Claytor Lake produces likely state record spotted bass
I just got off the phone with Dublin’s Rod Kegley, who caught this big spotted bass on Saturday at Claytor Lake.
The fish weighed 4 pounds, 7 ounces — well over the existing state record of 3 pounds, 10 ounces. The species and weight were verified by DGIF biologist John Copeland, so it seems likely Kegley’s record application will have no problems.
Does anyone care to guess what Kegley caught this fish on? And if you already know, you can’t play. Of course, anyone who has been paying attention to bass fishing for the last couple of months can probably guess.
March 12, 2012 - 12:13 PM
Hmmm…. Umbrella Rig? Lol
Not sure but it’s a nice one. I’ve fished many tournaments at Claytor Lake and never could get a big bag to weigh-in because of all the small spotted bass. This is a pig!
Alabama rig?
Alabama Rig?
Alabama Rig?
The alabama umbrella rig?
I just approved all of these at once, so it’s not like everyone copied J.R.’s answer — which is right, of course.
I made an A-rig a couple weeks ago and we actually trolled it some for trout at Lake Moomaw during that wet trip a couple weeks ago. I don’t see any reason it won’t work for trout.
And, yes, I do plan to do a story on the A-rig bonanza. I don’t think I’ve seen anything like this since I started writing about fishing nearly 20 years ago.
Congratulations Rod on your RECORD catch !
OK, after reading the other comments I guess I need to get me an Alabama Rig ?!?!
Ralph — You should get an Alabama rig or two. Just make sure to schedule some overtime so you can pay for them. (Or you can just make them!)
By the way, I will post the shots of Chris and Jan and their big bass asap.
Yep, I heard about the Bama rig some time ago….. a buddy of mine fishes on the pro bass circuit and he had seen them before they became big news. They are kind of pricey but Bass Pro Shops sells a similar rig for about half the price. Anyway I’m kind of “old school”…. usually I’m a little slow trying out the new gimmicks. But that rig does seem to be catching some fish so I guess I’d better get me a couple.
Way to go Hot Rod!
It’s been a while…Glad to see you are still hauling them in.
My son hung up and lost an A-Rig Saturday. I’ve never spent so much time trying to get something that was snagged. $25 gone..I’m already seeing cheaper knock offs thank goodness. I had a striper smash mine over the weekend.
I picked up a couple Alabama rigs at a discount the other day and am looking forward to trying it out. But when you factor in the cost of the baits you attach to the rig, that is an expensive lure to lose – could be $30+ lost with just one hangup or breakoff!
I was talking to some guys at Gander Mountain about Alabama rigs and one of them went over and grabbed something and said, “This is the most important thing you’ll need.” It was a lure retriever.
Yes Mark, you are so right….. the lure retriever is VITAL ! and easy to make if you don’t want to buy one. Mine has paid for itself many times saving crankbaits that I hung on the bottom.
Only problem I have is trying to get lures out of trees 60 foot up in the air on the shoreline! My girlfriend and my son often put lures up there!
(OK maybe I’m just giving them a hard time since they both SKUKNKED me on sunday! LOL!)
Mark, did they sale you a lure retriever,retiever.LOL I used a Bama rig at carvins cove and lost it on the first cast.I went home and changed my line that night.Congrats Rod on a real pig!!!!
I first mentioned this rig here in January, with a guy on a youtube video that makes those rigs and selling them for under $20 bucks…
As it is the Lure has been deemed illegal to use in some tournaments and others that a fish may or may not strike them as any other lure.
Im guessing he caught it on 2 pounds of lead shaped like a minnow.
…Just kiddin.!