SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — The South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks announced on Facebook on July 16 that a record smallmouth bass and been caught and released on Lake Oahe.

Troy Diede of Sioux Falls caught the 7lbs 4.7oz., 20.75 inch-long fish. The fish had a 19.25 inch girth.

The Fisheries Program Administrator for the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department says fishing activity picks up in South Dakota during the summer months.

“In general, when fishing activity peaks in June and July that’s when we see a majority of our state record requests come in,” Geno Adams told KELOLAND News at the beginning of June.

State fish records are now categorized in three methods — hook and line records, bowfishing records and unrestricted (any other legal means other than hook and line or bowfishing). 

In the past two years, there’s been 15 new records entered in the hook and line category and six in the bowfishing category. 

Anyone who catches a fish they think would be considered as a state record needs to have the fish weighed on a certified scale — most grocery stores and meat lockers have them, Adams said.