MILTON, Del. — For the second time in less than four years, little Wagamons Pond has yielded a largemouth bass state record for Delaware.
This time, A.J. Klein made the historic catch on Feb. 20, while fishing with friend and mentor Joe Lattis. Weighing 11 pounds, 1.6 ounces (11.10) the 27-inch-long bass tops the record of 10-10 caught by James Hitchens in the 41-acre impoundment on March 23, 2012.
After the fish’s weight and length were certified at Bill’s Sport Shop by an official from the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), Klein released it.
“It swam away slow at first because it was in shallow water. But once it got to deep water, it jetted off,” said the New Castle angler. “It was healthy, and we were so happy. We were relieved because that was the one thing we were really concerned about.”
Earlier that day, Klein and Lattis had joked about maybe catching a 5-pounder as they headed out onto Wagamons. The bite turned out to be slow, and they managed only a few small bass and a yellow perch. Just as they were about to take out the boat and head for another fishery, the big bass struck a Strike King Bleeding Shad spinnerbait that Klein had bought just a few hours before.
“I set the hook and thought I was snagged,” he said. “Two seconds later my line dropped, and I had a crazy fight on my hands.
“I was scared either the rod or the line would break,” he added. “I just kept reeling and reeling and reeling and, man, it was a fight for a minute and a half, two minutes.”
Klein bested the fish with 14-pound Berkley monofilament, a Daiwa Megaforce rod, and an Abu Garcia Hank Parker baitcaster.
“Joe and I put the fish in the livewell, Googled the closest shop with certified scales that was open, and headed to Bill’s Sport Shop,” he added. “Once we got there, we weighed and measured the fish and called DNREC Fish and Wildlife.”
