West Virginia fishing buddies

On August 8, two anglers, Lindell Marker and Dwight Priestley, made headlines in West Virginia by breaking state records for black crappie within a span of two hours. Marker first caught a 17.36-inch crappie, surpassing the previous length record of 17.32 inches, while tying the existing weight record of 2.85 pounds. Less than 90 minutes later, Priestley reeled in an even larger crappie, measuring 17.76 inches and weighing 3.15 pounds, thus setting new records for both length and weight. Both anglers used live minnows during their fishing trip at Woodrum Lake, which has been highlighted for its exceptional fishing opportunities. Governor Jim Justice celebrated the achievements, emphasizing the state's commitment to recreational fishing. This year, West Virginia has already recorded eight new fishing records.