The reporter never got back to me and I think that picture looks like a poorly painted plastic inflateable. A big fish yes, but a state record? I think not. If this stands I think we should all write the head of the fisheries department and protest. How come some one with a brain the size of a pea and looks of a modern day Wally Cleaver gets away with this. If that fish was not properly presented for a record then I don't care if it weighed 12 pounds. There are rules that are supposed to be followed to get credit for a record. Getting the record just because you have posession of a fish don't count in my book. If one of us, that has the knowledge of these rules, did not follow the rules, do you think they would credit us with a record?  I think not! After all any guy that fishes tournaments and is a memeber of a bass club certianly would know what the rules are ......Right? So I am done venting now but I feel better. Thanks for listening....

That fish does not look like anything remotely near 9 lbs...... but it does look like it could have been 6-7lbs, just comparing it to all the other pics like Dave Jarrells, and some of Larry Gonczy's big smallies.

just my .02
Faz

When I saw the picture I immediately thought of Mark Wells largemouth he caught a few years back.  Not a real long fish but tremendous gut on it and it came in around 9 lbs if I remember correctly.  I seen the gut on that and give the scales credit if it reads 9.32 then lets cut the guy some slack and give him credit for 9.32
Having caught 3 smallies in the 6 lb class and numerous 5lbs fish, I have never seen a smallie look anything like this.

Mark

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It is just Magically heavier?
They say "it has an unusually bigger belly"

But wouldn't that play a part in the weight-girth formula they did? Actually they did 3 of them and the biggest came out to 7 1/2 pounds. If the belly was bigger, the girth would be bigger...so there comment made no sense.

How can they judge a frozen/thawed out fish to the same fish when it was actually caught? It would have to effect the actual weight. I'd feel better had he turned it in that day.

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Oh well...congratulations dude....

I really think they need to investigate this a little more ???  There is just no way that fish is over nine pounds.

Here's a link with more info : http://www.westernbass.com/dotcom/news/view.html?id=3596

I was checking around on the computer and I went to Western Bass.com. Here is a quote from the WDFW. 

"We’re going to go ahead and recognize it as a record,” said WDFW angler education specialist Keith Underwood, who maintains state records, this morning.

Great, this goofball is going to fish "tournaments". The final weight was 9.32.


SWEET

Well I release 99% of the fish I catch & the only time I keep is if they are gut shot.
But if I got a state record I'm sure I would keep it & mount it.
Why because the worst thing that could happen is catching the record & letting it go only to have some meat head catch it next year & break my record.

That might actually be a disgrace....

Here is an idea...lets get him to come and speak about his "Catch" and maybe even load up a cooler with dry ice and bring th' ol girl down for a spell.




JEEEEEEEEZZZZZZZZZZ........

All this and the state says we cannot fish for Largemouth in tournaments cuz we mishandle fish........

I just looked at the 9lb fish on the cover of the Bassmaster you are talking about and you are correct, it looks like one big Smallmouth. 

This fish looks good sized, but it just does appear to be nearly as big.

Oh well time will tell

BillB

You guys remember that cover of Bassmaster several years ago where that guy had a 9 lb smallie on the cover he caught in Tennessee? That fish looked a lot bigger than the fish this guy is holding. Maybe it weighs 9 lbs with all the freezer burn, frozen water stuff inside it??

Here's Dave's 6-1 from Chelan. You gonna say that fish is 3lbs heavier?

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cf28b3127cce957ec71377f200000015102AasWrl...

Just read on another site that it is officially the state record.  Don't look like a 9lb fish, but maybe 'cause I'm just jealous.

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I think that fish looks 3 days old DEAD 

I guess we had all better sell all of our bass gear if this guy is going after the largemouth record too   There will not be anything left to fish for