Angler reels in record-breaking fish from Arizona lake. ‘That’s a beauty’
An angler had a feeling he reeled in a record-breaking fish from an Arizona lake, so he had it weighed, wildlife officials said.
Sure enough, the massive tiger trout exceeded the previous state record.
Carl Erickson caught the fish at about 5 a.m. June 22 from Woods Canyon Lake near Payson, Arizona Game and Fish Department Statewide Sportfish Program Manager Curt Gill told McClatchy News by email.
When Erickson saw his catch, he told wildlife officials he thought it may have broken a record, Gill said.
The fish weighed 5 pounds, 15.4 ounces, and it measured 23.5 inches long.
The previous record was held by an angler who caught a tiger trout in the same lake on Dec. 10. It weighed 4 ounces less than Erickson’s fish, but it was 24 inches long.
Erickson caught the tiger trout with crawdad crankbait, a type of fishing lure.
Facebook users commented about the fish’s size and appearance.
“Wow I have never seen a trout that size!” one person wrote.
Another person said, “That’s a beauty!!! Bet you had fun reeling him in!!!”
Payson is about 90 miles northeast of Phoenix.
‘Big ol’ fish’ had angler ‘jumping up and down’ — and broke Wyoming state record
Huge ‘trophy-sized’ flounder reeled in by angler — and smashes Connecticut record
Massive fish could set world record. See catch that sent Italian angler ‘into a panic’
