Fishing isn’t about breaking records. But, even the purest of heart admit that having your name attached to a world record fish is an attractive proposition.
But achieving angling immortality is a lifetime quest, one rewarded only to the most passionate and skilled anglers, right? Well, not really. For the careful observer of current standing records, placing your name among the greats could be easier than you might think. Here are 10 angling records that are just begging to be broken. Get out there and rewrite the books. Thanks to the IGFA for providing the photos of the following records.
#1) Brown Trout on 30-Pound-Test Line
Record-holder: Magnus Herou; 17-pound, 10-ounce brown caught in Stockholm Stream in Sweden. Herou caught the 33-inch brown casting a Wiggler in 1983.
Why it’s breakable: Any Great Lakes angler worth his salt can tell you that there are an abundance of 20-plus-pound browns around during the spring and fall. There is no doubt that browns larger than Mr. Herou’s fish have been caught, and many on 30-pound-test line. However, no one has bothered to submit an official specimen for the record books.
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How to do it: Head to Ludington, Mich., where Glen Buehner of Raptor Charters has the drop on big browns. Buehner, who has been guiding on Lake Michigan for more than a decade, says the water between 45 and 55 feet concentrates browns in the summer months. Troll orange spoons with 30-pound-test, have an accurate scale on hand, and you could very well shatter a standing world record. Here are some more great grand slams.
The trick: Early and mid-Spring are prime times for big browns on Michigan.
#2) Tiger Muskie on 6-Pound-Test Line
Record-holder: Conrad Proctor, with a 15-pound tiger muskie caught on Lake Luena in Michigan.
Why it’s breakable: This record isn’t even a year old and it’s poised to fall. Most people targeting tiger muskie, or even fishing in lakes that they inhabit, are fishing between 10- and 20-pound-test line. But that doesn’t mean that with a little finesse, you can’t go light. True, this record will take some skill and patience to break, but it’s definitely doable.
How to Do It: Head to the St. Lawrence River in Upstate New York. The lake has given up the world-record tiger muskie in two line-class categories, and both fish were 30 pounds-plus. Bladed baits, soft-plastics, and minnow-style plugs in perch patterns will all entice a tiger to strike. The challenge will come after the strike, when playing the fish carefully and skillfully will be the key to breaking the record.
The trick: Give yourself an advantage by targeting tigers in lightly weeded areas and staying away from strong current; both could make landing a 20-pound tiger on 6-pound test tough.
#3) Black Bullhead on 8-Pound-Test Line
https://www.outdoorlife.com/blogs/newshound/2013/09/world-record-fish-9-easiest-igfa-line-class-records-break/