carpsniper

...Darin's fish.
Found this while looking for something else.



















HR1326

LRB095 21411 GRL 51126 r




1


HOUSE RESOLUTION


2

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of

3

Representatives are pleased to congratulate Darin Opel of

4

Worden on the occasion of catching a record-setting 92-pound,

5

8-ounce bighead carp; and


6

WHEREAS, Darin Opel is an experienced bowfisher, having

7

participated in the sport for 25 years; he has been a member of

8

the Illinois Bowfishers Club since its incorporation four years

9

ago; he has bowfished for sharks, stingrays, and even

10

alligators in Florida; and


11

WHEREAS, Darin Opel caught his record-breaking fish while

12

bowfishing for gar from the shore in a backwater above the

13

Melvin Price Lock and Dam No. 26 on the Illinois side of the

14

Mississippi River near Alton; during the hunt, he shot the

15

92-pound, 8-ounce bighead carp with a compound bow and arrow;

16

after fighting the giant fish for 10 minutes, he jumped into

17

the muddy water, bearhugged the beast, and inched it to the

18

shore; and


19

WHEREAS, When the fish was weighed on a certified scale,

20

the huge Asian carp had a 30-inch girth and measured 62 inches

21

long, obliterating the previous Illinois bowfishing record for

22

bighead carp of 35 pounds, 5 ounces; this astounding catch is



















HR1326
- 2 -
LRB095 21411 GRL 51126 r




1

the largest on record by a recreational fisherman in the

2

Western Hemisphere; Darin Opel's previous record for bighead

3

carp weighed 25 pounds; and


4

WHEREAS, Darin Opel plans on having the fish, which is

5

currently being stored in his father's meat freezer, mounted by

6

a taxidermist in St. Louis; he plans to display it at the Deer

7

and Turkey Classic in Bloomington next year; and


8

WHEREAS, Darin Opel's incredible catch serves as an

9

inspiration to both experienced fishermen and aspiring anglers

10

everywhere; therefore, be it


11

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE

12

NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we

13

congratulate Darin Opel of Worden on his incredible catch and

14

wish him continued success in the future; and be it further


15

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be

16

presented to Darin Opel as an expression of our respect and

17

esteem.

Fishhunter

carptracker

WOW! That's pretty incredible. I didn't know they did that sort of thing. COOL!