Could of Been a Record

[Danoinark]

From the Arkansas Game and Fish weekly news letter.

Big rainbow beats but can’t break state record

NORFORK - Levi Lenard’s not in the record books, but he can tell his friends he caught a rainbow trout that was bigger than the Arkansas state record.

Lenard, 11, was fishing catch-and-release Dry Run Creek Dec. 28 when a large rainbow attacked his white crystal bugger. Had it been weighed on certified scales, it almost certainly would have topped the state record of 19 pounds, 1 ounce. State regulations require that fish caught in Dry Run Creek be immediately released back into the water.

Stan Todd, an Arkansas Game and Fish Commission trout biologist based in Mountain Home, estimated the trout’s size from photographs - length 30-32 inches, girth 20-22 inches and weight “somewhere near 25 pounds, give or take a few.”

Levi has been catching fish since he was a toddler. He hooked this one with a fly rod strung with 3-pound-test tippet.

“It fought a lot and made big splashes,” he said. “When we first tried to put it in the net, it wouldn't fit and flopped out. We finally got it into the net headfirst. Then we pulled it onto the bank and took pictures and then I gave him a kiss and let him go. There were people on the bank cheering for me. My dad and grandpa have caught a lot of fish but never one as big as mine.”

Levi obviously enjoys the time on the water.

“Although we live in Burlington, Kansas, we typically make many trips down to Arkansas during the year,” said Lewis Lenard, Levi’s father. “I'm about four hours from the White River and I grew up in the Ozarks trout fishing as a youth, too. I was very impressed with the size and health of the fish we caught on this memorable trip. I caught rainbow, brook, brown, and cutthroat on the North Fork River. These fish put up an incredible fight regardless of their size and all fish had the most brilliant color I've ever seen.”

Levi also has done quite well during fishing trips to Arkansas.

“Last year my grandpa got me a fly rod for my birthday,” he said. “I have fished a lot on the White River. Last year we went to Bull Shoals (Lake) to fish after Christmas and this year we went to the North Fork River. One of the things that my dad got for me for Christmas was fly-fishing instruction. I caught several really nice rainbow, cutthroat and brown trout on the river.

“We like to go trout fishing in Arkansas because it’s beautiful on the rivers and we release a lot of fish so we can come back and catch them again.”

Dry Run Creek, which flows from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Norfork National Fish Hatchery in Baxter County, is specifically for anglers under 16 and handicapped anglers.

To take a look at this monster go here: http://www.agfc.com/education/agfc_ao_012506.html

scroll down for the picture

Dano

[Brian K. Shaffer]

What a great story! Boy that Dry Run Creek should / could be done here!

My little heart melted when the youngster said he kissed the fish then let it go.

Thanks for the report Dano!

best fishes - Brian

[Phil Lilley]

This pic was on the forum just a few days ago...

[Cheese slinger]

Absolutely amazing.

[Guest flyfishBDS]

Thanks Dano

This was a truly inspiring fish, I couldn't stop shaking my head and giggling for days

This was the link when I posted the photos a few weeks back

[link=http://ozarkanglers.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=481 newwindow]ozarkanglers.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=481[/link]

It is a huge fish, and though I of course didn't get to weigh or tape it, I was more concerned about keeping the trout, which became somewhat distressed, alive, I think the length estimates are pretty good.

There has been some discussion of the weight, My initial guesstimate was 16# I still can;t get my head around the fact that it Stan's estimate was of a 25# fish. Perhaps Im a little conservative in judging fish size, well I know Ive never seen/held a trout that big and he has seen more trout than me.

But I'm not taking anything away from young Levi, it was a great fish, and a great capture from a very cool young man. He has rod handling skills beyond his years. He is going to be a hell of a fisher _ he has the it factor which seperates the average ones from those that catch a bunch of fish _ . Can't wait to do it again and next time Im taking a weigh net.

Cheers

Steve

[porochi]

Beyond awesome. And that hog is still in there, swimming, thanks to catch and release. It's great that a kid caught it too.