Chattahoochee River Largemouth Record Broken Again

For the second time in about a month the largemouth record on the Chattahoochee River between Buford Dam and Bull Sluice has been broken. The latest largemouth record was broken by Joshua Little on March 30, and the bass weighed exactly 8 pounds.

Joshua, of Cartersville, was fishing in a Hobie Pro Angler kayak with his buddy Billy Slatton when he caught the fish.

Joshua Little is the new largemouth record holder for the stretch of the Chattahoochee River between Buford Dam and Bull Sluice.

“The water was a little muddy due to the recent rain and water temps around 60 degrees,” said Joshua. “After about an hour, I managed my first fish on a spinnerbait. Thinking that I had found a pattern, I continued to throw a spinnerbait.”

Joshua said he didn’t have any more luck fishing the blade, so he decided to slow down with a Texas-rigged creature bait, a drop shot and a jig. The slower presentation did catch him a few more bass.

“Later in the afternoon as the water continued to drop and we were making our way back to the ramp, I stopped and decided to pitch a craw-pattern jig in a tree,” said Joshua.

Joshua was fishing a St. Croix Avid X medium/heavy rod with a Shimano SLX reel loaded with 17-lb. Seaguar Red Label fluorocarbon.

“I felt the rod load up, I leaned back and set the hook,” said Joshua. “I could tell by the fish fighting that it was a good fish. After forgetting my net at home, I was worried I wouldn’t land the fish. I was really pumped to get the fish in the kayak. I knew that it would beat the current body of water record.”

The record at the time was a 6-lb., 12-oz. bass caught by Don Anderson on Feb. 28. Joshua’s fish would later weigh 8 pounds on certified scales before it was released back into the Hooch.

Joshua releases his record fish back into the Chattahoochee River.

See all of GON’s Official Georgia Lake & River Records

Requirements For Record Fish

• Fish must be caught legally by rod and reel in a manner consistent with state game and fish regulations.

• Catch must be weighed on accurate Georgia DOA certified scales with at least two witnesses present, who must be willing to provide their names and phone numbers so they can be contacted to verify the weighing of the fish.

• Witnesses to the weighing must be at least 18 years old, and they must not be members of the angler’s immediate family nor have a close personal relationship with the angler.

• Catch must be positively identified by qualified DNR personnel.

GON’s records are compiled and maintained by GON, to be awarded at GON’s discretion. Additional steps may be required for record consideration.