Whether or not David Hayes holds the world record for smallmouth bass, the record came from Dale Hollow Lake. An interesting fact about Nail's record fish is that it was originally submitted for a 12-pound line class record because that was what he was using at the time. Careers While John Herrick's 6 pound, 12 ounce smallmouth bass is certainly not the largest specimen ever caught by an angler, it is the largest smallmouth bass record ever caught on fly tackle that has been submitted to the IGFA. On June 8, 2013, Japanese angler Ichiro Nagai, M.D. Darren Shell has captured the hearts of Smallmouth Bass fishermen and history lovers alike. Poor clarity made fishing especially difficult, as I needed to see from a distance the deeper structures that big females like to sit on:  rock piles, sunken wood, and dense vegetation. Four days later a weather window presented ideal conditions for a second try. Fishing World Records. Not only does Fillette hold the Male-Smallfry record, he is also the youngest angler to hold a record on smallmouth bass. But, within the first week of the month, I caught a fish that hit the 5-pound, 11-ounce (2.59-kg) mark. Plug the known numbers into the formula and Hayes' bass comes out to 12.3 pounds (12 pounds, 5 ounces). On my first attempt, I caught two quality fish that barely missed the mark. My application for an IGFA World Record in the Men’s 4 kg (8 lb) Tippet Class category was rejected because my tippet over-tested. To learn more about the line testing process and what it takes to meet the requirements for each tippet class category, read Nick Haddad’s Tippets Head to Head: How the IGFA tests tippet strength. Soon after, Yarbro's fish was granted the men's 6-pound line class record, which it still holds today. 6-Pound Line: Dr. E. Scott Yarbo -- 8 pounds, 9 ounces. The "pool" of 10 lb bass is minute and a fish must weight 10 lbs at some point in its life if it is ever going to reach 12. As if that wasn't impressive enough, Ratner was also able to properly document the fish on the shoreline and then release it alive. Nearly 10 minutes after coming tight, Yarbro had the "biggest smallmouth he'd ever seen" on his boat. Subscriber Services. My target weight was 5-pounds, 11-ounces (2.59-kg) which, according to the IGFA World Records database, was two ounces heavier than the standing record. 12-Pound Line: Terry Dodson -- 9 pounds, 6 ounces. Hayes' catch held the All-Tackle title for 41 years, despite swirling rumors throughout the angling community denouncing his catch. Unexpectedly, I spotted a smudge below the surface very close to the boat that looked like a large smallie. The Hobie MirageDrive 360 pedal propulsion system is the pinnacle of kayak control with more efficient fin designs, glide technology and allows the boat to be moved in any direction. Angry that he was left cleaning up after everyone, Beal decided to "cool-down" by going fishing with his dad. And amazingly enough, just five days later, I caught a massive 8-pound, 1-ounce (3.66-kg) fish to beat the record I had just set! I'm not sure there are enough 10 lb bronzebacks to produce a World Record fish. Both of these fish were sight fished in the shallows during the hottest times of the year and both ate the gurgler fly delivered on my lightweight 5-weight rod. Why hadn’t I pre-tested the tippet at IGFA headquarters, or fished an even lighter tippet than stated on the spool? In spring 2020, I began my pursuit of the IGFA Men’s 4-kg (8-lb) Tippet-Class World Record for smallmouth bass. I weighed her immediately on my certified scale:  5-pounds, 13-ounces (2.64-kg)-- just the fish I was looking for! And not only does Ratner own this impressive record, he also holds the 2-pound fly tippet record for smallmouth bass with a 5 pound, 8 ounce fish he caught in 2000. Although oftentimes overshadowed by their larger-mouthed relatives, the smallmouth bass is easily one of the most popular freshwater game fish in North America. 8-Pound Fly Tippet: Ichiro Nagai -- 5 pounds, 9 ounces. With a flash of white, gills flared, and wham! Had the line tested accurately, his catch would have never been listed as world record because the 12-pound line class record was a couple ounces heavier at the time. Later that morning, while casting a 4-inch Harville Shad on a 3/8-ounce jig head, Yarbro hooked into a fish that put his 6-pound tackle to the test. Unlike a musky or a marlin that can overpower young or inexperienced anglers, smallmouth are sized appropriately to accommodate all anglers, while still requiring finesse and skill. However, nine years later, it was proven through multiple polygraph tests that the sworn affidavit that denounced the legitimacy of Hayes' smallmouth, had been falsified. In 2001, angler Terry Dodson made angling headlines for the world record smallmouth he pulled from Lake Jocassee, which is located in far northwest section of South Carolina and very close to the North Carolina border. For the intrepid angler, a trip offers world-class smallmouth fishing and more than a little... Lake Erie and its onshore marshes offer potential for big smallies and wondrous waterfowling. Search for the biggest fish in the International Game Fish Association's database of biggest fish for each species. Give a Gift   Try Rainy River, Lake of the Woods, for a mid-summer dream trip. This has created a feud between the two states, who both want to claim ownership for this monumental catch, and understandably so. Dania Beach, FL 33004 To my excitement, the pattern worked immediately, wonderfully, and consistently, and has become an extremely effective method for both smallies and largemouth. Mud Hole makes rod-building simple and fun for novice rod builders. During this time, John Gorman's held the All-Tackle title with his 10 pound, 14 ounce smallmouth he caught on April 24, 1969 while fishing the same location (Dale Hollow Reservoir, Tennessee). The catch has held the distinction of the heaviest smallmouth caught on 16-pound fly tippet for nearly 20 years. The story goes that Beal was sharing a houseboat with some friends and family, and on that fateful morning he was left behind to do the dishes while his buddies snuck off to go fishing. It was like hitting the winning numbers in the lottery. After being introduced in locations around the world, several international locations are producing world-class sized smallmouth. Approximately 3 years ago the Association, which keeps all of the records on fishing, discovered that there existed an affidavit indicating that the world record smallmouth bass had been salted (weight … On my next record attempt, a brisk east wind and above-average temperatures persisted for four days. All Game & Fish subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. Dale Hollow is bisected by the Tennessee/Kentucky border. So that’s when the quest began. Trending Nationwide Bassmaster Opens LIVE Increase a lure’s effectiveness by pairing it with the ideal reel speed. The International Game Fish Association has an 11 pound 15 ounce problem it wishes would go away. The world record for a smallmouth bass is 11 pounds 15 ounces, and that record has stood for more that half a century. 20-Pound Fly Tippet: John Herrick -- 6 pounds, 12 ounces. All fish must be caught per IGFA rules. So without further ado, here's 10 of the biggest smallmouth bass ever recorded: All-Tackle: David Hayes -- 11 pounds, 15 ounces. In spring 2020, I began my pursuit of the IGFA Men’s 4-kg (8-lb) Tippet-Class World Record for smallmouth bass. Although smallmouth bass gained their popularity in North America, their reach is not limited to the US and Canada alone. The maximum recorded size is approximately 27 inches a… However, because the 12-pound Berkley Trilene XT line he was using tested out at 16.8 pounds, his catch was placed in the 16-pound category and became the new world record. It's easier than you think — and will put more big bass in your boat. Sitemap, 300 Gulf Stream Way According to Beal, the fish was caught in Tennessee, but weighed in Kentucky. I used this method exclusively throughout the summer of 2020, and it paid major dividends this past August. 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