Anglers at the Weekend Warrior Bass Series (WWBS) Southwest Summer Slam on August 2, presented by Across The Board Woodworking, witnessed a catch that may go down in Arizona fishing history. During the early morning weigh-in at Roosevelt Lake, Steve Jenkins shocked the field — and possibly the state record books — with a jaw-dropping 16.57-pound largemouth bass.
The massive bass was landed during the 38-team tournament and weighed live at the Windy Hill area before being carefully released back into the lake. WWBS director Lyle Danuser confirmed that he and his wife, who organize the series, will be working with Jenkins and Arizona Game and Fish to verify if the fish qualifies for state record consideration.
Arizona divides its records by watershed; keeping fish caught in the Colorado River system separate from those caught in the rest of the state’s water bodies, which they describe as inland waters. The current Arizona state record for largemouth bass caught in inland waters is a 16.48-pound fish caught in Canyon Lake by Randall E. White back on April 22, 1997. The record for the Colorado River waters is slightly larger, at 16.87 pounds, a fish caught by Dale Uden in the Colorado River on March 8, 1996.
Jenkins fish, caught in Roosevelt Lake, will qualify for the inland records. If approved, it will nudge out White’s by a hair and push out a record set almost 30 years ago. We’ll keep you posted on any further developments.
“This is a fish we’ll all remember,” Danuser tells Wired2fish. “We’re proud to have had it caught during one of our tournaments. It’s not every day you see a fish like that — let alone in a field of amateur anglers.”
Jenkins and his tournament partner Mike Selvage didn’t just earn bragging rights — their Big Bass netted them a combined $940 in Super Bass and original payback money. The duo also took 2nd place overall with a strong 26.07-pound total bag.
But top honors went to Mick and Leland Pageler, who claimed 1st place with a tournament-winning 27.11-pound bag. The pair also landed the 2nd Big Bass at 8.62 pounds, earning them $100 for the big fish and a $1,300 payout for their win.
Rounding out the top three was the team of Kevin Smith and Chris Koehler, weighing in 21.77 pounds, good for a $740 payday.
The Southwest Summer Slam event is part of the Weekend Warrior Bass Series Arizona Region, a grassroots tournament series designed specifically for beginner and average-level anglers. With a $240 team entry fee, no membership requirements, and payouts for every 1 in 4 entries plus Big Bass prizes, WWBS offers a level playing field free from the pressure of competing against professionals or guides.
“This is about getting weekend anglers out on the water and giving them a real shot at prize money, without having to go pro,” Danuser added. “We’re thankful to our sponsor, Across The Board Woodworking, and all our support staff who make these events possible.”
Full results, payouts, and photos from the Roosevelt Lake tournament can be found at www.swctackle.com.
Whether or not Jenkins’ 16.57-pounder claims a state record, there’s no doubt that this bass has already made waves in Arizona’s angling community — and will inspire plenty of hopeful casts at Roosevelt Lake in the months to come.
