Bryan’s Spotted Bass a New World Record

The International Game Fish Association has declared the 10.48-pound spotted bass caught in late February by Keith Bryan of Powell Rods a new all-tackle world record for that species.

Bryan, president of Powell Rods, caught the big spotted bass from New Melones Reservoir in north-central California while competing in a regional tournament. The fish took a 5-inch Yamamoto Senko (green pumpkin purple and copper flake) rigged wacky style and fished about 10 feet deep. Bryan used a 3/32-ounce Lunker City Nail Weight in the nose of the Senko and rigged it on a size 2 Gamakatsu Wide Gap Weedless Finesse Hook. He fished the bait on a 6103mef Powell Inferno spinning rod and size 3000 Shimano Sahara reel filled with 8-pound-test PowerPro braided line. The leader was a length of 8-pound-test Seaguar Invizx fluorocarbon.

“I am so proud and humbled at the same time by this notification, and I am absolutely beside myself with joy,” Bryan says. “I think it is a great thing for the entire northern California fishing community and for California as a whole that the world record was once again broken in our state. I’m just feeling so blessed that I get to be a part of it.”

As pleased as he is about being a holder of a bass world record, Bryan doesn’t hold out much optimism that his spotted bass record will last long.

“As great a spotted bass fishery as the state of California has become, I’m certain that this record will fall again soon,” he adds. “But, to have held this record for even one day is a dream, and an accomplishment that any angler should be proud of. It is something that I can say for the rest of my life, that I caught a world record spotted bass. This has truly been a dream come true.”

Photos courtesy of Bass Angler Headquarters