World record bull trout
Many fishing enthusiasts love searching for massive trout, dreaming about landing a specimen that will be remembered for years to reach. Records are set and then broken, fueling a passion that transcends generations.
Where was the largest ever landed? There are several answers, depending on the procedure of capture and the type of trout involved. Regardless, the quest for huge trout inspires anglers to journey into untamed territories in North America, Brand-new Zealand, and beyond.
Today, we will discuss remarkable trout from various corners of the globe. Some are officially recognized by organizations, and others exist in photos or eyewitness stories.
Each one adds to a legacy of angling legends that continues to motivate new generations.
Key Highlights
- Record Trout: Largest lake trout, 72 lbs (1995, Excellent Bear Lake, Canada); potential 73.29 lbs in Colorado (2024).
- Global Giants: Notable catches include 102 lbs (Lake Athabasca, Canada) and 44 lbs 5 oz brown trout (New Zealand).
Lake Trout & The Soar of Great Bear Lake
Lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) hold some of the heaviest trout records around. According to Guinness World Records, one prime example is the 72-pound ca April 14, 2023 On April 8, Ryan Mejaski and Joe Wilhite were fishing for kokanee on the Deschutes arm of Lake Billy Chinook without much luck when they decided to move spots. After casting into a group of miniature kokanee that were jumping to the surface, his secret lure sank to about five feet when he got a large strike that took off screaming. He quickly adjusted his drag to let the fish run but they had to move the boat to follow it. His medium-lightweight rod was bent in half and nearly snapped. But he spent 10 minutes productive the fish on 6 lbs. test line, brought it to the surface and netted it into the boat to receive measurements. The bull trout was 33.5 inches in length with a 26-inch girth, and it maxed out Wihite’s fishing net scale at 25 pounds. “The scale was maxed out and didn’t go any higher than 25 pounds but that’s what it said,” noted Majeski. He told ODFW that the fish was probably bigger, maybe 30 pounds. After taking some photos with the fish, they quickly released it Sign up for the Quick Strike Newsletter The hottest fishing news, tips, and tactics In many respects, trout are the “everyman” fish of the United States. Wild trout are revered in cold-flowing streams and rivers from upstate Recent York to New Mexico. Stocked, hatchery raised trout provide boundless fun and tasty dining for anglers young and old. Whether you’re a refined fly fisherman matching the hatch or a low-tech spinning reel angler dunking worms, trout rise to the occasion. Sure, bass seem to obtain the glory, but trout, distinctly native, sleek and colorful, are worthy of all the attention they get. So here’s a look at some of the biggest trout ever caught, by subspecies, according to the International Gamefish Association’s world record listings. Sean Konrad is the reigning all-tackle nature record holder who landed a 48-pound rainbow on September 5, 2009 while fishing Saskatchewan’s Lake Diefenbaker. The 42-inch-long trout had an incredible 32-inch girth. Konrad was using a Shimano Claris rod with an Abu Garcia 104 reel spooled with 14-pound PowerPro braided line. The fish hit a While casting toward a group of small, surfacing kokanee, Oregon fisherman Ryan Mejaski hooked into something so big that his reel began screaming, forcing he and his fishing partner to give chase in their boat lest the huge fish take all the line off his reel. Clearly, this wasn’t a kokanee. Mejaski and Joe Wilhite were fishing on the Deschutes arm of Lake Billy Chinook on April 8 when the memorable battle with a massive bull trout unfolded. Mejaski’s medium-lightweight rod was bent in half and nearly snapped, he told the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. He spent at least 10 minutes fighting the fish before getting it to the boat where it was netted. The anglers measured and weighed the bull trout. It was 33.5 inches long with a 26-inch girth, and it maxed out Wilhite’s net scale that goes to 25 pounds. Also on FTW Outdoors: 112-pound halibut caught through the ice in a unique fishery Mejaski told ODFW that the fish was probably bigger, perhaps as much as 30 pounds. After taking some photos, they quickly released the fish and watched it swim away. Then, they began talking about how that fish largest record catch captured in a picture and published
category: rod & reel record weight: length: 103 cm ( 41 inches ) locality: Lake Pend Oreille, USA year: 1949 "rod & reel" world log caught in:
USA / capital: Washington / 9,826,675 sq km RECORD WEIGHT
category metric english waters country year rod & reel * 14,51 kg 32 lb 0 oz Lake Pend Oreille USA 1949 RECORD LENGTH
category metric english rod & reel 109 cm 43 inches RECORD AGE
category age no documented record explanation:
Ryan Mejaski of Bend, Ore., holds a bull trout that he caught on April 8, 2023, in Lake Billy Chinook. Photo by Joe Wilhite.
Download high resolution photo.The Biggest Trout of All Time
Rainbow Trout: 48 pounds
Excited angler releases possible record bull trout; is 'bummed' he did