February Bass Fishing Records: Texas Lunkers, California Kayak Giants, and Year-Round Minnesota Season

Yo, Artificial Lure here, slingin' the hottest bass buzz straight to your ears. February's been absolutely insane out there, folks, and if you haven't been paying attention to what's happening in the bass world, you're missing out big time.

Let's kick things off in Texas, where the ShareLunker program is absolutely on fire. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, Josh Jones from Oklahoma just reeled in his fifth Legacy Class largemouth bass at O.H. Ivie—a hefty 13.51-pounder that's a recapture. This fish has been caught three times now, giving biologists incredible data on how fast these monsters grow. O.H. Ivie has produced 60 Legacy Class bass over the past six years, making it the reigning champ for most lunker-sized fish. If you're dreaming of hooking into something special, this lake is dialed in.

But wait, there's more Texas madness. Austin Miles from Forney absolutely smashed the Purtis Creek State Park Lake record with a 16.04-pound monster on Monday—nearly three pounds heavier than the previous record. Same day, Andrew Scott landed a 13.62-pounder from Ellison Creek Reservoir. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, decades of breeding and stocking programs are finally paying off with bigger fish spreading across more waters. Purtis Creek's got five Legacy Class lunkers in the books, making it prime territory for kayak casters and boat anglers alike.

Head out west to California, and you'll find another record-breaker. Damian Thao paddled his kayak to an 18.75-pound largemouth at Eastman Lake on February 15—the new lake record. This 27-inch beauty with a 25-inch girth was swimming a pearl swimbait near a deep tree point when it ate. The fish got released alive, and now crowds are swarming because sight-fishing conditions are perfect out there.

Now here's what's got fly anglers pumped up. Minnesota just flipped the script on bass fishing. According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, bass season is now year-round with catch-and-release open since February 23. Eric Altena, the Little Falls area fisheries supervisor, says bass populations are thriving with increased abundance and bigger sizes spreading across wider geographic areas. The good news for conservation? No biological evidence suggests catch-and-release poses any problem since bass spawning doesn't peak until late May. The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe supports this regulation change too, though they're keeping a close eye on populations.

Wisconsin's got tournament action heating up. Caleb Kuphall leads the Epic Baits Championship on Smith Lake with 13.5 pounds of largemouths caught around docks with jigs. The Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour hits Lake Whitney and Lake Waco down in Texas March 5 through 8, where locals predict you'll see 10 to 12 pounders.

For you finesse guys targeting mixed species, Connecticut's offering some interesting opportunities. According to On The Water reports, small spoons like the Clam Pinhead Pro work solid in 4 to 10 feet over ice when bass are mixing with perch.

The water's clearing up across the country, big bites are waiting, and opportunities are everywhere. Whether you're chasing giants in Texas, kayak fishing California's new hotspot, or enjoying year-round catch-and-release in Minnesota, February proved 2026 is shaping up to be an exceptional bass year.

Thanks for tuning in. Come back next week for more fresh bass buzz. This has been a Quiet Please production—for me, check out Quiet Please Dot A I.

Tight lines, folks.

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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI