West Virginia Angler Lands Record Tiger Trout at Seneca Lake

A West Virginia angler has etched his title into the report books after touchdown an enormous tiger trout that shattered the state’s long-standing size report.

John Terry, of Gallagher, caught a 29.13-inch, 11.04-pound tiger trout on March 19 from Seneca Lake in Pocahontas County. The fish surpasses the earlier state size report of 28.7 inches, which had stood since 2011 when Mike Connelly landed his fish at Krodel Lake.

What makes the catch much more spectacular is the sort out Terry was utilizing. He landed the bruiser on a Panther Martin spinner paired with simply 4-pound-test line, a setup most anglers would think about gentle even for average-sized trout.

“We’re excited to acknowledge Mr. Terry for setting a brand new state report for tiger trout,” mentioned WVDNR Director Brett McMillion. “His accomplishment showcases the excellent fishing experiences West Virginia has to supply and displays the eagerness anglers carry to the waters all through the state.”

For these unfamiliar with the species, tiger trout are a sterile hybrid produced by crossing a feminine brown trout with a male brook trout. The pairing not often happens naturally however is often reproduced in hatcheries. The result’s a fast-growing, aggressive predator that shows a placing vermiculated sample throughout its physique, which supplies the fish its tiger-like title.

As a result of tiger trout are sterile, they can not reproduce, making them a protected stocking possibility for fisheries managers who wish to introduce a predatory fish with out the chance of building self-sustaining populations. They’re additionally identified for concentrating on bigger prey than equally sized trout, together with baitfish, crawfish, and even smaller trout, making them a helpful administration instrument in waters with overabundant forage fish.

For anglers, that aggressive nature interprets to a fish that responds effectively to a variety of shows, from spinners and crankbaits to streamers and swimbaits. Fish pushing previous the 29-inch mark, nevertheless, are uncommon anyplace in Appalachia.

Terry’s catch holds the state size report, however the weight report belongs to another person. Robert Riggs set that mark final yr on Mannington Lake in Marion County, touchdown a tiger trout that weighed 12.55 kilos and measured 27.60 inches. Riggs caught his fish on a casting spoon with 6-pound-test line whereas trolling together with his son from a small jon boat throughout West Virginia’s Gold Rush spring stocking occasion.

Anglers hoping to chase a report of their very own ought to evaluation the WVDNR’s particular standards for report fish submissions. The state additionally provides Trophy Fish Quotation and Grasp Angler applications for notable catches that will not break information however nonetheless deserve recognition.

With sturdy stocking applications persevering with throughout the Mountain State, it might solely be a matter of time earlier than one other big tiger trout makes headlines.

Keith Lusher

Keith Lusher is an award-winning outside journalist who resides in Covington, Louisiana. He owns and operates NorthshoreFishingReport.com and writes a weekly outside column for the Slidell Unbiased Newspaper. He additionally writes for the St.Tammany Parish Tourism Fee’s VisitTheNorthshore.com. He’s the previous host of The Northshore Fishing Report Radio Present and is on the board of the Louisiana Out of doors Writers Affiliation. Keith contributes to quite a few publications each on-line and in print and prides himself on selling South Louisiana’s distinctive fishery. To contact Keith e mail: keithlusherjr@gmail.com