The International Underwater Spearfishing Association

International Underwater Spearfishing Association

World Record

3.0 kg. , 6.6 lbs.

Walleye Stizostedion vitreum

Record Category: Women Sling / Polespear

Diver:		Shelby Lynn Peterson
Date:		6/1/2024
Location:		UNITED STATES

We visited a Utah lake called Starvation Reservoir, known for holding some fairly large walleye. I decided to spend the entire day using a polespear, hoping to find a record-sized fish. The visibility was remarkable, around 20 feet, which is incredible for a lake. It was our last spot of the day, and I had already landed several 3-pound walleye and seen more around that size. However, I was aiming for something 5 pounds or larger, knowing that a women's pole spear record had yet to be set. After diving in 59-degree water all day, I was getting cold and was about to signal my husband and dive partner, Ryan, to pick me up in our boat. But I decided to do a couple more dives. On my last dive, I surfaced from seeing only small walleye and slowly finned forward around a pile of boulders. Just on the other side of a rock, in approximately 4 feet of water, I saw a large walleye that had likely been sleeping in the shallows. As it began to wake up and slowly head deeper, I quickly but smoothly loaded my hand on my polespear and ducked underwater as quietly as possible, trying not to spook it. The walleye increased its speed slightly but wasn’t alarmed. I aimed and released the spear from only about 2 feet away, hitting it in the spine and subduing it instantly. As I brought the fish closer, I realized it was over 5 pounds and looked like a large spawned-out female. Ecstatic, I hollered for joy to the boat, signaling them to come and capture some footage and take pictures of the fish.
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