Brazos River produces massive striped bass
Todd Tran of Richardson caught a 41 3/4-inch striped bass from the Brazos River on June 4 that has been submitted to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for certification as a new state catch-and-release record for that species. The former record, caught from the same stretch of water in 2007, measured 40 1/2 inches.
Tran was accompanied by veteran Brazos River fishing guide Shane Davies of Dallas. Davies said the giant striper took a 9-inch gizzard shad soaked on 20-pound monofilament line with a 4/0 circle hook. It weighed just under 30 pounds on uncertified scales. Tran also caught and released a 36-inch striper the same day.
Davies is a bona fide river rat who has been fishing the Brazos since 1989 and guiding on it since 1994. He fishes exclusively from kayaks and has private access to some of the best stretches of water between Granbury and Waco. The name of his operation is fitting: River Run Guide Service.
Though most of Davies' trips are geared towards largemouth bass and stripers, he also catches hybrids, catfish, spotted bass and an occasional smallmouth.
"The Brazos River surprises lots of people," Davies said. "There are really some good quality fish roaming around out there. The key is finding them and using the right approach to catch them. River fish are different. You have to be pretty stealthy at times."
In July 2008, Davies caught and released a 26-inch largemouth that he feels certain would have ranked as a new Brazos River record had he been able to weigh it.
Davies did not have a scale at the time and he had no way to transport the bass without killing it. He used length and girth measurements to calculate the bass' weight at slightly more than 10 pounds. The existing record of 9.61 pounds dates back to 1987.
"That largemouth bass record really needs to be dethroned," Davies said. "There are plenty of fish out there that can do it. I've seen them. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that was a double-digit fish."
Davies currently owns the Brazos River water body record for hybrid bass with a 17.97-pounder caught in Jan. 13, 2008, and the No. 13 spot on the Texas Top 50 striper list with a 40.4-pounder he caught in 1994. He also guided Skeet Hooks to a Top 50 striper on the Brazos (No. 11) that weighed 42.66 pounds.
Ron Venerable caught the current state record striper from the Brazos in 1999. It weighed 53 pounds.
For information on booking a float trip with Davies, call 214-418-9786. All tackle, gear and kayaks are provided.
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