After spending nearly 300 days on the water last year, 13-year-old Kyler Leslie was more prepared than most to reel in a record-breaking largemouth bass through the ice. On February 23, Leslie landed a massive 7.71-pound, 25-inch-long bass in Massachusetts, tying the state record in the catch-and-release division. The impressive catch was made even more remarkable by the fact that it was accomplished with just 4-pound test line during the dead of winter.
A Yearlong Fishing Obsession
Leslie and his younger brother, Ryker, had spent the previous year on an ambitious mission. After learning about the Massachusetts Angler of the Year Award at a Fish and Wildlife event in March 2024, the two committed to catching as many qualifying species as possible. Their dedication paid off, with both earning the Youth Angler of the Year title.
“They caught well over 5,000 fish and were awarded 314 bronze pins—157 each, making it a perfect tie,” said their father, Mike Leslie. The brothers had agreed that if one couldn’t catch a particular species, the other wouldn’t submit it either, ensuring they would win or lose together.
The announcement of their achievement came on January 24, but they weren’t ready to put their rods away just yet. With ice-fishing conditions still prime, they set out to explore a lake near the Vermont state line on February 23.
An Unexpected Catch
The original goal that day was brook trout. The lake, about 31 acres in size, had produced trout on previous trips, making it a promising location. With clear skies and bright sunshine, the group drilled holes near shore and set up baited rods with jaw jackers. A dozen more holes were drilled farther out for jig fishing.
Using a Vexilar sonar, Mike Leslie spotted a sizable mark near the lake bottom. Kyler dropped his jig, a Swedish Pimple, and enticed the fish upward. The bass investigated the lure but initially refused to bite. After several attempts at coaxing it, the fish finally struck.
“Normally, there’s only one or two chances to hook a fish like this before it spooks or loses interest,” Kyler recalled. “But on the fourth try, it smoked the jig.”
What followed was a tense battle. The bass made a hard run toward a nearby boat dock, peeling line off the small ice-fishing reel. With only 4-pound test line, the drag was kept loose, allowing the fish to make 40- to 50-yard runs beneath the ice. The fight lasted for five nerve-wracking minutes before the exhausted bass was slowly maneuvered toward the hole.
Landing a Giant
Mindful of the sharp edges of the ice, Kyler worked the fish to the opening, securing it with a firm grip on its lower jaw.
“When lifting it, my whole hand fit inside its mouth,” he said. “Normally, catching a lot of bass scrapes up a thumb, but this one left marks on my palm.”
The moment was pure adrenaline. Video footage captured the emotional reaction as Kyler, kneeling on the ice, held up the largest bass of his life while shaking with excitement.
The record-tying fish was released, swimming off strong. Kyler’s passion for fishing and dedication to chasing his angling goals were on full display that day—an unforgettable moment in an already remarkable fishing journey.
Image: OL
