New Indiana Record Smallmouth Caught Angler by Surprise

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Published: 12 March 2024

By Louie Stout

Rex Remington of Freeland, Ind. with new Indiana record smallmouth bass

It’s official. Indiana has a new smallmouth bass record.

Rex Remington of Freeland, Ind. caught the 8.23-pound smallmouth from Lake Monroe on March 5. The fish measured 23 inches and had a 17½-inch girth.

No one was more surprised than the 60-year-old angler who lives 30 minutes from the lake. He thought the big fish he hooked was a largemouth until he got it into the bottom of his 2004 Skeeter bass boat.

Remington was fishing a Berkley Stunna jerkbait on a rocky bank near a channel swing around 11 a.m. when the bass hit. His boat was sitting in about 10 feet of water and he was casting at a 45-degree angle.

“I caught a small largemouth, lost one and caught one about 4 pounds there,” says Remington, who has fished Monroe for 30 years. “So I knew I was in a good area.”

With the water temperature hovering at 45 degrees, he was working the jerkbait slowly; two twitches and a long pause.

When he tried twitching again, the bait didn’t move. He jerked his St. Croix rod and the battle was on. He fished with an “old” Quantum reel and 12-pound Seaguar InvizX line.

“I knew it was a big fish but had no idea it was a smallmouth,” recalls Remington, who has a few caught nice smallmouth from the lake. “He bulldogged pretty good and ran my drag, but I eventually got the fish into the net.”

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VanDam Honored Again; Inducted into the IGFA Hall of Fame

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Published: 04 March 2024

Kevin VanDam

Dania Beach, FL – Kevin VanDam has won yet another honor.

The Michigan pro, who recently retired from professional bass competition, was among five angling greats named to the 2024 class of the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame.

This year’s inductees into the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame represent angling luminaries who have made significant contributions to the sport. In addition to VanDam, they include James A. Henshall, a pioneer in bass fishing who revolutionized angling techniques and fish culture; Tom Pfleger, whose four-decade career is marked by 24 IGFA World Records and pioneering environmental research; Nick Smith, whose billfishing prowess and conservation efforts have set global standards; and Ralph ‘Agie’ Vicente, whose half-century commitment to marine conservation and ethical angling practices has left a lasting impact on Latin American fisheries. 

Elected unanimously by the IGFA Board of Trustees, the 2024 class will join 146 legendary anglers, scientists, conservationists, writers, and fishing industry leaders whose contributions to sport fishing are forever enshrined and celebrated in the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame.

“As we welcome these distinguished individuals into the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame, we celebrate not just their remarkable achievements but their enduring legacy in shaping the very fabric of recreational angling,” said IGFA President, Jason Schratwieser. “Their unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation, and conservation serves as a beacon of inspiration for anglers worldwide. In honoring their contributions, we reaffirm our commitment to preserving the rich heritage of our sport for generations to come.”

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