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Minnesota Master Angler - Zach Gartner

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Zach Gartner did, on August 18, 2024, caught and Released by sportfishing method from Minnesota waters a 10" Bass - Rock and is hereby recognized as an official Minnesota Expert Angler.

Fish Catch Details

  • Angler Name: Zach Gartner
  • Angler Home: Maple Grove, Minnesota
  • Date of Catch: August 18, 2024
  • County: Hubbard
  • Lake/River: Garfield Lake
  • Species: Bass - Rock
  • Size: 10"
  • Catch Was: Released
  • Catch Story: Every year, I get to go north to my grandparents' lake house. In previous years, I have caught some trophy-sized fish, especially monstrous Rock Bass. The biggest Rock Bass I've caught from this lake is 12 inches, and I'm still disappointed over the fact that I had never looked into submitting the fish for a Master Angler. This year, my goal was to catch another Master Angler sized Rock Bass. Now, when I went up that weekend, I only had two days to catch a Master Angler sized fish. The clock was ticking before I knew it. I fished many hours on that Saturday with no success of a Master Angler sized Rock Bass (one was just a smidge under 10 inches, but that still would not count). That Sunday morning came and I hopped into the kayak. I paddled out to a spot where I have always caught a good sized Rock Bass and I threw a Mini-King 1/8-oz Single Colorado Blade Spinnerbait that was tipped with a 3.3-inch Okeechobee Craw Googan Bandito Bug as the tail. Quickly at the spot, a large 11+ inch Rock Bass took a big swing at the spinnerbait, but I missed the hook set. I casted back out a couple times and right before I was about to move away and try elsewhere, this 10-inch Rock Bass struck the spinnerbait. I was worried that the fish would be too small to submit... maybe only measure 9 inches? Maybe 9.5 inches? Thankfully, on the bump board, the fish came in right passed the 10 inch mark. This was surely a miracle if you ask me! Now, all I needed to do was to submit the beautiful Rock Bass and hope for the best. We'll see how it goes! Hopefully, for next year, I can get another 12-incher to submit and feel more secure with the Master Angler sized fish. I even voiced how I was displeased about the fact that the fish was "only 10 inches". The minimum Master Angler length is 10 inches, so I'm safe!
  • Witness Name: Caden Weltzin
  • Witness Home: Brooklyn Park, MN

Official Certificate

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