Big Eel Pout!

[WxMan]

I and my two boys were up at LOW last week staying with Lyons Sleepers and had some pretty good success. We caught more than 200 fish over the four day period with the largest walleye/sauger being 21 inches. The largest fish happened to be an eel pout. My oldest son set the hook on him at 8 PM on Wednesday night and fought it for over 15 minutes. When we got him up, we couldn't believe our eyes - it was the largest eel pout I ever saw, but I didn't realize how big. I put him on a digital scale and it read 21.3 pounds! I took him off and put him back in the lake. As he began to swim away, my son looks at me and says, "dad, that could have been a state record." I couldn't believe it as I didn't even think about it. Thankfully, we took photos and a video of the fish and the battle. I have since had my scale checked out and it weighs about 5 ounces too heavy. I have also signed myself up for counseling as every time I look at my son, I think of the pout. No matter what, he had a great time fighting it and we enjoyed the entire trip even though dad let the "big" one get away!!

[jig-em]

Great Story!<BR>Does anyone know what the state record is for an eelpout? They used to have the state record on display at Wigwam Resort, but then I heard someone broke the record.<P>jig-em

[Hibbing]

Stat record is 19 lbs. 3 oz. Caught on LOW.

[Guest]

I went and did a search on the MN DNR site and it says that the state record Burbot is 19-3, 36 1/4" Long, caught Feb 2001 on LOW. Looks like you may have had something there, I won't tell your son if you don't. either way that must have been one heck of a fight.<P>Scott

[TNT4ME]

WxMan,<BR>better prepay some more of those counseling sessions, <BR>looking at the 2003 fishing regulations,<BR>Burbot,19-3, LOW,<BR>this should be the new record listed, but not sure, it was broke a couple of years back and the photo was on the home page here at FM, Rick should still have it, maybe he will bring it out and post it for you.<BR>Any way you look at it nice fish, and as long as you have photo's the least you can do is get a replica made to make up for the release and missed meal. <BR>tnt<BR>Yo Rick, would it be possible to post the burbot photo that you had on the home page earlier?<BR>I see the photo is still on the header of the ice fishing main forum page, just a small photo with several others.<p>[This message has been edited by TNT4ME (edited 01-06-2004).]

[upnorth]

I hooked a real oinker up there on Sat. Managed to tangle all the lines in our ice house and the house next to us. Never did land the thing(the guy next to us was yanking on his line yelling I got a big one) but I did get a good look at it, the head was bigger than a softball. What a blast <p>[This message has been edited by upnorth (edited 01-06-2004).]

[only ice]

Wxman Im sorry you didnt get to regerster it but you did a good thing by letting it go. some day down the road, some young son or daughter might get the same thrill you and your son had that cold dark night on LOW!!

[Gissert]

WxMan -<P>Don't feel too bad. I let a 35 incher go up in the Angle about 5 years ago. It scrubbed the sides of an 8 inch hole coming up. <P>I had no scale with me, only a 30 inch sticker ruler that was on a shelf in the fish house we were renting.<P>I am guessing it was probably in the 16 - 18 pound range. Doh!<P>It was too big to clean, and I refuse to leave them on the ice. <P>When I told the guide what I had done, I thought he was gonna hit me, LOL. He wanted it for his wall.

[Dirtyb25]

I caught a 36 incher two years ago, I didn't even think to weigh the stupid thing. I just cleaned it up and ate it.

[WxMan]

There's no doubt that the pout was ugly. Honestly all could think of was to weigh him and get him back down the hole. I couldn't believe how big and round his belly was! After my son reads all of your posts, I think he'll be holding this over my head for quite a while!

[ChapstickCharlie]

You did catch a state record, of memories, maybe the best kind.

[Benfishin]

That state record was caught out of a shack run by Ken-Mar-Ke resort some where off Morris Point. What a fish, had to have been an ugly SOB!!

[wazuplittlefishes]

I am the son of WxMan and yes it was a big eelpout. i had a blast catching that ugly thing. And you guys don't have to worry i won't forget that fish and i'll keep reminding my dad that he let a state record fish go back down the hole. IT WAS A BLAST!!!!<P>------------------<BR>watch out here i come ole mighty eye!!

[ibwhnt]

We would love to see a picture of this fish if you can post it.