Barnesville Man Catches Record Smallmouth Bass In South Dakota

WEBSTER, S.D. (AP) — A smallmouth bass pulled from Horseshoe Lake in northeastern South Dakota last month is a state record.

The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department says the 7 pound, 3 ounce fish was caught by Lyal Held of Barnesville, Minnesota. It topped the previous record set in 2013 by 3 ounces. That fish was also reeled from Horseshoe Lake.

Held's bass was 19.5 inches long and had a girth of 19 inches. It marks the 20th time the state record smallmouth bass has been bested.

Mark Ermer is the department's regional fisheries manager. He says the angler had been trying to break the record for some time. He says the bass caught on April 23 "is a fish of a lifetime."

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