And another record set by a MO angler

[Quillback]

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) confirms George Chance of Festus is the latest state record holder after catching a massive 97-pound bighead carp from the Mississippi River. Chance was bank fishing for catfish with a bottom-bouncing crankbait when he hooked into the fish March 19. The previous pole-and-line state record was an 80-pound fish caught from the Lake of the Ozarks in 2004.

“You kind of know what a fish is once you hook into it based on how it fights,” Chance said. “It was moving pretty slow and I originally thought it could be a flathead.”

Chance was fighting with the fish for around 20 minutes before he finally got it onto the shore.

“The more it fought, I saw it’s tail and knew it was some type of carp,” he recalled. “I was able to hook him with a hay hook in order to get him out of the water. It looked to be 50 or 60 pounds at least.”

Chance took the monster fish to a nearby recycling center to use their scale, which prompted him to call his local conservation agent.

“They told me it was a state record, and I said, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me!’”, he laughed. “Then later they said ‘It’s not just a state record, it’s a world record!’ and I said ‘You’ve got to be kidding me!’ I had no idea this would happen would I woke up that morning.”

Chance’s catch is the third state record fish recorded for 2024. The fish also beats the current bighead carp pole-and-line world record of 90-pounds.

“I chopped up the fish and put it in my garden,” Chance said. “I’m going to eat it in the form of tomatoes and cucumbers.”

[top_dollar]

 

Quote

Chance was bank fishing for catfish with a bottom-bouncing crankbait when he hooked into the fish March 19

I've never heard of anyone fishing for catfish with crankbaits. 

[fishinwrench]

9 minutes ago, top_dollar said:

 

I've never heard of anyone fishing for catfish with crankbaits. 

Used to be a dude named TJ around here that trolled a Mann's 20+ for big kitty's. 

He did pretty good. Produced some videos about it.   

[FishnDave]

3 Missouri State Record fish so far this year.   None caught in the mouth?  I'm definitely going about this all wrong....

[dblades]

I've caught a lot of cats on crankbaits, particularly on Truman, when bass fishing.

[fishinwrench]

29 minutes ago, dblades said:

I've caught a lot of cats on crankbaits, particularly on Truman, when bass fishing.

It's been mostly worms and C-rigs for me, while gear fishing. Usually a flathead.

The first time I ever fished a Ned rig I couldn't get away from the barely eater sized channel cat.

Blues, channels, and flatheads all love a Clouser Minnow when flyfishing.  

[luckycraft]

Cats love the flicker Shad’s.   Usually catch a bunch dragging cranks trolling for May/June crappie

[Quillback]

When I trolled Bandits for crappie I could count on catching a cat every time out.

[motroutbum]

Heck, there were guys catching catfish on chatter baits and jighead minnows last week at REDCREST....

[mzrealfish]

Flatheads love crankbaits