Bill's large largemouth moves comfortably into first place!

So it's early in the season, and so maybe this 17 1/2-inch largemouth isn't the biggest fish you'll see this year. But it's bigger than anything else turned in to Bob McHale so far in 2026. So the only way to tone down my rhetoric is to get your butts on the water and fish.

The contest runs from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, with the winner being the largest fish of any species recognized by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, based on percent of Master Angler criteria. At 17.5 inches, this fat mama was approximately 97.22% of the way to the minimum requirement. (A less truthful angler might have rounded it off to 100 percent) To move ahead of me in the Angler of the Year contest, you just have the come up with a carp that is at least 97 and a quarter! Remember, to be eligible, your fish must be taken from Colorado waters where all club members could potentially fish. So Jim Barbarok can pound sand when he shows off that giant catfish from his China trip. Get a photograph of your entry, or recruit a reliable witness to the catch and submit to Bob McHale.