Trout Fishing Tips

The International Game & Fish Association (IGFA) approved 21 new trout records in 2008. Of those new records, the breakdown looked like this:

• 8 new rainbow trout records
• 5 new bull trout records
• 2 new brown trout records
• 2 new lake trout records
• 2 new tiger trout records
  
• 1 new cutthroat trout record
• 1 new brook trout records

One of the new trout records mentioned above was set by Sean Konrad. Recognize the name? He and his brother have set several trout records while fishing at Lake Diefenbaker in Canada. In fact, his brother Adam holds the current world record for rainbow trout. Sean set a new line class record for catching a 37-lb 4-oz. rainbow trout on 16-lb test line.

Not to be outdone by his brother Sean, Adam Konrad set another new record in August 2008. His new line class record was approved for catching a 40-lb 10-oz. rainbow trout on 12-lb test line. This rainbow trout is only 3-lbs shy of his world record catch.

The bull trout records were all set by same person (Bo Nelson). All these trout were caught in the Flathead River in Canada in August 2008. Three of the catches qualified for line class records and the remaining two qualified for fly rod records.

Both tiger trout catches qualified for line class records. One fish (13-lbs, 12-oz.) was caught in Washington state in May 2008 and the other (4-lbs) was caught in Wyoming in October 2008.

Justin Van Cleave qualified for two records (line class and junior) when he caught his 2-lb, 12-oz brown trout in the Bear River in Colorado.

Mickey Russo claimed a new line class record for catching an 8-lb, 6-oz brook trout on 6-lb test line. This trout was caught off Long Island in New York.

Pyramid Lake in Nevada is home to the new fly rod record for an 11-lb, 1-oz. cutthroat trout caught on a 12-lb tippet.

Both new lake trout records were recorded in Wyoming. The first lake trout (2-lbs) was caught at Yellowstone Lake by Mark Kemp. This catch set a line class record (12-lb test). A week later, Virginia Kemp caught 2-lb lake trout at Shoshone Lake on a 4-lb tippet (thereby setting a new fly rod record).

There's also two new trout records currently pending. Both of these new records were caught by same man in Wyoming in October 2008. He set a fly rod record for catching a 1-lb, 4 oz brown trout on a 20-lb tippet. Then on the same day, set a line class record for a 3-lb tiger trout on 12-lb test line.

Click here to see trout records set in 2007

Click here for see trout records set in 2006

Labels: Adam Konrad, Sean Konrad, trout records

Yesterday I received an email from one of our readers wanting to know how to check if his son's catch was a new line class state record. My attempts to reply to the message failed, so I thought I would post the answer here for everybody to read.

But first, let me share the details of the catch. This man and his son were fishing on the Little Red River when they caught a 12 lb (28.25 inch) rainbow trout. The fish was caught on an ultra-light rod rigged with 4 lb test.

While this is a great catch, these folks wanted to know how to tell if this was new line class state record for rainbow trout.

While the IGFA keeps line class records, not all states do. So the first place to check is with your state's fish and game department. If you don't see what you're looking for on their web page, you can call them and ask if they keep line class records.

The other thing to keep in mind is that when you think you might have a potential new record, you'll want to take the fish to the nearest certified weigh station in your area. It's important to have the right folks certify your catch. Otherwise there's no way to really prove that you caught the fish or verify the equipment you were using.

Remember that fish also shrink a bit after they've been out of water and loose weight. This is another good reason to rush to the nearest certified weigh station if you think you have a record catch. You don't want to lose precious ounces!

Labels: trout records

Last year, there were 18 new trout records set. This year, 7 more trout records were set across the United States.

Colorado gained two new trout records in 2007 - one for Lake trout, and one for Cutbows.
The new state record for Lake trout is 50.35 lbs (44.25 inches). This fish was caught in Blue Mesa Reservoir. The new cutbow record is 18 lbs 8 oz (28.5 inches), which was caught in Antero Reservoir.

Idaho recorded a new state record for brown trout. The fish weighed 27 lbs 5 ounces and measured 37 inches in length. It was caught in Ashton Reservoir in November. The previous brown trout record was 26 lbs 6 oz and 36.5 inches in length.

Kansas also logged a new brown trout record. Caught in May of 2007 in the Mined Land Wildlife Area, this fish weighed 7.68 oz and measured 10.66 inches in length.

Michigan also has a new state record for brown trout (36.81 lbs / 42 inches). This trout was caught in the Lake Michigan. The previous record weighed 34.62 lbs and measured 40.5 inches.

Last, but not least, Wyoming recorded a new state record for tiger trout. The fish weighed 3.33 lbs and measured 22 inches in length. It was caught High Savery Reservoir in November.

And of course, don't forget a new world record for rainbow trout was set in June 2007.

As you can see by the new trout records, this was the year for brown trout! It will be interesting to see what (if any) new trout records will be set in 2008!

Labels: trout fishing records, trout records

We've said it before, and we'll say it again .... records are made to be broken!

On May 13, 2007 a new brown trout record was set in Michigan by Casey Richey (owner of Casey's Custom Fly Shop). The fish was pulled out of Lake Michigan in Frankfort and weighed 36.81 ounces and measured 43 inches in length.

Casey caught the trout while trolling a No. 9 Rapala about 100 yards off pier heads between Elberta and Frankfort.

Our congratulations to Casey!

Labels: Brown trout, Michigan, trout records

It's no secret that 2006 was a great year for trout fishing. And we have some new records to prove it!

Thirteen states posted new trout records in 2006, one of which is still pending for a new Junior Angler World Record. British Columbia has two pending records for Rainbow trout caught with fly rods.

The first state to record a new record is Alabama. A Rainbow trout weighing 9lbs-1oz was caught by Otha G. Hamm in Mudd Creek in Tannehill State Park on April 22, 2006. This broke the old record of 7lbs-4oz, set in 2004.

Arizona also recorded two new Rainbow trout records as well a new Apache trout record. Arizona is one of those states that separates its trout records into different categories. The new Inland Water (Hook & Line) record for Rainbow trout was set in September 2006 by Harold Wright. Harold reeled in a 32.5 inch Rainbow trout weighing 15lbs-9.12oz) out of Willow Springs Lake.

Arizona also recorded a new Rainbow trout record in the 'catch and release' category. This record was set in March 2006 by Jeff Senn when he reeled in a 22.5 inch Rainbow trout out of Silver Creek.

A 20 inch Apache trout was pulled out of Christmas Tree Lake by Cameron Frieh in July 2006, thereby also setting a new record. This fish was also released back into the water.

In January 2006, James Harold Cohasset reeled in a 28.33lbs hatchery Rainbow trout measuring 33.5 inches in California. This set a new state record for hatchery rainbow trout.

Connecticut's new state record for Rainbow trout is still pending. The fish was caught by Billy Lutgen in July 2006 and weighed 7lbs-8oz. It was reeled out of Norwalk River.

Colorado has two new Rainbow trout records pending. Both records were caught by David Pesi in August 2006 and were pulled out of Big Thompson River in the Rocky Mountains. The first trout weighed 1lbs-3oz and the second weighed 1lbs-5oz. The second trout was also caught using a fly rod.

Idaho has a new Splake trout record, recorded in May 2006. It weighed 10lbs-12.48 oz, measuring 28.5 inches in length. Brian Allison caught it in Ririe Reservoir using a Frenzy Deep River Lure.

New York has a new Brook trout record thanks to Jesse Yousey. In May 2006, Jesse used a Lake Clear Wobler lure to reel in his 4lb-15oz Brook trout out of Five Ponds Wilderness area.

North Carolina recorded a new Rainbow trout record of 20lbs-3oz caught in Horsepasture River by Leah Johnson. Leah used a Rapala lure.

Vermont's new Rainbow trout record was set by Harry Hunt in March 2006 when he reeled in 13lbs-12oz trout out of Lake Dunmore.

Wisconsin's new inland water record for Rainbow trout was set in June 2006 by Will Lusthoff when he reeled in a 12lbs-3oz trout out of Elbow Lake. Wills' trout measured 29.5 inches in length.

And last but not least, Wyoming also has a new state record for Tiger trout, set in July 2006 by Greg Salisbury. His Tiger trout weighed 1lb-10oz and measured 16.5 inches in length.

The International Game & Fish Association (IGFA) also has 3 NEW WORLD TROUT RECORDS PENDING!

The first pending world record is for a Brown trout caught by junior angler Christopher Miller in October 2006. His trout weighed 14lbs-9oz and was reeled out of Dry Run Creek in Arkansas.

The next two pending world records in the Fly Rod category and are for Bull trout. Both were caught in August 2006 out of Wigwam River in British Columbia, Canada. The first Bull trout was 10lbs-8oz (caught by Josh Splinter) and the second was 18lbs 8oz (caught by A. Matthew Eggert). Tippet sizes were different.

Record were made to be broken! Here's wishing you all a good luck in 2007!

And if you do happen to catch that new record trout, let us know!

Labels: trout fishing records, trout records, trout world records

If you ever searched Florida's Fish and Wildlife web site for the state's trout fishing records, you know how frustrating it is. That's because Florida lets the International Game & Fish Association (or IGFA) keep their state records.

I recently emailed Florida's Fish and Wildlife department to ask what the current records were and here is what they told me. As of 27 November 2006, the current Trout Fishing Records for Florida are:

• Spotted Seatrout - 17 lbs 7 oz., caught on 11 May 1995
• Spotted Seatrout (Fly Rod) - 12 lbs 7 oz. caught on 5 March 1984

Both of the records listed above were caught in saltwater.

Labels: Florida Trout Fishing Records, trout records