RAINBOW TROUT RECORD FALLS TWICE — AGAIN

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Two record-breaking fish caught within three-day period
PRATT—On March 7, Tony Melkus of Topeka caught the biggest rainbow trout he’d ever laid eyes on. In fact, when he had it weighed on certified scales, Melkus knew his 14.28-pound trout would be listed in the Kansas record books as the largest rainbow trout ever taken from Kansas waters. He didn’t know that before the ink would dry on his state record fish certificate, his record would be broken.

On March 10, Nicole Wilson of Topeka caught a rainbow trout eclipsing Melkus’ fish, and it now stands as the Kansas state record — as of this writing.

Wilson’s trout was huge, weighing in at 15.43 pounds, more than a pound heavier than Melkus’. Her fish was 33 inches long and had a girth of 19 inches. Both anglers caught their record fish from Lake Shawnee in Topeka.

Rainbow trout are stocked in select Kansas waters each winter to provide an alternative fishing opportunity during months when most warm-water sport fish are tough to catch. Apparently, there are some mighty large fish being delivered to Lake Shawnee. The lake is owned and operated by Shawnee County. It is enrolled in the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism’s (KDWPT) Community Lake Assistance Program, which means that, other than state fishing license requirements, no additional angling fees are charged although to fish for or possess trout during the Nov. 1-April 15 trout season, a KDWPT trout permit is required.

In 2011, a similar story played out. On April 2, 2011, Topekan Bob Lorson caught a 11.02-pound rainbow trout. Just 18 days later, Ed Ames of Tecumseh caught one that weighed 13.65 pounds. While Ames’ record only stood 11 months, that’s long by Kansas trout record standards.

Who knows, a bigger trout could be swimming? But anglers will have to hurry to catch it this year; few, if any, of the fish will survive Kansas summer water temperatures.

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RAINBOW TROUT RECORD BROKEN TWICE IN APRIL

Tecumseh man breaks record less than three weeks old
PRATT — Lake Shawnee has yielded a rainbow trout bonanza this spring. On April 2, Bob Lorson caught an 11.02-pound rainbow that was confirmed by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) as a new state record. But it wouldn’t stand long.

On April 20, Ed Ames of Tecumseh was fishing the same lake with a Kastmaster lure when he landed a monster 13.65-pound rainbow, more than 2.5 pounds larger than Lorson’s catch. Realizing he had something special in his creel, Ames took the fish to The Bait Hut in Topeka where it was officially weighed and witnessed. KDWP Region 2 Fisheries Section supervisor Chuck Bever confirmed the species of the fish, which measured 31 7/8 inches with a girth of 17 ¼ inches. All that remained for Ames’ catch to supplant Lorson’s in the record books was a 30-day waiting period, which has passed, and KDWP has officially entered Ames’ rainbow as the new state record.

State record fish are listed in the Kansas Fishing Regulations Summary, available wherever licenses are sold, and on the KDWP website, www.kdwp.state.ks.us. If you think you have caught a state record, take the fish to a grocery store or other business with certified scales as soon as possible. Do not freeze the fish before it is weighed. The weighing must be witnessed, and the species must be confirmed by a KDWP fisheries biologist or a Fisheries Division regional supervisor. (A tissue sample may be required.) A color photograph of the fish must accompany the application. All applications for state records require a 30-day waiting period before certification.

For more information on Kansas state record fish and KDWP's Master Angler Program, pick up a copy of the 2011 Kansas Fishing Regulations Summary, available wherever licenses are sold, or visit the KDWP website, www.kdwp.state.ks.us.