15-lb. Carroll County Largemouth

Brice Rhodes caught this 15-lb., 2.1-oz. largemouth from a Carroll County pond on Feb. 29, 2004. This fish ranks as No. 34 on GON’s Georgia’s Biggest Bass of All-Time list,

Brice Rhodes made Georgia big-bass history on Feb. 29, 2004 when he caught a 15-lb., 2.1-oz. bass in a Carroll County pond. His name currently sits at the No. 34 spot on GON’s Georgia’s Biggest Bass of All-Time list.

“I was fishing in a cove and threw down the bank under some trees,” said Brice. “I just left the worm sitting out there and turned to talk to (my friend) Jesse. I felt the fish bite—it was just a light tap. I turned back and saw my line swimming off, and I yanked. At first I didn’t even think it was a bass.”

Brice thought he had hooked a big catfish.

“Then I saw its head come out of the water with its mouth open, and I knew what it was then,” said Brice.

You can imagine the chaos that broke loose when that Carroll County lunker came out of the water late in the afternoon of Feb. 29, 2004.

“I didn’t want the fish to get off—I was going crazy,” said Brice. “I just wanted to weigh it because I always wanted to catch a bass over 10 pounds. We reeled it all the way to within 2 feet of the bank, and I told Jesse, ‘Don’t let this fish get away.’ He got in the water with his shoes on, the fish came right into his arms, and he tossed it on the bank.”

Brice said the fish only tried to come out of the water twice, and it never did put up a fight. He believes the fish was so lethargic because of the cold weather. After the big catch, the two friends just sat on the bank looking at the giant bass and exchanging high fives.

Brice had the fish certified the next day at Walker Meats.

To this day, it’s the heaviest bass to ever come from Carroll County.

Editor’s Note: For a bass to be included on GON’s Georgia’s Biggest Bass Of All-Time list, it must weigh a minimum of 13 pounds and be:

• Weighed on accurate Georgia DOA certified scales with at least two witnesses present.

• Witnesses to the weighing must be at least 18 years old, and they must not be members of the angler’s immediate family nor have a close personal relationship with the angler.

All record submissions, photos and witness phone numbers must be sent to [email protected].