Bowfisherman Takes Michigan State-Record for Quillback Carpsucker

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources recently confirmed yet another new state-record fish, again for quillback carpsucker. This marks the fifth state-record fish caught in 2015 – although two of those records have been for quillback carpsucker on the same body of water.

The state record for this species was broken by a fish caught by Blake Wilson of Lake Ann, Michigan, on Hardy Dam Pond in Newaygo County Thursday, July 16, at 11:42 p.m. Wilson was bowfishing. The fish weighed 9.42 pounds and measured 25 inches.

The record was verified by Heather Hettinger, a DNR fisheries biologist out of Traverse City.

For the third time in less than a year the state record for quillback has been broken on Hardy Dam Pond in Newaygo County by yet another angler who was bowfishing.

The previous state-record quillback carpsucker was caught by Garrett Reid of Nashville, Michigan – also on Hardy Dam Pond – Saturday, June 20. That fish weighed 8.52 pounds and measured 24 inches.

“This is another example of the unique fishing opportunities we have in Michigan – particularly in the northern Lower Peninsula,” said Scott Heintzelman, the DNR's Central Lake Michigan Management Unit manager. “More and more people are enjoying the sport of bowfishing and this water body’s quillback population, but Hardy Dam Pond also produces really nice panfish, walleye, bass, pike and other species.”

The DNR reminds anglers who bowfish to properly dispose of all specimens they harvest.

State records are recognized by weight only. To qualify for a state record, fish must exceed the current listed state-record weight and identification must be verified by a DNR fisheries biologist.

To view a current list of Michigan state fish records, visit michigan.gov/fishing.

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