Congratulations to Dylan Smith of Idaho Falls on his new state catch-and-release record lake trout.

Smith was fishing on Payette Lake in McCall on May 2 when the 43.25-inch lake trout took the line for a sprint.

He was able to land the laker (well, boat it), get it stretched out on the tape measure, and was shocked when the tailfin crossed the 43rd inch line. The previous state catch-and-release record for lake trout just barely hit 42 inches.

But that’s not the end of the story.

Dylan Smith isn't a stranger when it comes to the Idaho record fish books, and believe it or not, this was not his first rodeo with a 40-inch lake trout. During a separate outing in 2018, Dylan landed and recorded another impressive lake trout that eventually earned him a spot atop the record books. Shortly after, angler Aaron Goettsche beat out Dylan’s record with a 42-inch lunker laker himself. Both fish were caught and released back into Payette Lake.

Read more about fishing for lake trout and how to participate in our state record fish program here: https://idfg.idaho.gov/.../idaho-falls-angler-lands-4325...