While Memorial Day finds its way into the hearts of many as a day of remembrance, May 25, 2026, will never be a day forgotten for Will Carstens. The Alexandria angler landed a 13.42-pound gigantic bass during a tournament on Indian Creek Reservoir.
“My fishing partner, Ross Bryant, and myself have fished many tournaments all over Louisiana and Texas,” Carstens said. “We’ve been fishing this Indian Creek Monday night tournament for seven years now and I have never caught anything this big.”
According to Carstens, those Monday night tournaments are a regular item that start at 6 p.m. On the faithful night that one of the largest bass ever caught on the reservoir was landed, Carstens and Bryant took to the water with a plan that considered the expected high volume of boat traffic.
“It was Memorial Day, so naturally more people are on the water,” Carstens said. “I figured if we just caught three fish, we should be ok.”
Surprise and celebration
Plans changed around 7:30 p.m. when Carstens cast a Zoom Ol’ Monster Worm and started fishing the bottom. With three bass in the livewell, for a total weight nearing 6 pounds, Carstens felt a strike. But the fish got away and his Ol’ Monster became old news. Without hesitation, he added a replacement to the hook and sent it back out to the water. He received another strike that broke his line. Bewilderment crept in at that point.
“I didn’t understand what was going on and thought maybe it was a jack fish,” he said.
That third attempt yielded a monumental strike from a monster bass, but a fight initiated.
“I knew I had something big when I set the hook, so I let her eat it,” Carstens said. “I was afraid she was going to jump so I tried keeping my rod down, but when she started to come up by the trolling motor I was shocked.
“My buddy got the net, and when she broke the surface we were screaming with surprise while he scooped her up.”
Carstens and Bryant stood in shock admiring the size of the catch.
“I couldn’t stop shaking,” Carstens said. “I wanted to get a picture, but I couldn’t stop shaking and made my partner take her because I was afraid I would drop her.”
The team slipped the big bass into the second livewell after removing the hook. Carstens could hardly contain himself from the excitement.
“I was just so shocked,” he said. “I couldn’t throw another line for 30 minutes.”
First place
After settling down and overcoming the adrenaline rush, the duo did what any serious bass angling team would do. They resumed fishing in hopes for another fish. They patrolled the area back and forth and picked up one more small bass. After culling the catch, the pair made their way back to the boat launch.
“They said it was written all over my face that I had something big,” Carstens said. “They couldn’t believe it when I pulled her from the bag.”
The 13.42-pounder gave the men nearly 18 pounds with their three fish. They won Big Bass and first place in the tournament.
“She was around 30 inches long and had spawned out,” Carstens said. “I talked to a biologist who said that if I had caught her in January she would have easily weighed in at 15 pounds.”
No matter what could have been, what was has created a memory that Carstens will carry for the rest of his life.
“Ross and I have been fishing together for a long time,” he said. “It was just so much more special of a moment to share catching that fish with my fishing buddy. We’ll never forget that night on Indian Creek.”
