State Record
Randy VanDam Shatters Ohio State Record
for Smallmouth Bass on Rattle
Snakie
Randy VanDam was fishing smallmouth with Ron Perrine, a noted
Ohio angler and lure manufacturer, and Phil Smathers, Tri State
bass tournament director, when the big moment came. Randy was
using a ½ ounce Rattle
Snakie jigging spoon in a gold prism color of Perrine’s
design when the big fish struck. The three were working the deep
breaklines off a glacial, rocky shoal in 24 feet of water when
VanDam suddenly set the hooks into the monster smallie. The fish
immediately broke the surface in a classic aerial maneuver and
raced back down to the bottom straining the 8-pound-test monofilament
to the maximum. Randy’s years of experience and skillful
rod and reel work subdued the behemoth after a 10 minute battle.
With no landing net in the boat, the new state record smallmouth
bass measuring 23 ½ inches in length, with a 22 inch girth
and weighing an unbelievable 9 lbs, 8 oz., was hand lipped by
Perrine as Smathers photographed the moment of truth.
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