The Iowa Department of Natural Resources recently posted the above photo on their Facebook® page of a near state record Brown Trout caught by Dave Strom near Decorah. This monster weighed in at 14 pounds, 10 ounces and measured 29.75 inches long. While Dave’s trout did not surpass the current state record brown trout of 15 pounds, 6 ounces, it was an impressive catch! Even more impressive is that the IDNR does not stock brood brown trout in the area where this fish was caught which means this trout was either the result of natural brown trout reproduction in the area or was once a fingerling or “catchable” stocked brown trout.

To view the original IDNR Facebook® post with Dave Strom’s trout visit:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151549604352111&set=a.10150123562917111.287156.35001767110&type=1&theater

New State Record Fish
If you believe you have caught an all-time state record fish in Iowa, here are a few guidelines:

• New all-time state record fish will be recognized when the weight of the fish exceeds by one ounce or more the weight of the previous record for that species or recognized hybrid.
• New all-time state record fish must be examined and verified by DNR fisheries personnel.
• A photo of the fish and angler are required.
• One witness must attest to the weight of the fish to the nearest ounce on scales legal for trade.
• All-time records are posted until broken.

Iowa fish that do not currently have a record:

• Brown Bullhead
• Yellow Bullhead
• Silver Carp
• Mooneye
• Pumpkinseed Sunfish
• Warmouth Sunfish
• Spotted Bass

To view the current list of state record fish in Iowa visit:

http://www.iowadnr.gov/Fishing/IowaFishSpecies/StateRecordFish