Most anglers dream of breaking state records with their catch, but smashing a world record is another feat entirely—and one pro angler Lea Anne Powell can now claim.
Powell was fishing on O.H. Ivie Lake, near San Angelo, Texas, when she reeled in a largemouth bass that would break the female world record for the 12-pound line class, KETK reported. The whopping record-breaker bass weighed in at 12 pounds, 3 ounces.
The IGFA has different line classes for records held that include 4, 8, 12 and 16-pound line classes. Powell's largemouth was actually caught on 10-pound Seaguar Red Label line but still qualifies for the 12-pound record.
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"The way that line actually tests, it actually tests up to 12 pounds," Powell said.
She caught the largemouth bass Feb. 28 while fishing with guide Dalton Smith. It was a hectic situation she said, because whenever she would get the bass close to the boat, it would take off and Powell would have to set her drag.
"Once I set the hook he was like, 'oh my God, you caught a giant," Powell said. "But what was crazy is we were both freaking out because it was hooked 45 feet from the boat and 15 feet down on 10-pound line with a spinning rod."
Finally Powell was able to get the bass in the boat.
She submitted the fish for consideration for the record in March, and it became official June 23. Powell called it a long and grueling process to get the fish certified.
"The process [of submitting the fish for record consideration] was fairly intensive," Powell said. "I had to go online, fill out a whole bunch of paper work and then I actually had to mail in a line sample of the line that was used to catch the fish. All the paper work, photos and documentation that I have had to go through multiple panels and I believe internationally."
It was all worth it.
"I had been driving them insane by calling," she said. "I've been very anxious you know, I wanted it. Squeaky wheel gets the grease."
Powell started fishing eight years ago after she lost both of her parents.
"I lost both of my parents in 2015 and I actually found peace within fishing," she said. "A friend of mine kept asking me to come fish and I had a natural knack for it and it just stuck."
READ MORE: World Record: Heaviest Largemouth Bass Ever Landed Captured on Video
