DeWitt man sets record for Sunfish in 2021

DeWITT — A southeast Nebraska man holds the state record Sunfish.

According to a release by the Nebraska Games and Parks Commission, Steven Carel of DeWitt landed a 1-pound, 14-ounce Sunfish while ice fishing Clatonia 3A Reservoir in Gage County.

The fish was caught in early January of 2021. The catch would stand as the rod-and-reel state record for the rest of the year, shattering the previous record set in October of 2020.

“I caught it on a wax worm,” Carel said. “A buddy and I decided to try it [Clatonia Lake] because it was so close and neither of us had ever fished it.”

That decision turned out to pay off as Carel and his fishing buddy caught multiple large Sunfish, all weighing over a pound.

The fish was caught on a rod with 2-pound test fishing line.