BULL SHOALS, Ark. — According to a Facebook post shared by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Chance Williams of Harrison, Arkansas broke a state record while bowfishing on Bull Shoals Lake recently.
He caught an unusually large quillback carpsucker measuring 22 inches and weighing 8 pounds, topping the previous record by 1 pound, 7 ounces.
“When I shot the fish, I thought it was a small buffalo, but to my surprise, it was a very large quillback," Williams described.
This Arkansas state record for unrestricted tackle (not using rod and reel) topped the previous record for quillback carpsucker held by Caleb Broeker.
It just so happens that Williams and Broeker know each other, so a friendly rivalry for the next state record has likely begun!
Williams’ impressive catch is one of several state fishing records set on Bull Shoals Lake. Other current records include smallmouth bass, spotted bass, and American eel. Bull Shoals Lake also holds the state records in Missouri for largemouth bass, walleye, and striped bass.
