An 11-year-old Texas angler may have secured a new junior waterbody record after reeling in an impressive black crappie during a family fishing trip. The standout catch, weighing 1.75 pounds, was one of 18 fish caught that day and is currently pending official confirmation.
On March 19, Xuan Qi and his son Brian set out on Stillhouse Hollow Lake in their Tracker bass boat. Fishing the upper end of the 6,400-acre reservoir, the pair slowly trolled using an electric motor while targeting white bass and crappie. Around mid-afternoon, Brian hooked into something noticeably bigger than the rest.
Brian, who has been fishing since the age of five, handled the fight with confidence. Recognizing the strength of the fish, Xuan paused their trolling to give his son time to reel it in. Once the fish surfaced, Xuan netted it and brought it aboard. It quickly became clear that this crappie was something special.
After checking records on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department website, the duo discovered the current youth record for the lake was a much smaller fish measuring just over 10 inches and weighing under a pound. Brian’s catch far exceeded those numbers.
To confirm their suspicion, Xuan reached out to local guide Bob Maindelle, who operates Holding the Line Guide Service and maintains an official weigh station. Maindelle met the pair at his home, verified the species as a black crappie, and recorded the fish at 15 inches long and 1.75 pounds on a certified scale. With a witness present, all measurements were properly documented.
Maindelle then assisted the family in submitting an official application through the state’s system. While the record is still pending, Brian’s catch is expected to take the top spot for junior anglers on the lake.
After wrapping up the paperwork, the father and son returned to the water and continued fishing. By the end of the day, they had landed 18 crappies and a couple of white bass, all of which were later cleaned and enjoyed as a well-earned meal.
Image/Source: OL
