State Records: 8-Pound Indiana Smallie; Jumbo Georgia Perch

8-Plus Smallmouth Caught in Indiana

Indiana has a new bass record and it’s a whole pound heavier than the previous mark set 32 years ago.

The 8-pound, 4-ounce smallmouth bass caught and released by Rex Remington on March 3 is a new state record for the species, the Indiana DNR said in a news release. The record was caught at Lake Monroe.

The previous record of 7-4 was caught at Twin Lake in 1992 by Dana Yoder.

Monroe Lake, in Monroe County, is just 10 miles south of Bloomington, and is Indiana’s largest reservoir at 10,750 acres.

Many anglers associate smallmouth bass with streams and natural lakes, but several Indiana reservoirs have seen consistent catches of smallmouth, such as Patoka and Brookville, in addition to Monroe.

Fishing for smallmouth in lakes is best in early spring, as they feed aggressively before spawning. As water temperatures warm, smallmouth move into rocky points and flat rocky areas. They are opportunistic carnivores, consuming insects, crayfish, and fish. Lures that imitate prey, such as spinnerbaits, crayfish-patterned crankbaits, surface lures, and live minnows or crayfish are effective.

Learn more about the Indiana Record Fish Program

• Also Read: World-Record Paddlefish Snagged

Jumbo Georgia Yellow Perch

Jumbo perch aren’t limited to only northern climes, as a recent catch in Georgia may attest. Emerson Mulhall of Cumming, Ga., recently tied a state record with a 2-pound, 9-ounce yellow perch caught Feb. 18 on Lake Burton, the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division said. The record was established in 2013.

The fish measured 16 inches long, a jumbo catch in any region of the country.

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“I was confused when I hooked the fish because it didn’t fight like a bass, which is what I typically pursue, and then surprised when I saw the yellow coloring. But got really excited when we realized it was a huge perch,” Mulhall said in a news release. “I called my dad, who is the one who taught me to fish, and he encouraged me to get off the lake and go get it weighed on a certified scale. I like to say that there are no ‘bad’ days on the lake, but some days are better than others. This was definitely one of those days.”

Lake Burton, located in the north Georgia mountains, has a robust population of yellow perch, which prefers cool water lake environments.

Information about state-record fish, including an application and rules, can be found here or in the current Sport Fishing Regulations Guidebook.