Big Bass Reeled In At Dworshak

The largest smallmouth bass recorded in Idaho was caught Oct. 14 in Dworshak Reservoir, the 54-mile-long impoundment on the North Fork of the Clearwater River.

Using a scented artificial grub on a 1/4-ounce lead-head jig, Dan Steigers of Juliaetta, Idaho, landed the 8-pound smallmouth while fishing as an afterthought to a day of hunting.

The smallmouth was 22 inches long and 19 inches in girth. Idaho Fish and Game Department said the fish should bump the record smallmouth of 7 pounds 5 ounces, also caught in Dworshak in 1982.

Even though the fish had a huge belly fattened by the lake’s abundant kokanee, the smallmouth managed to jump four or five times before it was hauled aboard the boat, Steigers said.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review