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| ONE TEEN REPLACES ANOTHER IN RECORD BOOKS |
| July 1996 |
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A 16-year old fishing from a charter boat in Lake Erie has hauled in the biggest
lake trout ever documented in Pennsylvania: 27 lbs, 13.9 ounces. The state record fish measured 38 inches
long with a girth of 24 inches.
Tom Illar, Jr. of Apollo was trolling a Northern King Spoon on May 19 when the monster
fish took off with the lure. When the battle was finally done, Illar was holding the biggest trout he'd
ever caught. According to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, which certifies the state's official
angling records, the fish was actually the biggest lake trout anyone has ever taken in Commonwealth waters. Illar's
fish broke the former record of 27 lbs, 10 ounces, set just last year by another Erie lake trout. Ironically, that
mark was established by another teen - Timothy Strobel of New Stanton, who was only 14 at the time of his catch.
"There
are really two things noteworthy about this turn of events," said Commission Executive Director Peter A. Colangelo. "First
of all, we've had two lake trout records in as many years. That's encouraging for anyone who fishes Lake Erie. Even
more important is that these catches were made by youngsters. Youth participation and success is exciting news for
all anglers and the future of fishing itself." |
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