Angler Lands State Record Smallmouth Bass
A 9-pound, 11-ounce smallmouth bass caught on Green Bay tops Wisconsin's previous record set in 1950.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Fishing
Austin Schiefer caught a state record smallmouth bass on Green Bay south of Oconto, weighing 9 pounds 11 ounces and measuring 23.5 inches. Two Department of Natural Resources fisheries biologists certified the weight on Saturday.
Why it matters
The catch surpasses the previous Wisconsin record of 9 pounds 1 ounce, held since 1950 by a fish taken from an Oneida County lake. It marks a new benchmark for smallmouth bass size recognized by state officials.
The fish measured 23.5 inches and was caught using a forked-tail plastic worm called a Deps Sakamata Shad. It was certified at 9.70 pounds on a certified scale, exceeding the 1950 state record by 10 ounces.
The players
Austin Schiefer
The angler who caught the record smallmouth bass on Green Bay and plans to possibly have replicas made.
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
The state agency whose fisheries biologists certified the record catch's weight.
The details
Schiefer caught the fish on a Friday afternoon while fishing the waters of Green Bay south of Oconto. He took the fish to be weighed, and DNR biologists certified the result on Saturday.
Timeline
Friday afternoon: Schiefer catches the record smallmouth bass on Green Bay.
Saturday: DNR fisheries biologists certify the fish's weight.
1950: The previous state record smallmouth bass, weighing 9 pounds 1 ounce, was caught in Oneida County.
Season Trajectory
The 9-pound, 11-ounce catch replaces a weight that stood for more than seven decades, the 1950 Oneida County record of 9 pounds 1 ounce. It shows that Green Bay can still produce trophy-class smallmouth bass well above the long-standing state benchmark.
Anglers on Green Bay now have a new Wisconsin benchmark to aim for when targeting smallmouth bass. Schiefer's possible plans for replicas on display at area stores could give local shoppers a chance to see the fish in person.
The takeaway
A certified catch like this one shows that record-level fish can still be documented on Wisconsin's waters decades after the previous mark was set. Anglers fishing Green Bay can use forked-tail plastic worms like the Deps Sakamata Shad as a proven lure choice.
Further reading
Explore more on Fishing across Wisconsin's waters.
