“The last three world-record spots have come out of that lake,” Huth said. “It’s been four years since the world record has been broken. I think it’s overdue. I think it’s going to happen this February because there’s going to be a lot of people throwing swimbaits. I guarantee it will be in February, actually. Since anglers are more comfortable with swimbaits now, there is a higher chance of catching that world-record fish.”

On the other hand, Huth believes that after this spring, it might be a challenge to find another record-size spot at Pine Flat.

“I would say that in my best guess, the big spotted bass are on the decline. But how can you say that when the last three world records have come out of there in a period of 5 years?” Huth asked. “That’s just what I think. The largemouths have had a good spawn the last few years, and the fishery is doing well. We’ve had good water this year. I think nothing but the best is going to happen there this year.”

For anglers heading east outside of the Los Angeles Basin, there are a few spots that won’t disappoint.

For a long time, Lake Mead was a dud. Bass fishing was pitiful. However, after the lake rose considerably a few years ago, the bass population rebounded. The lake has since fallen again, but it hasn’t hurt the bass population just yet. This season could be another banner one for anglers simply looking to find great action.

“The fishing has picked up considerably in the last few years. It’s been like night and day. The water came up, it got into vegetation, and they had a couple of really good spawns and the shad population got really high. It’s been good ever since,” says Gary Dobyns, the all-time leading money winner in the West, who has twice finished second in the U.S. Open at Mead in the last few years.

“Three years ago in the U.S. Open, there were only three of us who weighed in limits. You just couldn’t catch a fish. Now you can catch a few limits a day and cull a few.”

Dobyns said it’s common for anglers to catch 1- to 2-pound bass at Mead, and there’s a lot of 3- to 4-pound fish to go around. This year, anglers can expect to catch 5- and 6-pound bass regularly.

“The quality of fish is way up, too. There’s been more 3-pound fish caught than any other time I can remember. The lake is healthier than it’s been in several years. It’s not the same lake that it was a few years ago,” Dobyns added.

Whether or not Southern California produces an official world record this year, there’s still some of the world’s best bass fishing here. You can bet anglers will weigh in fish in the high teens. Will you be one of the legends people will want to read about?