The one that didn't get away: State record setting fish caught at Lake Monroe

On Rex Remington's fishing trip to Lake Monroe on a recent Sunday he pulled from the lake not a man-eating snapping turtle, but what may be the biggest smallmouth bass caught in Indiana.

The whopper weighed in at 8.23 pounds. The previous record fish, caught in LaGrange County in 1992, weighed 7 pounds, 4 ounces.

Remington lives in the Freetown area in Jackson County, southeast of Nashville. He also helps Owen Valley High School's bass club, serving as a boat captain. He's been fishing Lake Monroe nearly all his life.

“I can remember going down to the lake as a kid," Remington said. "Mom and Dad fishing for crappies years ago, and I’m 60 now. Seriously fishing for bass? 30 to 40 years.”

Reeling in the record-breaking bass near Hardin Ridge Recreation Area was only the beginning of Remington's fish tale. Getting it weighed on a certified scale turned into a long drive with a wet passenger.

Remington ended up hauling his live catch all the way to Babbs Supermarket in Spencer where its weight was recorded, which, along with the whopper's length, are required to apply for the official state record. Salman Kahn reported on Wired2Fish that Indiana Department of Natural Resources officials were present when Remington returned the enormous fish to the lake.

Bass enthusiasts might recognize Remington's boat on the water, he said, but he's not giving away many of his secrets, including the specifics of the type of bait he used to lure the fish to his hook.

"I’m a competitive fisherman. And I would prefer you not mention the brand and color of the boat," Remington said. "The reason — there will probably be some people who want to follow me around out there!”