A single cast on a frigid February morning has rewritten Tennessee fishing history. Darren Nunley landed a massive 15.75-pound largemouth bass on Nickajack Lake, shattering the state record that had stood since 2015.
The monster bass fell to a half-ounce Green Pumpkin Z-Man/EverGreen ChatterBait JackHammer on February 28, pending final DNA testing and certification by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA).
Nunley was fishing with longtime friend and guide Hensley Powell, who had experienced remarkable success in the same area just days before. The duo launched into harsh conditions — 38-degree air temperatures and 53-degree water — targeting a hydrilla flat in four to five feet of water.
Powell had guided another client to the same spot the previous day, landing two eight-pounders and losing what he described as a giant. When he returned with Nunley, his confidence remained high.
"Throw right there on a long cast," Powell told him. "That's where the big ones were yesterday."
One perfectly executed cast was all it took to make history.
The initial moments proved confusing for Nunley, who mistook the massive fish for 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."
"I thought I was hung in the grass and tried to pop it through,"
By the Numbers
By the Numbers
By the Numbers
Powell wasn't even watching when his client set the hook on what would become Tennessee's new state record.
By the Numbers
By the Numbers
"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.'"
"I thought he'd hooked grass until I saw the line running sideways,"
By the Numbers
Their initial scale reading showed 15.8 pounds, prompting Powell to immediately head for the boat ramp and contact TWRA officials. At a certified scale, the bass officially registered 15.75 pounds, eclipsing the previous record of 15.3 pounds set in 2015.
TWRA biologists conducted a thorough examination of the historic catch, determining the fish had never been previously caught.
"This fish swam around for 15 years and never got caught," Nunley said. "My hook was the only mark in its mouth."
"This fish swam around for 15 years and never got caught,"
Due to the presence of hybrid bass in Tennessee waters, DNA testing is required for final state record certification. Results are expected within two weeks.
Powell, who has guided on Nickajack Lake for years, expressed little surprise that the waterbody produced Tennessee's new 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."
"I've been saying for years the next state record would come out of Nickajack,"
The record-breaking catch adds another significant achievement to the ChatterBait JackHammer's growing reputation in competitive bass fishing. The collaborative lure from Z-Man and Japanese manufacturer EverGreen International has been behind numerous tournament victories and trophy bass across America.
Nickajack Lake continues to cement its status as one of Tennessee's premier bass fisheries. The impending DNA results will officially confirm whether Nunley's giant becomes the certified state record, potentially inspiring a new generation of anglers to test the productive waters where this historic fish once swam.