A single cast on a frigid February morning could have just rewritten Tennessee's fishing history books. Darren Nunley, a longtime angler on Nickajack Lake, landed what may be the new state record largemouth bass weighing 15.75 pounds.
The massive fish was caught on February 28 using a ½-ounce Green Pumpkin ZMan/EverGreen ChatterBait JackHammer. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) is conducting DNA testing for final certification as the official state record.
Nunley was fishing alongside close friend and guide Hensley Powell, who had been experiencing exceptional success in the same area recently. The duo launched into challenging conditions with 38-degree air temperatures and 53-degree water, targeting a hydrilla flat in 4-5 feet of depth.
Powell had guided another client in the same spot just one day earlier, landing two 8-pound bass and losing what he described as a giant fish. When he returned with Nunley the following morning, his confidence was unwavering.
"Throw right there on a long cast," Powell told him. "That's where the big ones were yesterday."
One perfectly executed cast with the ChatterBait was all it took to make fishing history.
Nunley's initial reaction wasn't excitement but confusion. He thought his lure had become tangled in the abundant hydrilla vegetation.
"I thought I was hung in the grass and tried to pop it through," he said. "Then I realized it was actually a fish. I didn't realize just how big it was until I got it to the boat and it went ape. But it was too big to actually jump."
Powell wasn't even watching when Nunley set the hook, making the moment even more dramatic.
"I thought he'd hooked grass until I saw the line running sideways," Powell recalled. "The fish came to the surface, and I netted it easy. As soon as it hit the deck, Darren said, 'That's the biggest bass I've ever caught,' and I said, 'That's the state record.'"
Their initial scale reading showed 15.8 pounds, prompting Powell to immediately head back to the boat ramp and contact TWRA officials. The agency directed them to a certified scale where the bass officially registered 15.75 pounds.
TWRA biologists conducted a comprehensive examination of the fish and made a remarkable discovery about its pristine condition.
"This fish swam around for 15 years and never got caught," Nunley said. "My hook was the only mark in its mouth."
The DNA testing requirement stems from the presence of hybrid bass in Tennessee waters, making genetic verification necessary for official record certification. Results are expected within two weeks.
Powell, who has guided on Nickajack Lake for years, expressed little surprise that the lake produced this potential record.
"I've been saying for years the next state record would come out of Nickajack," he said. "The stars aligned for Darren. That fish was meant for him."
The current Tennessee state record for largemouth bass has stood for years, making Nunley's catch potentially historic for the state's fishing community. Anglers and fishing enthusiasts across Tennessee are now watching closely for the final DNA results that will determine if this massive bass officially claims its place in the record books.