Joe Manchin III, Governor

Frank Jezioro, Director

News Release : May 5, 2006

Hoy Murphy , Public Information Officer (304) 558-3381 hoymurphy@wvdnr.gov

Contact: Bret Preston , Wildlife Resources Section (304) 558-2771 wildlife@wvdnr.gov

New State Record Striped Bass

  A state record striped bass has been caught by Mr. Harold D. Mills of Stephenson in Wyoming County , according to Frank Jezioro , Director of the Division of Natural Resources. Mr. Mills caught the 37.75-inch, 25-pound fish from Bluestone Lake in Summers County on April 7, 2006 using nightcrawlers for bait. Mills' catch establishes a new West Virginia record for length. The previous record for striped bass was a 37.68-inch fish caught by Terry Watkins also from Bluestone Lake in 2000. Mr. Watkins' fish remains the weight record for striped bass at 29.56 pounds.

  The upper part of Bluestone Lake in the area near the mouths of Indian Creek and Cedar Branch are good spots to try for hybrid striped and striped bass in the spring, according to Mark Scott, District Fisheries Biologist.

  Anglers who believe that they have caught a state record fish should check the record listing in the 2006 Fishing Regulations brochure. The brochure also outlines the procedure to follow for reporting their catch. This information is also available online at www.wvdnr.gov .

**DNR**