ESPN Freshwater

Last spring marked the end of the chase for Dottie, the world-famous largemouth bass from Escondido, Calif. As one of the most-publicized bass in fishing history, Dottie put her home Dixon Lake and Escondido on the map. Before a local angler found her floating in the lake last May, Dottie twice made the list of the 20 largest bass.

On her last live weigh-in — the result of a foul-hooking, and thus an unofficial catch — Dottie tipped the scales at 25 pounds, 1 ounce, well north of the world record of 22 pounds, set in 1932. Last spring, anglers from as far away as Japan lined the shores of Dixon for a shot at Dottie. Despite her death this year brought crowds in similar numbers. The shorelines are bustling, and anglers line the dock at 6 a.m., eager for a chance at one of Dottie's offspring.

World record chaser

Jed Dickerson, the pioneer in the seven-year chase for Dottie, grew up fishing on Dixon Lake with his friends Mac Weakley and Mike Winn. They know the lake as well as anyone: In spring seasons from 2001 to 2008, Dickerson spent 10-plus hours a day on Dixon Lake searching for Dottie.

In May 2003, Dickerson recorded catching Dottie at 21 pounds, 11 ounces — making her the fourth-largest bass ever caught. Dickerson contends that she weighed 23 pounds right after the catch, but lost weight under stress waiting more than three hours for California Fish & Game officials.

"It was an experience I will never forget," he says now of his experiences chasing the big fish. "I am happy to now spending time with my family and guiding other anglers on the lake.

"The amount of emails and calls about the story has been amazing. Dixon Lake has been rejuvenated with new anglers and hopefully the story has turned people on to the sport."

Before the chase was over, Dickerson had made the media rounds, appearing on ESPN's "World's Greatest Fishing Show" and in a one-hour National Geographic documentary titled "Hooked on Bass." And since it's California, after all, Dickerson contributed to a screenplay about the big fish.

The chase for Dottie also led to a great friendship between former NFL coach Dennis Green and Dickerson. Coach Green, a renowned fisherman, took an early interest in the story of Dottie, and has remained friends with Dickerson since. The two of them can still be seen throughout the spring season fishing Dixon Lake with their sons.

What about Dottie's offspring?

When Dottie was found on May 9th, 2008, it appeared she had just finished spawning for the last time. Her age was estimated at 17 years, giving her plenty of spawning seasons to make future Dixon monsters. Anglers who have followed her story see great potential for Dixon Lake to produce another world-record-class bass.

Why the optimism? Dixon Lake is stocked regularly with rainbow trout. The average trout in Dixon is 2 to 4 pounds, with many reaching 8 pounds or more. Bass in the lake enjoy a steady diet of these healthy trout, predominantly in the 2-pound class. Partly as a result, an angler can see several 10- to 15-pound bass on a weekend visit.

Dottie's size and the continual trout restocking give anglers hope that another Dixon monster is inevitable. Even more promising: Many of the anglers on the lake come for the trout, ostensibly thinning pressure on the bass.

How to fish Dixon's spawn

As in any lake, big bass stay in Dixon's depths during winter. In spring, when the bass emerge by the shorelines to spawn, the sight-fishing is on. As a protected water source, Dixon Lake is open only to anglers who rent electric motor boats. For first access to the rental counter at 6 a.m., get to the dock early (consider camping, even). With a California fishing license, available at the ranger station, a full day's fishing fee and boat rental costs an adult $42.

From March to the end of April, especially, big bass spawn on shallow, sandy beds. You will also need a couple of lures to trigger a reaction bite from the spawning fish; light-colored jigs or plastics are easy to see on the bottom. An imitation plastic trout lure can also be used when the jig is not working.

Cast directly onto the sandy spawning beds. Typically, the large female bass is accompanied by a smaller male, whose job it is to clear the bed. Be patient with him. If you set the hook on the male when he takes your lure, you will startle the female. Let him remove the lure from the bed and then recast.

Persistence pays. Leave the bed awhile if you are not getting bit, and return later to try a different lure. When the female does take the lure, be sure to get a solid hook set and hold on.