"State Record", What If?

[Shack]

We all fish in good waters, which could produce a state record at any time and for anyone of us. If the all mighty should look down upon us and shine a little state record action our way, how should this be handled?

Hanson has started a thread about two men claiming to have caught the state record and thrown it back with out as much as a valid photo/image of measurements. Let alone a phone call to the DNR and documenting report for the state record. This has left me asking my self, “What is the proper way to document a catch you might think is a state record”.

O.K. first off. A person has to be up to date with current state records. I believe they are still posted in reg. book (I have not checked for some time now). Now, you and your buddies are out for a fun night of fishing and suddenly it hits. You have a fish on like no others you have caught. You land fish and measure fish. All right, you have a contender for a state record. Here is were my question comes in. What is then next step? I figure calling DNR is first step. I read a thread about state record walleye in Washington State, in national area and the guys said local DNR was very courteous and fast responding when he contacted them about his catch. I do not know how it would go in Minnesota and what about late night calling for us cat fisherman, or will photos of measurements be good enough for DNR and getting you on board with states record.

Second question, keeping and handling fish until proper authorities arrive. Hopefully a person would not have to keep fish alive for 6-8 hours before you can get fish registered. This is a grey area, because of my strong belief of catch and release, my goal would be to get fish back in water a quick as possible. May be if you have a possible state record and want to register it, you have to kill IT in the process. Sounds kind of dumb. All I know is my live well is sure not big enough and holding fish in water (lake or river) could be possibly a week point in loosing you catch. I have seen other people that have got their fish to shore and put into a small holding tank. I, to this date have not planned for a holding tank scenario yet.

All I know is catching a fish of a life time and state record could happen at any moment. If the guys in the story had a mild plan of action, the real story would be out there. Now they are stuck in a wear ill wind of question. Forced to live that moment until they go stir crazy and homeless. Kind of like the high school kid that botched the state championship and has to live in the shadows of that forever.

What would you do if you caught a possible states record? There are many who would

Probably do nothing at all.

Best regards

SHACKBASH

[Flaco651]

Photos and measurements wouldn't be good enough. It would have to be brought to a certified scale for an official weight. I've also been checked by CO's pretty late at night in MPLS and Black Dog, so you should be able to contact them.

[sparcebag]

Think I'd photo, measure,release,I tried once to weigh a smallie in Mooselake Mn.it went just over 8 on grocery store scale,tried to get warden,could'nt after 1&1/2 hrs in a cooler with water being changed often,I just released it in moosehorn lake where I caught it,My dad and friend were with & the store guy got my pics thats all I need,We were fishin Big notherns 10-12" suckers!

[PierBridge]

I'm definitely throwing the state record Flathead back into the drink.

[slipperybob]

I for one probably will botch it up, mishandle the fish, and end up killing it...Then it's a good thing that I don't encounter trophy sized fish, even when I do get one, I don't realize it...So I'll sportfish C&R or catch eating fillets.

[Farmboy1]

I remember the major fiasco a few years ago with the state record bass. I believe he tried to transport it alive, and was told a fish has to be killed in order to transport it. I would think this would br relevant to a flathead as well.

Now for me, I would not even consider keeping it. A few pictures, a few slaps on the back, maybe a whoop or two, and away she goes, with the wish to spawn, and send some more flatties to me

I can go get a trophy from a trophy store if I need one. I prefer a good picture, and a better story

[Scott K]

If we are talking a cat, it would depend on how far I was away from the landing, cats are pretty tough and can survive alot. If I was to say 20-30 minutes from home, I would put it in a stock tank, or toss it in the crick. If I was any farther then that it would be back in the water after a quick measurement, and a snap shot.

If I was talking a walleye or a panfish, it would make the trip back with me as quick as possible.

Garbage fish, sheepheads, carp, ect. would be taken back with me also, those records are huge.

Bass, it doesnt matter, I dont know the records, dont fish for them, so I wouldnt know what I would do.

Regardless of species I wouldnt want it to die, so I would try to make it as easy as possible for the fish.

[rushing]

First off you would need a scale up to 75lbs to even know if you were in the running for had a state record flathead. Most people don't have that. Then you would need to deal with all the other talk involved with entering a state record fish. I personally would be completely satisfied with a couple of pictures and knowing that that fish will be in the river for at least one more season passing on its monster flathead genes.

[Shack]

rushing,

You are correct, mine only goes to 50lbs. I think berkley has one of those pinch style one's that goes to 150lbs, but cost's $100.00. I am thinking of upgradeing to this style soon. Not to go off on another topic, but anyone heard of a net that dubb's as a scale? Possibley one in handle of net. Kind of the same idea as the pinch style scale.

[PierBridge]

Quote:

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rushing,

You are correct, mine only goes to 50lbs.

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My digital 50lb Rapala scale goes to at least and is accurite up to 66lbs have not tried verifying anything heavier to this point.

I'll try a 75pd dumbell if I get a chance.

[Shack]

PierBridge

I have the same scale as you have. You got a be kidding me that it goes over 50lbs. Cool, I will stay with my rapala.

I am going to try it right now.

[DTro]

I tell ya what, there would be some deep thinking as the tied up fish was swimming around

I almost sure that after a few pics, accurate measurements and maybe a couple people to verify it.....back she would go.

My Rapala goes to 65lbs, but has anyone ever tried weighing a fish over 50? I tell ya what it's not easy and it's not much fun (the weighing part).

[Shack]

By George, you are correct. It worked! I had it in uppers 70lbs area. Thanks alot. Someday I hope to max this thing out with a fatty flatty.

[DTro]

Mine is an advertised 65, so maybe I can get 75. I'm off to try.......

[DTro]

Holy Canoli.....85lbs

Also, it's a Berkley not a Rapala. I guess I really should have looked at it more, I've had it two years and just realized it had all kind of functions, including a "hold", averaging, log book (min max).

Geez, sometimes a guy never even knows what he has.

[sparcebag]

I'll have to try mine! I got it for flats but always thought if I'd get a really huge fish what to do!! I carry a milk scale maybe not real accurate but close to satisfy myself I'd never keep it what would I do with a cat that big?? Probably got every pollutant in it I could imagine

[PierBridge]

I thinks it best to have a back up mechanical/spring scale also.

[Shack]

Ya, I got one of those also. It has tape measure built right in it. My Rapala has a backlite display, to show lbs in dark. I found this out last weekend. I never have even got into hold or memory yet. Dtro has peeked my intrest into these area's.

Thanks again pier!

[audemp]

Go to topnotchscales.com for the fishing scale up to 110 lbs and only 30$. I have it and is really nice. It is very compact and unfortunatly the hook is small but strong. We use the net or a weigh bag to weigh our fish in. It is quite accurate as well.

[Shack]

Hey dtro, how would you tie up a big fish. I have been wondering this. How would you do it with out hurting gills or hooking.

P.S.

$30.00 is a good price on that scale!

[DTro]

Quote:

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Hey dtro, how would you tie up a big fish. I have been wondering this. How would you do it with out hurting gills or hooking.

P.S.

$30.00 is a good price on that scale!

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Decoy bag

[bgreen82]

yeah ive seen doug stange and steve whats his name use the decoy bags to hold a couple 40 lbers on a video ive seen.

[Shack]

Decoy bag? The kind you hold decoy's in for duck hunting or is it another kind of bait decoy bag? . I have a couple of very large laundry style bags that fold up nice and small. I could threw one of them in boat.

[Shack]

OK, here are the stat's

STATE RECORDS

Catfish, Channel: 38 pounds, 44 inches, Mississippi River (Hennepin County), 1975.

Catfish, Flathead: 70 pounds, length not available, St. Croix River (Washington County), 1970.

Bullhead, Black: 3 pounds, 13.12 ounces, 17.17 inches, Reno Lake (Pope County), 06/08/1997.

Bullhead, Brown: 7 pounds, 1 ounce, 24.4 inches, Shallow Lake (Itasca County), 05/21/1974.

Bullhead, Yellow: 3 pounds, 10.5 ounces, 17 7/8 inches, Osakis Lake (Todd County), 08/05/2000.

If anyone catches anything remotely close to this, you should have a plan in place.

[audemp]

Make sure you have enough film/memory in your camera!