Fishing Guide Releases Montana’s Pending-Record Smallmouth Bass. The part-time guide says he's been chasing the state-record smallmouth for seven years. By Bob McNally. Published Sep 30, 2024 12:30 PM ...

Wade Merschat was bank fishing at the Noxon Rapids Reservoir in northwest Montana on June 19 when he hooked into a largescale sucker that he knew instantly was big enough to beat the standing record.