Record sunfish reeled in at Upper Thompson
Nate Bache, 10, of Libby on July 30 caught this Montana record-breaking pumpkinseed sunfish at Upper Thompson Lake. The .96-pound fish surpassed the old record set 21 years ago by 1/100th of a pound.
By GWEN ALBERS Western News Reporter
For Libby's Nate Bache, most weekends are spent fishing at Bull Lake.
A change in waters proved to be well worth it.
Nate, 10, on July 30 caught a Montana record-breaking pumpkinseed sunfish at Upper Thompson Lake. The .96-pound fish surpassed the old record set 21 years ago by 1/100th of a pound.
"I was happy," said Nate, who was fishing with his parents, Jeff and Janie Bache.
The fact that the last two record-breaking pumpkinseed sunfish came from Lincoln County surprises John Fraley, information education program officer for Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks in Kalispell.
Tim Colver on July 9, 1985, set a record with a .95-pound pumpkinseed from Milnor Lake near Troy.
"Both were not far apart," said Fraley, "It's amazes me there are pumpkinseeds east of the divide that would be able to set the record twice."
A 21-year record isn't the norm.
"That's a pretty long-standing record," Fraley said. "It's older than the average."
Nate caught the 9.5-inch fish on a green-headed jig. He was fishing for bass at the time.
"I casted over by some weeds and the fish bit hard," he said. "It fought like a two-pound bass."
When Nate got the fish to the boat, he thought was a black crappie because it was so large.
"I never saw a sunfish that big," he said.
His father recognized it was a pumpkinseed and assumed it could be a state record.
The family took the fish to Rosauers in Libby, where it was weighed on a certified scale.
Catching he record-breaker was one of the best moments for Nate, who has been fishing since age 3 or 4.
Nate plans to have his trophy fish mounted. He's even considering giving it to FWP's office in Kalispell. He will receive a state record certificate when the record is confirmed at the Helena FWP office.
The pumpkinseed is one of three sunfish species in Montana, the other two being the bluegill and the green sunfish. All were introduced into Montana.
Nate's grandparents are Dean and Ellen Adkins and Frank and Sandy Bache, all of Libby.