State Record Fish Committee
Confirms New State Record Spotted Bass
Richmond, VA - The Virginia
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) State Record Fish Committee has
certified a new state record, a spotted bass weighing in at 4 pounds, 7 ounces
and measuring 20 inches long. The new record was caught Saturday, March 10,
2012, on Claytor Lake by Rod Kegley of Dublin, Virginia. Kegley's prize catch
easily exceeded the past state record of 3 pounds, 10 ounces, which also came
out of Claytor Lake 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,
Kegley was alerted by another angler that his catch, which looked very much like
a largemouth bass, was actually a huge spotted bass. Marina owner Mike Burchett
weighed the fish and then held it in the marina's bait tank. VDGIF Aquatic
Biologist, John Copeland, and VDGIF Conservation Police Officer Jeff Peake
verified Kegley's catch that afternoon.
Kegley, who was casting in deep
water along a flat in the 'Peaks Creek' arm of the lake, caught his record
spotted bass using an Alabama-style rig called the Yumbrella by Yum Baits. The
castable multi-lure is a wire rig similar to a saltwater umbrella rig that is
popular among anglers targeting big striped bass and other game fish along
Virginia's coast.
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. The record spotted bass was released unharmed back into Claytor Lake for
others to enjoy. Kegley stated that spotted bass fishing on Claytor Lake has
improved in recent years. The fish are getting larger and Kegley expects it will
not take another 19 years to see the record broken again.
For more
information about Claytor Lake and Virginia's Angler Recognition Program and
other state fish records visit: www.HuntFishVA.com.
About the
Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
It is the mission of the
VDGIF to maintain optimum populations of all species to serve the needs of the
Commonwealth; to provide opportunity for all to enjoy wildlife, inland fish,
boating and related outdoor recreation and to work diligently to safeguard the
rights of the people to hunt, fish and harvest game as provided for in the
Constitution of Virginia; to promote safety for persons and property in
connection with boating, hunting and fishing; to provide educational outreach
programs and materials that foster an awareness of and appreciation for
Virginia's fish and wildlife resources, their habitats, and hunting, fishing,
and boating opportunities. To learn more about wildlife in Virginia visit www.dgif.virginia.gov.











