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The State Record Fish Committee voted unanimously to approve the 53 pound 7 ounce striped bass, taken by James B. Davis on March 16, 2000, from Leesville Reservoir as the new state record. The fish measured 46-3/4 inches, and had a girth of 31-1/2 inches. Davis, from Goodview, Virginia, caught the fish on a Bomber Long A with 17-pound Shakespeare line on a spinning rod and reel.
The fish was weighed at Camper’s Paradise, was witnessed by Game Warden Dallas Neel and species was verified by Department Fish Biologist Dan Wilson. This breaks the old record of 49 pounds 4 ounces held by Robert K. Burgess, which was caught out of Smith Mountain Lake.
VIRGINIA STATE RECORD FISH
Species Weight Location Date Angler
Largemouth Bass 16 lbs 4 oz Conner Lake 04-16-85 Richard Tate
Smallmouth Bass 7 lbs 7 oz New River 11-22-86 John Justice
Spotted Bass 3 lbs10 oz Claytor Lake 07-29-93 Mike Ritter
Sunfish (all) 4 lbs12 oz Private Pond 04-27-86 Michael Mills
Crappie 4 lbs10 oz Private Pond 04-24-94 Justin Elliott
Roanoke Bass 2 lbs 6 oz Smith Mtn. Lake 05-02-88 Bobby Barnette
Rock Bass 2 lbs 2 oz Laurel Bed Lake 05-17-86 Larry Ball
Striped Bass 53 lbs 7 oz Leesville Reservoir 03-16-00 James B. Davis
White Bass 6 lbs 3 oz Lake Orange 07-31-89 Ron Sprouse
White Perch 2 lbs 8 oz Lake Prince 04-30-95 Jimmy A, Roper
Walleye 15 lbs 3 oz New River 02-27-99 Gregory J. Murphy
Yellow Perch 2 lbs 7 oz Lake Moomaw 03-20-99 Tim Austin
Sauger * 5 lbs. 8 oz. So. Holston Lake 07-02-72 R.Stallard
Brown Trout 14 lbs12oz So Fk Holston 05-24-90 Mike Perkins
Rainbow Trout 14 lbs 7 oz Greers Pond 06-28-93 Michael Lowe
Brook Trout 5 lbs 10 oz Big Stony Creek 10-22-87 Greg Orndorff
Channel Catfish 31 lbs 8 oz Rappahannock R. 10-02-92 Sue Stanley
Blue Catfish 71 lbs 12oz James River 11-19-99 Hugh L. Self, Jr.
Flathead Catfish 66 lbs 4 oz Occoquan Res. 05-06-94 Mike Willems
White Catfish 7 lbs 6 oz Western Br. Res 03-24-92 Thomas Elkins
Muskie (incl Tiger) 45 lbs 0 oz New River 07-30-89 R. A. Underwood
Northern Pike 31 lbs 4 oz Motts Run Res. 07-24-94 George Wood
Chain Pickerel 7 lbs10 oz Lake Shawnee 12-31-96 R. L. White
Carp 49 lbs 4 oz Lake Prince 06-25-86 Jeff Graham
Gar 25 lbs 2 oz Lake Prince 05-28-87 Roger Beaver
Bowfin *17 lbs. 8 oz. Chickahominy 11-14-64 E.C. Cutright
Uploaded: 4/28/2000
Uploaded: 4/28/2000