Small Town Offers $10,000 Reward for State-Record Smallmouth Bass

by Gaogao

This is something we haven’t really seen before but it’s getting the angling community excited. The Elephant Butte Chamber of Commerce in New Mexico has announced a $10,000 reward for anyone who catches the state-record smallmouth bass from Elephant Butte Reservoir. There are several caveats, however.

The bass must be caught from Elephant Butte Reservoir between the dates of May 1 and September 30. The fish must be caught during daylight hours and weighed on a certified scale at Butte General Store with witnesses present from Butte General or Chamber officials. Once the catch is verified by New Mexico Game and Fish, the $10,000 will be rewarded after September 30, 2022. The current state-record smallmouth bass is 7 pounds, 3 ounces and measures 24 inches.

You can get all the details on their website here.


Walker SmithWalker Smith

Walker Smith

An accomplished tournament angler and former fishing guide, Walker Smith has been published in many national and regional publications for well over a decade. His articles and videos have been viewed by millions of people.

He has a strong passion for teaching others about fishing while connecting with the human element of fishing as well.

When he’s not fishing, he enjoys spending time with his wife and family, watching the Atlanta Braves and the Georgia Bulldogs and hunting.

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