Professional bass angler and popular YouTube content creator Ben Milliken visited northern Idaho in his attempt to catch his PB smallmouth, a fish breaking the 8-pound mark. Why Idaho?
The reason is Idaho is home to Dworshak Reservoir (54 miles long!), a top destination in the northern part of the state for smallmouth bass fishing. It’s often called the "Smallmouth Capitol of the West.” Dworshak is known for its deep, clear waters and producing giant smallmouth. The current state record — 9.72 pounds — was caught in Dworshak Reservoir on Oct. 28, 2006. Note: The state’s catch-and-release smallmouth record was caught on Dec. 16, 2022, and it measured 23.75 inches. (FYI: The 9.72-pound fish also measured 23.75 inches.)
The key to the amazing growth of smallmouth in the reservoir is a diet of Kokanee salmon, making lures imitating these small fish a smart choice. In addition to Dworshak, big smallmouth also live in the North Fork Clearwater River (135 miles long), which flows into the reservoir.
The 80-second video clip below shows Milliken setting the hook and catching his new PB smallmouth — 8 pounds, 3 ounces. The battle is edited for time in the clip, so check out the full-length video below to see the entire unedited fight.
