Trout Creek Fisherman Catches State Record Large-Scale Sucker

KALISPELL — Montana has a new state record for large-scale millers.

Wade Merschat, 12, of Trout Creek, used an earthworm to catch a 6.72-pound large-scale sucker from Noxon Reservoir in Sanders County on June 19.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks biologists verified the state record and issued Merschat his state record certificate on July 1. The fish measured 25.25 inches long.

The previous record was 6.16 pounds, set in June 2008 at Woodland Park Pond in Kalispell. It measured 23.1 inches long.

The redfish family is the third largest fish family in Montana with nine species, behind only the minnow and salmonid (trout) families. The large-scale redfish is native to the western Montana watershed. In Montana, the maximum size is generally less than 5 pounds.

FWP maintains the record fish list online at https://fwp.mt.gov/fish/anglingData/records.

Anglers who believe they have caught a state record fish should follow these steps:

– To avoid weight loss, do not clean or freeze fish. Keep it cool, preferably on ice.

– Take a picture of the fish.

– Weigh the fish on a certified scale (available at a grocery store, hardware store, etc.) with a store employee or other observer present. Obtain a weighing receipt and affidavit from store personnel if no FWP official is present. Measure length and girth.

– Contact the nearest FWP office to have the fish positively identified by a fisheries biologist.

Northwest Montana has produced a number of state record fish, including:

– Brook trout caught by John R. Cook in 1940 in Lower Two Medicine Lake. It weighed 9.06 pounds.

– Cutthroat trout, caught by William D. Sands in 1955 in Red Eagle Lake. It weighed 16 pounds.

– Fathead Minnow, caught by Chris Gustine on May 30, 2014, in Dollar Lake. It weighed 2.701 pounds.

– Lake trout caught by Ruth Barber on June 23, 2004 in Flathead Lake. It weighed 42.69 pounds and measured 42.5 inches.

– Lake whitefish caught by Swan T. McDonald V on August 26, 2006 in Flathead Lake. It weighed 10.46 pounds and was 27 inches long.

– Northern Tree Stump, captured by Darrel Torgrimson in Noxon Rapids Reservoir on May 28, 1991. It weighed 7.88 pounds and measured 27.125 inches.

– Pumpkinseed, captured by Pete Jellar on April 26, 2022, in Fennon Slough. He weighed 0.995 pounds and was 10 inches long.

– Pygmy whitefish caught by Richard Geldrich on February 13, 2010 in Little Bitterroot Lake. It weighed 0.36 pounds and measured 9.84 inches.

– Rainbow trout caught by Jack G. Housel, Jr. on August 11, 1997 in the Kootenai River at the David Thompson Bridge. It weighed 33.1 pounds and measured 38.62 inches.

– Rainbow-cutthroat hybrid trout, caught by Pat Kelley on May 16, 1982, on Ashley Lake. It weighed 30.25 pounds and measured 35.75 inches.

– White sturgeon caught by Herb Stout in 1968 in the Kootenai River. It weighed 96 pounds.

– Yellow perch caught by Josh Emmert on February 19, 2006 in Lower Stillwater Lake. It weighed 2.39 pounds and measured 14.375 inches.