Oconto County, WI – On Friday afternoon, local fisherman Austin Schiefer reeled in a monster smallmouth bass on the Green Bay waters south of Oconto, establishing a new state record. “The fight only lasted a minute or two,” Schiefer recalled, noting the fish’s powerful sideways battle before it was hauled aboard.
Record‑breaking catch
The fish measured 23.5 inches in length and weighed 9 pounds 11 ounces on a certified scale, according to two Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources fisheries biologists who verified the catch on Saturday. This surpasses the previous record of 9 pounds 1 ounce set in an Oneida County lake back in 1950.
How the lunker was landed
Schiefer said he used a fork‑tailed plastic worm, the Deps Sakamata Shad, to entice the bass. “I never thought it would be me,” he said, adding that he had expected a record fish to come from Lake Michigan or elsewhere in the Bay, but was thrilled to see it right there in Green Bay.
Future plans for the trophy
Looking ahead, Schiefer hopes to have replicas made of the record‑setting bass, with the possibility of displaying them in local stores for fellow anglers to admire.
This achievement highlights the rich fishing opportunities in Green Bay and underscores the dedication of Wisconsin’s angling community.
Original reporting: FOX 11 WLUK Green Bay (local) — read the source article.
