Some fishing records seem to hard to top, but every year somebody manages to shatter an old record. On May 23rd, Don Walker reeled in a lake trout weighing 50 lbs 5 oz (4 lbs heavier than the previous state record). The fish also measured 44.25 inches in length and was caught in Blue Mesa Reservoir in Colorado.
Oddly enough the previous state record was caught by Don's brother-in-law (Larry Cornell) in 2003. And when Don caught his trout, Larry had a front row seat while fishing in the boat next to Don!
Rigged with 12-lb test line and a tube jig, Don used a jigging technique to bounce his offering on the bottom of the lake to entice the fish into striking. The surface water temperature was 53 degrees at the time (many anglers consider surface temps of 50-55 degrees to be ideal for lake trout fishing).
Blue Mesa Reservoir is one of Colorado's most productive fisheries. The water warms up more than other higher-elevation reservoirs and that encourages abundant growth of microorganisms that provide a food source for fish. Kokanee salmon, brown trout and rainbow trout thrive in the lake. In turn those fish provide a food source for lake trout, which are a predator species.
Congratulations to Don on a great catch!
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