A fishing trip on Table Rock Lake turned into a record-breaking day for a Cassville angler.
What We Know: Danny Naugle was fishing near Shell Knob when he hooked a yellow bass that was far bigger than anything he expected. The fish weighed 2 pounds, 7 ounces and measured 16.5 inches long, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation.
What It Means: That catch smashed Missouri’s previous yellow bass record, which was a 9-ounce fish caught back in 1995.
Naugle said he was fishing for crappie with an ultra-light rod when the giant bass took the bait. A lifelong fisherman, he said he has spent time on the water since he was a young child.
After checking the state record information, he waited for officials at Roaring River Fish Hatchery to verify the catch on a certified scale.
What They’re Saying: The Missouri Department of Conservation says the fish came within two ounces of the world record for yellow bass.
Naugle plans to have the fish mounted and joked that he’s accepting donations to help cover the cost.
MDC says it is the first state-record fish recorded in Missouri in 2026.
(Courtesy of Missouri Department of Conservation)