Young kid catches old bass

A Kalispell youth recently caught a largemouth bass in a Flathead River slough that fisheries biologists say is probably nine years older than the boy.

Garrett Frost, 10, caught and released the tagged bass July 16 in Rose Creek Slough. But prior to letting it go, he pulled a red Floy tag from the fish.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks worker Jon Cavigli checked the number on the tag to stocking records and discovered the fish was first caught and tagged by Phil Rivard in Fennon Slough on Oct. 3, 1997. At the time, the fish was 14.2 inches long and weighed 1.5 pounds.

Based on the size of the bass when it was first tagged and the age-growth database, FWP fisheries biologist Mark Deleray estimated the fish is about 19 years old. Fisheries biologists believe it would take at least five year for a bass to reach that size. At 19 years old, Frost's fish would be one of the oldest confirmed largemouth bass reported in Montana.

Montana is at the northern edge of largemouth bass range. Since it was first caught, the fish had gained just two pounds. Because of the cold water, bass tend to grow slower in Montana.