State record Whitefish let go by Rainydaze…Ughh!

Ok………Today while fishing with a couple clients I tagged a Giant Giant whitefish. Not targeting whitefish, and not knowing exactly what the state record was I simply had my customers snap some pics and let it her go. I said to them… you know….I don’t have a scale with me today, but I wonder if I should take this fish in for an official weight as this is a FREAK OF A FISH. Not wanting to kill this magnificent specimen for no reason……I opted to let it go. I called a few people on the way home including James, and mentioned I caught the biggest whitefish I’d seen in my life. I’d estimate it went 14lbs. Caught it on my noodle rod with 1lb Powerpro. There certainly is no guarantees on my guess on weight, but I guessed it based upon the big pike we catch. this was much heavier per inch, and went just under 33 inches!!

Oh well!! Take a look at this big girl!! She’s still swimming!!

Oh……On a CJS Diamond jig!!

Whoa!!

GADZUKES!

I threw back the state record white bass last year as well. I’ll be on the lookout for her again this spring!

Nice fish biggest ive ever seen

I’ve run into a couple hoss’ myself. I think you got me beat

I don’t care what it is, tossing back a state record anything is a chance of a lifetime…….congrats Chris

Neat looking fish

That thing is SICK!! What a brute.

HOLY CRAP! ..thats a BEAST.I bet you shattered the old record. I had to do the same thing with a Sauger once. 27″. Was a Pool 2 fish so it had to be released. caught it on a giant sucker minnow chasing Flatheads. Congrats on the new PB!

Good Luck getting that stink off your hands….ISH…

By the way nice fish…

Amazing! That thing would take a lot of smoke.

Chris, that thing is brute and whitefish are very dense/heavy. Make a call to your local fisheries office; one of those smart fish guys may have a pretty good idea on length vs weight.

Matt, just how long are your arms?

Your right, unbelievable fish!
You need a script for some Ambien or something to help you sleep? Cuz you’ll probably be thinking about this every night for quite a while –

PM sent!

What a catch Chris!! She sure looks like a “state record” to me. I’ll get the trophy ordered right away. Congratulations, on catching another monster fish!!

Straight up ri-DONK-ulous!

That’s one heck of a fish Chris! I thought we had huge fish up here in Alexandria, but you just keep amazing me. Good work

Thanks everyone!! In a way I’m happy I let her swim, but wish I’d put a scale to her. I’m not doubting that at nearly 4.5 inches over the Leech lake Whitefish that I let a state record go, but still would be nice to have the exact weight. I’m considering seeing if a replica can be made of that fish. Might not be the official state record, but it will be in our house!! LOL!!

Actually Whitefish are good eating fish, and fantastic smoked. I know people who target them in Canada. They are a tremendous fighting fish, and not stinky like there smaller counterparts. Funny thing is they obviously must prey on bugs and larvea as I catch them frequently when fishing panfish. They like to roam suspended in the water column, and often need to be coaxed just like a Crappie. I’ve been getting some big walleyes suspended, and I actually thought I might have had a monster walleye until this dolphin appeared!! Great time, and makes for some great stories!! Probably won’t be giving Whitefish seminars yet though!!

WOW!!!!!!!!

WOW…so the 5 pounder i got last week wasn’t that big after all…i didn’t think they got much bigger than that in rainy… im wrong again…great fish!!! again!!! that thing looks like something you would catch in the gulf of mexico or hawaii!!! pretty sure you passed on some kind of line record also…had to be a blast to catch!

Hey Phil,

Considering having the UNOFFICIAL state record Whitefish replica made. Will probably stop over to talk with Bob at Gannon Ridge. I’ve already worked up a nice tab with him from this fall!! LOL!! Beings the fished measured about 4 inches larger than the previous record at 28.5 I’m pretty confident that fish was blown away. Now if it had been a Pike, Smallie, Crappie or Walleye I’d be really losing some sleep over it. But as it is I still wouldn’t have been that excited about killing the fish. Actually too bad there isn’t another way.