{"id":45961,"date":"2021-07-01T04:37:00","date_gmt":"2021-07-01T10:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/cortez-woman-hauls-in-more-world-record-fish\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T03:28:35","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T09:28:35","slug":"cortez-woman-hauls-in-more-world-record-fish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/cortez-woman-hauls-in-more-world-record-fish\/","title":{"rendered":"Cortez woman hauls in more world-record fish"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Kelly
Kelly Jo Hall holds up her favorite caught fish, a 5 pound, 4 ounce smallmouth bass caught May 16 at Puett Reservoir. It was approved as a world record in the 4-pound line class for female anglers in the freshwater category by the International Game and Fish Association.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Cortez\u2019s superstar of shore fishing, Kelly Jo Hall, has reeled in two more world records, bringing her total to nine.<\/p>\n

Hall competes with women worldwide for fishing records certified by the International Game and Fish Association.<\/p>\n

Her latest world record, a 5 pound, 4 ounce smallmouth bass in the 4-pound line class, was caught at Puett Reservoir on May 16.<\/p>\n

A 2 pound, 6 ounce striped bass caught at Lake Powell on April 23, was approved as the female world record for the 2-pound line class.<\/p>\n

\"Kelly
Kelly Jo Hall, of Cortez, shows a 2 pound, 6 ounce striped bass caught at Lake Powell on April 23. It was approved for the world record in the 2-pound line class for freshwater female anglers. (Courtesy)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Hall now holds nine world records in women\u2019s freshwater fishing under the IGFA. More records are pending. She practices catch and release.<\/p>\n

The smallmouth bass is her favorite catch, she said in an interview Wednesday.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was bigger than I thought, a diamond of a fish. I\u2019m real proud to get the world record on it, especially since it was from a local lake,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019ve got a 350-pound marlin, but that smallmouth bass from Puett is my favorite.\u201d<\/p>\n

She saw its shadow come out from behind a rock, and quickly switched lures to a plastic worm. The female fish hit and made a couple of runs before being reeled in, weighed, measured, photographed and released.<\/p>\n

Hall and her boyfriend, Joe Crosby, specialize in shore fishing, and go out about 25 times per year, including to nearby states. She rigs up several poles at time, so if a lure fails or the line breaks, she can quickly cast out another one.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe more time your lure is in the water, the better your chances,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\"Local
Local angler Kelly Jo Hall has reeled in nine world records from the International Game and Fish Association. (Courtesy Joe Crosby)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Using fresh lines is important, because they become brittle when dried out.<\/p>\n

Other skills are learning fish habits, lure selection, reading the water and studying lake topography to find the deep areas where fish are more likely to be.<\/p>\n

Fish behavior is part of the challenge and fun of fishing, Hall said, like whether they are a bottom feeder or top feeder, and what their preferred prey are.<\/p>\n

She keeps track of what her competitors in the U.S., Canada, New Zealand and Australia are catching.<\/p>\n

One of her competitors is Meredith McCord, a professional angler who has been featured on fishing shows. Hall said she has swapped records with fellow angler Lauren Dunn.<\/p>\n

Hall\u2019s next goal is \u201cto diversify and go for some records in the saltwater categories.\u201d The couple travels to Mexico for fishing trips every other year.<\/p>\n

\u201cFishing is our passion. We love it,\u201d Hall said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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