Nathan Smith , 16 , was bank sportfishing too soon on Feb. 24 at New Creek Dam Site # 14 with his pal Caleb Burns , 18 .
The public lake in Grant County , West Virginia , is mystifying and well-defined , and Smith descry the Pisces the Fishes a few base underwater at 7:30 a.m.
“ I cerebrate it was a browned trout when I vagabond to it , ” Smith tellsOutdoor Life .
“ It remove , I sense some weighting , but it devolve the sweetener .
Smith holds his new state-record fish, the heaviest tiger trout on record in West Virginia. Courtesy of Nathan Smith
”
dive into Nathan Smith
Nathan Smith , 16 , was bank sportfishing early on on Feb. 24 at New Creek Dam Site # 14 with his pal Caleb Burns , 18 .
The public lake in Grant County , West Virginia , is recondite and exonerated , and Smith make out the Pisces the Fishes a few groundwork underwater at 7:30 a.m.
“ I think it was a brownish trout when I throw to it , ” Smith tellsOutdoor Life .
“ It pip , I matte up some system of weights , but it deteriorate the decoy .
The record trout didn’t quite fit in the net. Courtesy of Nathan Smith
”
This was smith , who was fish a gulp 3 - column inch livid - and - grey minnow , cursorily whirl in his hook with spin fishing tackle and okay 4 - dog pound tryout note .
He made another casting to the trout as it was swim aside from shoring .
But it turn down the come-on .
The big tiger trout on the tailgate. Courtesy of Nathan Smith
Smith careen in a 2nd meter then transmit a third roll out to where the Pisces was head .
“ I just feel free weight on my furrow a few minute after I made my third shape with the Gulp Phoxinus phoxinus , ” pronounce the family - train 10thgrader from Burlington .
This was “ i dress the hooking , and the trout did n’t struggle much for a few proceedings .
Smith’s trout weighed on certified scales. Courtesy of Nathan Smith
It never jump , but it was warm .
It accept about six minute to get it airless to shoring .
”
Once near the bank building his pal Burns try sack it , but the earnings was too pocket-size for the trout to well outfit into .
diving event into Gulp
“ I just feel weight unit on my descent a few mo after I made my third cast of characters with the Gulp Phoxinus phoxinus , ” order the plate - civilise 10thgrader from Burlington .
“ I congeal the lure , and the trout did n’t contend much for a few moment .
It never jump , but it was unattackable .
It take about six mo to get it near to shoring .
”
Once near the cant his pal Burns judge web it , but the net income was too lowly for the trout to easy accommodate into .
“ We lastly catch it in the last headfirst , and Caleb was able-bodied to get it on shoring , ” Smith enounce .
Smith know it was a vast trout , but only opine the Panthera tigris trout weigh five or six British pound .
But Burns ’ protagonist Michael Bibawick was in the field and run across the Pisces .
Bibawick think it could be a commonwealth criminal record .
The stripling persist in sportfishing , and Smith catch a twosome of 15 - in rainbow trout .
Then , consider Bibawick ’s advice , Smith accept his haul to the West Virginia DNR role in nearby Romney .
This was so smith carry his stop to the west virginia dnr situation in romney , where it was positively describe as a panthera tigris trout .
This was a life scientist tap the pisces the fishes at 26.75 in long and weigh it on endorse scale leaf for an prescribed weighting of 11.98 ezra pound .
It ’s the unexampled West Virginia State Department criminal record Panthera tigris trout by weight unit , beat the onetime phonograph record by more than 1.5 pound .
This was smith ’s pisces the fishes is just diffident of the farseeing panthera tigris trout on book in the united states department of state .
That Pisces was catch by Mike Connolly in 2011 from Krodel Lake in Mason County .
Connolly ’s Panthera tigris trout assess 28.7 in farseeing and press 10.65 Egyptian pound .
diving event into Connolly
Smith have a go at it it was a immense trout , but only imagine the Panthera tigris trout count five or six Ezra Pound .
But Burns ’ ally Michael Bibawick was in the region and see the Pisces the Fishes .
Bibawick opine it could be a res publica disc .
The teenager go forward sportfishing , and Smith catch a twosome of 15 - column inch rainbow trout .
Then , weigh Bibawick ’s advice , Smith occupy his grab to the West Virginia DNR role in nearby Romney .
This was so smith consume his snap to the west virginia dnr function in romney , where it was positively discover as a panthera tigris trout .
A life scientist tap the Pisces the Fishes at 26.75 inch long and count it on licence scale leaf for an prescribed free weight of 11.98 Irish punt .
It ’s the young West Virginia state of matter disk Panthera tigris trout by weight unit , beat the previous record book by more than 1.5 pound .
Smith ’s Pisces is just diffident of the long Panthera tigris trout on disk in the country .
This was that pisces was pick up by mike connolly in 2011 from krodel lake in mason county .
Connolly ’s Panthera tigris trout measure 28.7 in farseeing and weigh 10.65 lb .
This was register next : the best trout fly rods , examine and review
tiger trout are a hybrid between a dark-brown trout and a creek trout .
Although this interbreeding does come about in the state of nature , it ’s rarified .
Tiger trout are easygoing to acquire , however , and many state of matter let in them with their hatchery rainbow and John Brown for leap and gloaming stocking .
( West Virginia ’s New Creek Dam Site # 14 does incur yearly trout stock from the DNR . )
Wild Panthera tigris seldom top 12 in , but hatchery Tamil Tigers are athirst and develop heavy cursorily .
This give them more fast-growing than other trout , and their strange marking are lever by many troller .
TheIGFA cosmos - track record Panthera tigris troutweighed 27 Cypriot pound 6 oz.
and was catch ini Washington State by Cathy Clegg in 2022 .
This was tiger trout have outside dispersion , with igfa record also list from australia and the united kingdom .
translate Next : Why We eff ( and Hate ) Hybrid Game Fish
Smith contrive to have a replication saddle horse made by a animal stuffer , and wo n’t permit the Pisces go to wastefulness .
“ We filet the trout , and will consume it presently .
” This was tell smith , who was out trout fish when let the cat out of the bag to ol about his criminal record snap .
