West Virginia’s Jerry Porter just hooked a state-record black crappie in East Lynn Lake, landing a 3.6-pound behemoth that reaffirms America’s outdoor legacy even as political noise drowns out real achievements.
At a Glance
- Jerry Porter caught a record-breaking 3.6-pound, 17.7-inch black crappie at East Lynn Lake.
- He broke the prior state record of 3.15 pounds using a pink jig with a minnow.
- Porter’s group landed approximately 300 crappies in one day of fishing.
- This marks the third West Virginia state fishing record broken in 2025.
- Porter warns of lake overcrowding with undersized crappies competing for food.
A Fish Story Worth Hearing
While national headlines obsess over Beltway battles, Jerry Porter of Harts, West Virginia, was busy making real American history—with a rod, a reel, and a crappie that tipped the scales at a record-setting 3.6 pounds. Fishing in East Lynn Lake on May 6, Porter used a humble 1/16-ounce pink jig tipped with a minnow to pull in the 17.7-inch fish, shattering the state record.
His feat was confirmed by state biologist Jake Whalen and widely celebrated across outdoor circles. Porter’s simplicity—using basic gear and fishing with longtime friends Ron and Rodney Shelton—only adds to the charm. Together, the trio caught around 300 crappies in a single day. “We fished until four that afternoon because the action was incredible,” Porter told Outdoor Life.
Watch a report: WV Fisherman Breaks State Record.
Angler shatters previous fish state record by reeling in black crappie https://t.co/cZCQJANCK7
— Fox News (@FoxNews) May 16, 2025
The Year of the Record
Porter’s haul is just the latest in a banner year for West Virginia anglers. Earlier in 2025, Jason Floyd landed a 5.75-pound redhorse sucker, while John Plott reeled in a 1.60-pound redear sunfish—his second record for the species. These stories rarely trend, but they underscore a timeless truth: the outdoors still matter in places untouched by the coasts’ cultural noise.
Beyond the records, these anglers are preserving a generational rhythm—early mornings, riverside camaraderie, and the satisfaction of self-reliance. You won’t catch these folks chasing headlines or subsidies—they’re chasing fish, and sometimes, history.
Wisdom from the Water
Perhaps most telling is Porter’s take on lake management. Without a whitepaper or bureaucratic filter, he observed a looming imbalance: “The lake is jammed with 7- to 9-inch crappies… They have to compete for food with all the little fellows.” His point? Too many takers, not enough space—an ecological metaphor that could double as social commentary.
Porter’s record isn’t just a fish tale—it’s a tribute to the enduring value of practical skill, honest labor, and community connection. In an age of algorithms and outrage, it’s refreshing to see real achievement rise up from the still waters of East Lynn Lake.
