Sowbelly: The Obsessive Quest for the World Record Largemouth Bass (Hardcover)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: record chasers, bass chase, next world record, Mike Long, San Diego, Bob Crupi (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Burke, "a devoted angler" and a Forbes staff writer, chases down the most famous characters in the years-long quest to top the world record for biggest largemouth bass, at 22 pounds, four ounces, set in 1932 by a 20-year-old Georgia farmer under now-questionable conditions. Burke admirably brings to life the people who enter into such a chase, and he finds good drama in the techniques and sacrifices necessary to pursue such a goal. Readers meet Bob Crupi, a Los Angeles cop whose single-minded pursuit of the record provides an escape from his stressful job, but also threatens his marriage and makes him a stranger to his kids. There's also Mike Long, whom Burke calls "the best big-bass fisherman alive, period" because of the number of largemouth Long has yanked out of the waters of Southern California. Long's fame and reputation have allowed him to cast with the likes of Robin Williams and Nick Lachey, but that fame comes at a price, as would-be record-breakers clog the lakes and ponds Long frequents, threatening to steal his big haul. Throughout, Burke sprinkles ruminations on the science and details of bass fishing, nicely sewing together a well-paced tale about "what we humans will do, what we will gain and what we are willing to sacrifice, in attempting to reach a goal." (Mar.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Those who think largemouth-bass fishing is a minor hobby should explain that to the 11.3 million "hard-core" bass fishers in America (those who spend at least 15 days a year fishing). Some observers compare largemouth-bass fishing today to the status of NASCAR just 10 years ago--on the verge of exploding into national awareness. Burke's engaging, informed account of the sport, which began as an article for Forbes, explains just why bass fishing has become so popular: the proliferation of largemouth bass in lakes nationwide, their fight on the rod, and a professional circuit that supports some 500 bass fishers. There are also the fame and cash that come from landing the Big One, the record fish having been caught in 1932 at a whopping 22 pounds, 4 ounces. While Burke profiles several of the thousands of deadly serious bass fishers fixated on the record, he points to the loopy way that that fish might be caught: "Anyone could break it. Whereas you or I will never top the single-season home-run record in baseball, we could land the next world-record bass." Alan Moores
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Adult (March 17, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525948635
• ISBN-13: 978-0525948636
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #515,048 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hook, line, and sinker!!!, April 13, 2005

By	Gary Clark "GFish" (Kissimmee, FL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is simply one of the best, most well written books I have ever read---on any subject! My highest compliment is that I wish it had gone on and on. If Mr. Burke decides to write another book, I shall be the first in line to purchase it. Great job, Monte!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Bit, April 1, 2005

By	Hawg (New York) - See all my reviews

Monte Burke's book Sowbelly, which chronicles the pursuit of the world record bass, is a great read that should appeal to all types. In addition to being a great fishing tale, it also looks into the depths of some very interesting lives.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Kind of Fishing is no Sport, May 18, 2005

By	John Matlock "Gunny" (Winnemucca, NV) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

And all this time I thought that fishing was supposed to be a stress releiving, sit on the bank of the river drinking a beer on a sunny summer day. Boy, was I ever wrong. These people don't approach fishing like that at all. "Nuts" is not a word that I would use, but it's not far off.

A little background, the world record for large mouth bass is now 72 years old. Other catches have come close to the twenty two pounds four ounces of that fish, but so far, none have surpassed it.

Since then, but especially in the past few years people have been diligently seeking to surpass this record. I hate to have to say this, but it is rumored that some people have even tried to cheat to break the record. Texas is even trying to breed the biggest fish, well, what would you expect from Texas.

This is the story of the quest for the fish, the people, their lakes, and tales of the "sport." It's a delightful read. And while you'll necer catch the winning pass at the Super Bowl, you could catch the biggest bass.