Angler Hailey Thomas Sets Record with Giant Rainbow Trout at Henrys Lake, Idaho.
Hailey Thomas sets a record in Idaho with a giant rainbow trout. (Photo: Idaho Department of Fish and Game).
During a family fishing trip at Henrys Lake on October 4, angler Hailey Thomas caught the largest fish ever recorded in Idaho, according to KCTV.
The rainbow trout measured 92 cm in length and was estimated to weigh between 8 to 10 kg, according to Idaho officials. With this size, Thomas is believed to have surpassed the record set by angler Ryan Ivy in 2018, who caught a 76 cm rainbow trout.
“That was the biggest rainbow trout I’ve ever seen in my life,” Shane, Thomas’s husband, recalled the moment they caught the fish.
Shane mentioned that his wife spotted a large fish biting the hook just as she was about to move her rod to a different position. After several tense minutes, Thomas managed to coax the fish out of the weeds, and Shane used a net to lift it into the boat.
“The fish was oversized compared to the net we usually use,” Shane shared.
Hailey Thomas and her son take a commemorative photo with the rainbow trout. (Photo: Idaho Department of Fish and Game).
After catching the large fish, the couple placed it in a small water container on the boat. They measured its length and took several photos with the fish, suspecting it could help them set a record.
Before releasing it back into the lake, they also used a globally recognized formula to estimate the fish’s weight.
With dozens of large and small lakes, Henrys Lake is a world-renowned fishing destination. This location is home to many species of trout, tuna, and yellowtail.
The area is famous for its colorful rainbow trout. Rainbow trout typically weigh around 3 kg in natural habitats and can reach up to 10 kg when raised in fish farms.
