NO END TO NEW FISH RECORDS 
 
One would be led to believe that most fresh water fish records have  reached  
their ultimate size limits in history. 
 
"Not so," says Bob Kutz, Founder of the National Freshwater Fishing Hall  of  
Fame.  
 
He said the Hall, a non-profit public service organization and museum  based  
in Hayward, Wisconsin, continues to qualify up to 300 new records each year.  
In  addition,  another 200 runners-up receive  outstanding  angling  awards.  
Although  most are line class records exceeding each other, an average of  a  
dozen all-tackle (heaviest) records are beaten each year. 
 
In  the past year, one of the most significant beaters was the catch  of  an  
inland striped bass of 60 lbs. 8 ozs. out of Melton Lake in Tennessee.  Gary  
Helm's  giant striper nosed out a 59 lb. 12 oz. striped bass caught in  1977  
in the Colorado River in Bullhead City, Arizona. Prior to that record, three  
striped  bass  near  that weight in the 50 lb.  class  exceeded  each  other  
successively  almost  within a year of each other. The interim for  the  new  
current 60 pounder was 11 years. 
 
Although  line  class  records  rather  than  all-tackle  records,   several  
largemouth bass catches threatened George Perry's legendary 56 year mark  of  
22  lbs.  4 ozs. caught in 1932. Black bass line class records of 18  to  21  
lbs. have been processed in recent years. 
 
The  largest "Big Fish" story is that of a 34 lb. brown trout  just  missing  
the  all-tackle  mark  in Arkansas and another caught in the  same  area  of  
Mountain Home, Arkansas, beating the record mark in that same week by nearly  
4 lbs. 
 
In the business of keeping records, the Hall often hears, "All the big  fish  
have already been caught -- the waters are depleted of big fish."  
 
Again,  "Not  so," said the Hall's records department  personnel.  Many  new  
trophy  fish  of  less popular species are processed each  year  for  record  
purpose. These catches seldom receive the news notoriety enjoyed by the more  
sought after, popular species. 
 
A  prime example of this is the common carp. A 55 lb. 5 oz. carp  caught  in  
Minnesota's  Clearwater  Lake  in 1952 held  that  all-tackle  world  record  
position  for  31  years.  In 1983 it was bested by a 57  lb.  13  oz.  carp  
captured in the Tidal Basin waters of Washington, D.C. Though this catch was  
a  significant angling feat, and the fact that it grew to that size  in  the  
extensive shadows of our nation's busy capitol, it hardly caused a ripple in  
the fishing fraternity news reports. 
 
The  Hall  records  spokesman said, "The Fishing  Hall  of  Fame  encourages  
anglers  of  near  record  catches to submit  applications  for  the  Halls'  
outstanding  catch category of awards also. A near- miss of a record  catch,  
the  Hall  feels is a catch worthy of acclaim. A certificate and  a  garment  
emblem is awarded for such a catch." 
 
The  Hall  qualifies records in four sport  fishing  categories:   rod/reel,  
pole/line/no  reel  and ice-fishing, by all-tackle (heaviest)  and  in  line  
class divisions. 
 
A  56-page  book of records covering 125 species is published  annually  for  
distribution to Hall members, World Fisheries personnel and for public sale.  
The book, a non-profit public service item, is available for $4.00 including  
postage ($5.00 Canada). 
 
For  record books or free brochures and applications write,  National  Fresh  
Water  Fishing Hall of Fame, Box 33, Hall of Fame Drive, Hayward,  Wisconsin  
54843. Phone: (715) 634-4440.