Rick Poedtke with a new catch-and-release state record Smallmouth Bass from the Pend Oreille River.
Congratulations to Rick Poedtke of Priest River, Idaho for landing the latest catch/release state record for Smallmouth Bass! Rick caught the 22” bass while fly fishing the Pend Oreille River in early May. His fish beat the previous 21” record smallmouth from Coeur d'Alene Lake set in 2017.
While anglers can catch Smallmouth Bass throughout the summer and fall, May through June is typically the best time to target bigger bass. Bass feed aggressively in the weeks before spawning and can be found in shallower water, before they retreat to deeper water as the summer heats up.
Fun fact: Smallmouth Bass in Idaho typically take 5 years to grow to 12 inches long. A fish of this size could be over 12-15 years old!
Learn more about Idaho state record fish program and how to apply on our website.