The International Game Fish Association is examining the case of a potential all-tackle world record spotted bass caught by Powell Rods president Keith Bryan while competing in a tournament Feb. 22 at New Melones Lake in Northern California.
The fish weighed 10.48 pounds on the tournament scale, then several hours later it registered 9.91 on a certified scale at a grocery store. Bryan thought this fact would nullify his claim to a potential record, but would later learn that scales can be certified by IGFA after the fact. The tournament scale was sent to the organization and has been certified as accurate by IGFA officials.
Bryan's fish has been recorded by the IGFA as the original 10.48 pounds, and is in the process of being considered for world-record status. The process will take a mandated 60 days from the date of the catch, so sometime in April, Bryan's fish could become the new all-tackle standard
"This is just an unbelievable experience," said Bryan. "I could never have, in my wildest dreams, imagined catching a world record of any sort. But to have it happen in a tournament is amazing.
"I can only wait now and hope that the IGFA has enough documentation to certify it as a record. But even if it doesn't happen, this has truly been a once-in-a-lifetime experience."
Bryan caught the giant spot using a wacky-rigged 5-inch green-pumpkin/purple and copper flake (color 330) Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits Senko in approximately 10 feet of water. He'd inserted a 3/32-ounce Lunker City nail weight in the nose and rigged it on a size 2 wide-gap weedless finesse hook. He threw the rig on a 6103mef Powell Inferno spinning rod and size 3000 Shimano Sahara reel filled with 8-pound PowerPro braided line, tipped with a leader of 8-pound Seaguar Invizx fluorocarbon.
