We recently got word of a brand new Michigan smallmouth record.
According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Florida resident Robert Bruce Kraemer caught a 9.98-pound, 23.1-inch smallmouth bass while fishing the Indian River in Cheboygan County. He’s been fishing Michigan waters since 1965 and spends June through September at his Indian River cottage.
Kraemer’s approach was quite simple; he caught the new state record smallmouth from shore, in the backyard of his cabin with a live night crawler. The smallmouth was hooked on a single No. 4 Eagle Claw hook using 8-pound test P-Line Fluorocarbon and a 10-pound test leader.
His neighbor’s wife looked out the window and saw him fighting what looked like a huge fish, so she told her husband, Ron Krieg. He ran next door just in time to land the monster smallmouth.
Michigan records are only recognized by weight. DNR fisheries biologist Tim Cwalinksi verified the new record and has sent the required information to the Lansing office. Lynne Thoma is in charge of finalizing the record.
