On September 9, Pinedale resident Dylan Bear achieved a remarkable milestone by setting the men’s speargun world record for the largest smallmouth bass at Flaming Gorge Reservoir. The impressive fish weighed 5 pounds, 5 ounces, measured 20 3/8 inches long, and boasted a girth of 15 1/2 inches. Bear’s achievement is particularly notable as he has faced challenges in recent years due to declining smallmouth bass populations in the reservoir.
“After a week of elk hunting, I headed south to the Flaming Gorge for some good old spearfishing recovery,” Bear shared. “I hadn’t been able to spearfish some of my favorite spots for a couple of years because of declining populations of smallmouth bass, but I decided to check out one of my honey holes to see what was happening.”
Bear was encouraged to find a mix of young, medium, and mature bass, prompting him to set a plan to reach his limit while harvesting a quality meal. After spearing two bass, he reserved his final catch for a larger, mature fish.
“After over two hours of diving and being very selective, I saw a small school of bass,” Bear recounted. “Dropping down to 20 feet, I scratched a rock to mimic the sounds of crawdads and relaxed, waiting. A few medium-sized fish swam in, followed by a darker shadow. Avoiding eye contact, I held my spear gun steady and waited for the fish to cross in front of my line of sight. When it did, I landed a shot through both gill plates.”
Bear quickly secured the fish and realized he had landed a remarkable specimen.
“The girth, color, and length of the fish all pointed to an old and healthy smallmouth bass,” he said.
Bear first weighed the fish at a local post office before heading to the Department of Natural Resources office in Vernal. There, officers verified the fish’s size and weight, confirming its world record status.
A fish biologist also analyzed the catch, estimating the bass to be 15 to 20 years old. A scale sample was taken to verify its age.
“This fish was probably just a minnow when I started spearfishing,” Bear reflected. “I’m grateful for healthy fish populations, ecosystems, and the chance to be a part of it all.”
Bear’s record-breaking catch highlights the rich fishing opportunities available at Flaming Gorge, inspiring anglers to respect and preserve the ecosystems that sustain these extraordinary experiences.
Image/Source: sweetwaternow
