New World Record for Rainbow Trout?

I've been holding off posting information about this apparent new world record for rainbow trout because I wanted to have all the facts first. Knowing that we check our facts, our readers have come to trust the information posted on this site - and we don't want to lead them astray with hyped stories and rumors.

But the story behind a possible new world record for rainbow trout is gaining momentum, and we thought we'd better say something about it.

The story goes like this ... on June 5th, a man named Adam Konrad reported catching a 43.6 lb rainbow trout out of Lake Defienbaker in Saskatchewan, Canada. The previous record (set in 1970) weighed in at 42 lbs 2 oz. and was caught off Bell Island in Alaska.

Adam and his brother Sean were fishing together and they've produced photos of their catch and have shared their stories on trophytroutguide.com as well as with various other news sources.

I'd like to believe them. It's exciting to see and old record broken (especially one that's over 30 years old). But, I'm a bit hesitant for one simple reason ... The International Game and Fish (IGFA) web does not show this record pending. This is the agency that would certify the fish to be new world record. Yet their database does not show a pending record.

It's possible that the web database just hasn't been updated yet. And both Adam and Sean do hold records in the IGFA database ...

• Adam holds the 12-lb line class record for catching a 33 lb 6 oz rainbow trout in Lake Defienbaker, in July 2006, and
  
• Sean holds the 8-lb line class record for catching 34 lb 8 oz rainbow trout in Lake Defienbaker
  

These existing records add credibility to Adam and Sean's story. Adding to that, their previous records were also caught in Lake Defienbaker - also adding credibility.

It's very possible that the 1970 rainbow trout record has been broken. But I will hold my excitement until I see it confirmed on the IGFA web site. And when and if I do, I'll be sure to post the details here.

Update (June 27, 2007)- IGFA just confirmed the new pending record for me! Congratulations Adam!