The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) State Record Fish Committee has certified a new state-record spotted bass weighing 4-07 and measuring 20 inches. The fish was caught last Saturday (March 10) on Claytor Lake by Rod Kegley of Dublin, Va.
Kegley’s catch, which came on a Yumbrella (an umbrella-style rig made by Yum) easily exceeded the previous state record of 3-10. That fish also came out of Claytor and was caught by Mike Ritter in 1993.
Kegley, an avid angler, wasn’t aware of his record-breaking accomplishment until he returned to Rock House Marina. After watching a local tournament weigh-in, he was alerted by another angler that his catch, which looked very much like a largemouth bass, was actually a big spot.
Marina owner Mike Burchett weighed the fish and then held it in the marina’s bait tank. VDGIF aquatic biologist John Copeland and conservation officer Jeff Peake verified the catch that afternoon.
Kegley said he regularly likes to “bring a mess of fish home” to cook, but decided his prized catch was too special to hit the frying pan. It was released back into the lake.
To see a picture of the fish, click here to go to the Roanoke Times website.
