Travis Harrell, of Albany, has just beat the previous Lower Flint River striped bass record with his 52-lb., 0.2-oz. beast caught right below the Albany Power Dam on March 19, 2025. The fish to beat weighed 48-lbs., 5-ozs. caught in 1983 by John Hoffpauir Jr.
Harrell and his father Wayne are no strangers to big stripers on the Flint River. They are regulars to “the wall” at the Albany Power Dam and have the reputation for catching big bass there. Harrell schedules his work vacation days around when the river is best for fishing, and he had taken off Wednesday, March 19 through Friday, March 21 to fish.
“My dad has taught me everything I know about fishing,” said Harrell. “He has caught a bunch of 30-lb. stripers there off that power dam wall. My biggest was 22 pounds, but I have caught a pile in the 15- to 20-lb. range. I always go after the big ones.”
Harrell explained that you can either fish for quantity or quality, but it’s difficult to fish for both.
“Most people who want to catch a lot of fish throw smaller lures and have lighter tackle that can’t handle a big fish. We see plenty of guys who hook some big ones but just can’t get them in, and their lines break.”
Harrell was casting a 2-oz. pink Spro Bucktail Jig with a white grub on it. He had a heavy action, 7-11 rod and a Lew’s baitcaster with 17-lb. test line.
Full story: https://gon.com/fishing/giant-striper-lower-flint-river
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