Outdoors blog

Thu., June 25, 2015

Columbia River smallmouth just shy of 50-year-old record

An 8.53 pound smallmouth caught June 24, 2015, on the lower Columbia River was just a quarter pound less than the record caught in 1966. (Joe Hymer)

FISHING – A Camas, Washington, angler had a close call with a 50-year-old state fishing record Wednesday on the Columbia River.

Using a plastic grub near Stevenson, the angler caught a 8.53 pound smallmouth measured by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife fisheries biologist Joe Hymer.

“It was 21 7/8 inches long and had a 18 1/2 inch girth,” Hymer said.

“The state record is an 8.75 pound specimen caught on the Hanford Reach in April 1966.

Posted June 25, 2015, 2:38 p.m.

By Rich Landers

richl@spokesman.com

(509) 459-5508

Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.

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