Record Kokanee caught

[Mike Carey]

I recieved this report from Bob Schmidt of Mack's Lures today:

Record Kokanee caught

by woman using a Smile and a Wedding Ring

A new record Kokanee, a landlocked blueback salmon, was caught recently by Wan Teece, of Enterprise, Oregon at Wallowa Lake. Her fish measured 26.25-inches in length and weighed 8.23-pounds. The fish had a girth of 16-inches.
It appears that the fish is a record for the entire United States and not just the State of Oregon.
Records maintained by the National Fishing Hall of Fame show the all time kokanee record to be 9-pounds, 6-ounces. That one was caught in Canada in 1988. No kokanee of 8-pounds or more, except for the one Teece recently caught at Wallowa Lake, have been previously recorded for the United States.
She used a Wedding Ring with a Smile Blade to catch the record fish. “Specifically a Wedding Ring - Double Whammy Kokanee Pro,” says Bobby Loomis, director of sales for Mack’s Lure.
The Smile Blade is getting more and more attention from anglers all over the country. Three years ago Mike Hepper used one ahead of his bait to break the Washington State walleye record, still standing at 19.3-pounds.

[mav186]

WOW...and I thought the #4.5 I caught a few years ago was big! The Smiley Blade definitely makes for an awesome 'slow going' presentation. I use them a lot for my wally rigs. Thanks for the article Mike.

[hewesfisher]

That's a pig of a kokanee! Interesting side note, I bought my truck from a small town dealer in Enterprise. Cool place to visit.