker.<br />  </p>
“An early May 4-pounder caught on a KVD 1.5 in the bluegill color, caught on the St. Joseph River in Centreville, Mich.,” said Martin Baker.
 
<p>Oliver Ngy had such a great year of bass fishing that he’s sharing video of his experiences with fans on his <a href=
Oliver Ngy had such a great year of bass fishing that he’s sharing video of his experiences with fans on his Facebook page. Ngy added that he caught six limits that were heavier than 40 pounds, including one limit that was 56 pounds, 4 ounces.
 
<p>Paul Russo didn’t have a scale on the boat when he caught this one on Texas’ Lake Fork in May. But he was able to measure it, and it came in at 22 inches long.<br /> <br />  </p>
Paul Russo didn’t have a scale on the boat when he caught this one on Texas’ Lake Fork in May. But he was able to measure it, and it came in at 22 inches long.
 
<p>Peter Stockwell caught this 6-pound, 8-ounce bass out of Forked River in New Jersey in July.<br /> <br />  </p>
Peter Stockwell caught this 6-pound, 8-ounce bass out of Forked River in New Jersey in July.
 
<p>Phobie Satterwhite caught this 5-pounder in Lee County, Ala., in May. “I used a pink worm on 8-pound line,” said Satterwhite. “I thought I was hung until it took off. Great day of fishing!”</p>
Phobie Satterwhite caught this 5-pounder in Lee County, Ala., in May. “I used a pink worm on 8-pound line,” said Satterwhite. “I thought I was hung until it took off. Great day of fishing!”
<p>In November, Ray Arbesu pulled this 5.71-pounder out of Nevada’s Lake Mead.<br /> <br />  </p>
In November, Ray Arbesu pulled this 5.71-pounder out of Nevada’s Lake Mead.
 
<p>Scott Manning’s big smallie was his best fish of the year.<br /> <br />  </p>
Scott Manning’s big smallie was his best fish of the year.
 
<p>Scott McGehee caught his new personal best in early March on a private lake in Madison, Miss. McGehee said it weighed 13 pounds, 14 ounces.<br /> <br />  </p>
Scott McGehee caught his new personal best in early March on a private lake in Madison, Miss. McGehee said it weighed 13 pounds, 14 ounces.
 
<p>“I caught this 5-10 smallie on a tube in central Lake St.Clair on July 30,” said Tim Jarrold. “It was a great day to relax and catch some huge bass.”<br /> <br />  </p>
“I caught this 5-10 smallie on a tube in central Lake St.Clair on July 30,” said Tim Jarrold. “It was a great day to relax and catch some huge bass.”
 
<p>Tim Lems caught this 28 1/2-inch bull red in October on the Lake Pontchartrain lakefront in Louisiana. “He weighed 18 pounds!” said Lems.<br /> <br />  </p>
Tim Lems caught this 28 1/2-inch bull red in October on the Lake Pontchartrain lakefront in Louisiana. “He weighed 18 pounds!” said Lems.
 
<p>“There’s nothing better than making memories and winning tournaments with your Paw Paw,” said Wendy Samples. This limit that weighed 15.78 pounds came from Logan Martin Lake in Pell City, Ala.<br /> <br />  </p>
“There’s nothing better than making memories and winning tournaments with your Paw Paw,” said Wendy Samples. This limit that weighed 15.78 pounds came from Logan Martin Lake in Pell City, Ala.