World Record Bass Found Dead

Dottie, the California bass that was caught in 2006 and was claimed to weigh over 25 pounds was was found floating dead. Rangers at Dixon Lake found the big bass and local fisherman Jed Dickerson identified her. Dickerson was one of three friends, including Mac Weakley and Mike Winn, who tried to break the record bass for years.

In 2003 Dickerson caught the bass they named Dottie because of a spot on her side and claimed she weighed 23 pounds when first caught. By the time she was officially weighed three hours later the fish weighed 21 pounds, 11 ounces - impressive but not a world record.

In 2006 Weakley caught her off the bed but she was snagged so she did not qualify for the record books. He claimed she weighed 25 pounds but the fish was released and never weighed officially.

When Dottie was found she weighed 19 pounds, well below any of the claimed weights and almost three pounds less than her highest official weight.

After seeing her dead, Dickerson said: "It's the end of an era and Perry's record lives on. I don't think anyone is ever going to break it."