Idaho Angler Sets New Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout Record

On New Year's Eve, an Idaho college student made a remarkable catch, setting a new state record for the Yellowstone cutthroat trout. Robert Gregory, accompanied by his roommates, braved the frigid conditions of Henry's Lake and successfully landed a fish that weighed over three pounds. This achievement underscores the excitement and challenge inherent in ice fishing, particularly when targeting specific species in pursuit of a record-breaking catch. The story of their endeavor, from drilling holes in the ice to the moment of triumph, captures the essence of dedicated angling.

The quest began on the morning of December 31st, when Robert Gregory and his two college roommates, Josh Clark and Tanner Smith, embarked on a fishing expedition to Henry’s Lake, located in eastern Idaho, adjacent to Yellowstone National Park. Their primary objective was to secure a state-record Yellowstone cutthroat trout. Despite the bright and sunny weather, the temperature hovered around a chilly 12 degrees Fahrenheit, setting the scene for a true winter fishing adventure. The trio, all students of fisheries management at Brigham Young University’s Rexburg campus, were well-prepared for the conditions.

Initially, the group drilled holes in about seven feet of water in the southwest section of the lake. However, after a period of no success, they decided to relocate to a shallower area, roughly three feet deep, where the ice was still a robust eight inches thick. It was early that afternoon when Gregory employed a specific technique: he dropped a 1.5-inch silver Kastmaster spoon to the bottom, jigging it to disturb the sediment. He noted that clouding the water with a lure often attracts trout, making them believe it's a baitfish or another food source. To further entice a bite, he tipped his spoon with a piece of earthworm and a kernel of corn.

As the water beneath the hole began to clear, a fish aggressively struck his lure, just a few feet below the ice. Gregory recounted the intensity of the bite, with the fish pulling line from his spinning reel. Due to the light monofilament line, a considerable amount of time was spent carefully reeling in and fighting the fish towards the hole. Tanner Smith assisted, reaching into the icy water to safely scoop the trout onto the ice. Recognizing the potential significance of their catch, Gregory decided to keep the fish, noting that the limit on Henry’s Lake permits two trout. Upon returning home, a preliminary check on a food scale indicated a weight of approximately three pounds, confirming their suspicion of a potential record.

To officially certify the record, the fish needed to be weighed on a calibrated scale. Gregory preserved the trout by freezing it. A few days later, during a visit to his parents in Mackay, he took the thawed fish to a local grocery store. There, it was officially weighed at 3.075 pounds and measured 19 inches in length, confirming it as a new state record for the Yellowstone cutthroat trout. Gregory still has the record-breaking trout frozen and is contemplating whether to have it taxidermied or, more practically, to cook and consume it, a decision often influenced by the realities of college life. He also acknowledges that larger cutthroats exist in Henry’s Lake, recalling a bigger one caught by Tanner the previous summer, though it was not weighed. Gregory expressed his encouragement for other anglers to attempt to surpass his record, embracing the spirit of competitive fishing.