DNA analysis needed determine state record fish identity

Dru Kinslow, of OKC, caught a state record fish Monday, March 27, but he doesn’t know quite where his name will go in the record book – under smallmouth bass or black bass hybrid. Either way it will be a new state record.

Kinslow caught an 8-pound, 5.6-ounce bass from Veteran’s Lake near Sulphur. When he took the fish to fisheries biologists with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, they immediately recognized it was bigger than either the current smallmouth or the black bass hybrid records. However, the brute had characteristics of both a smallmouth bass, spotted bass and largemouth bass.

“I don’t really care whether it is a smallmouth or a hybrid, I am just happy to catch a fish that big. Never in my life did I think I would catch a state record,” Kinslow said.

Fisheries biologists sent a small fin sample to a DNA lab. The lab report will reveal if the fish is a smallmouth or a black bass hybrid. Black bass hybrids occur rarely in nature when the spawning areas of black bass species overlap.

“It’s certainly unusual. I am very curious to see the lab results,” said Kim Erickson, fisheries chief for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. “Unfortunately, this isn’t an episode of ‘CSI’ and it will likely take several weeks for the technicians to perform the DNA analysis.” DNA results from the lab will be posted on wildlifedepartment.com as soon as they are available.

Kinslow was using a jig and salt craw combo when he hooked the big fish in the clear waters of 67-acre Veteran’s Lake. “I was just trying out different lures to see what might be biting when I hooked the fish,” Kinslow said. “It fought pretty hard and went all the way under the boat. I didn’t realize how big it was until I got it in the boat.” The fish measured 22.75-inches long and was 16.5 inches in girth.

If you think you may have hooked a record fish it is important that you weigh the fish on an Oklahoma State Department of Agriculture certified scale and a Wildlife Department employee verifies the weight.

Editor’s Note: Courtesy of Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation

A fun smallmouth bass story from Darris Smith, Fort Smith, AR:

I caught this smallmouth bass on Lake Tenkiller last summer. I didn’t have any scales or couldn’t find anyone with a set. Me and a few guys settled on a straight 5 pounder. I caught this one on a crankbait while searching a main lake point for largemouth. It felt like I hooked a buss going 50 mph! It rolled at the top of the water a few times away from the boat, each time it got close to the boat it would take off stripping line from my reel. I just figured I had hooked one of the few stripers that are still in the lake. I about had a heart attack when I finally saw the beautiful bronze color roll past me under the boat. It got real serious real quick! But after finding no set of scales anywhere on the lake, I rolled her back into the lake to catch another day. Darn, I love fishing!

Editor’s Note: Way to practice catch-n-release Darris — now I have a chance at catching your smallie the next time I’m at Lake Tenkiller! Looks like a 5LBer to me too although holding it out towards the camera always adds a few pounds 😉

GW Chisholm, owner of Trails Guide Service reports that his client caught a 4.75LB Black bass at Lake Texoma this morning. He says, “…just another day at the office.”

Editor’s Note: I wish my day at the office was like that!!!

With over 200 lakes, it’s hard to keep up with all the “Hawg” stories being told around the state of Oklahoma!

Hawg Blog is the ultimate forum in which Oklahoma fishermen (and women) can share their greatest fishing stories of all time.

Email us your Oklahoma Hawg adventures at info@oklahomafishingguides.com and we will try to believe every fishing story we read 😉