A rainy day fishing trip turned into a record-breaking moment for Robert Riggs and his son, when the Grant Town angler landed a massive tiger trout at Mannington Lake that now holds the West Virginia state record for weight.
On March 28, despite overcast skies and rain, Riggs and his son decided to launch their small Jon boat and troll the waters of the Marion County lake, according to Metro News Television.
“It was an overcast and rainy day, but my son and I wanted to go fishing, so we took our little Jon boat out there and started trolling,” Riggs said in an interview with Metro News.
Their persistence paid off. As they worked the lake using casting spoons and light tackle, one of their poles suddenly bent under the weight of a powerful strike.
“It didn’t take long to realize I may have had more fish on the other end of the line than we were prepared to handle,” Riggs said. “We encountered a problem because the fish was bigger than the net,” he said. “So my son had to stick his hand into the water and scoop the fish into the net. I give him all the credit for getting the fish into the boat.”
The tiger trout measured 27.60 inches and weighed 12.55 pounds, officially surpassing the previous state weight record. Riggs caught it using a casting spoon on 6-pound test line. The length record remains at 28.7 inches, set by Mike Connolly at Krodel Lake in 2011.
“This incredible catch highlights the outstanding fishing opportunities that West Virginia has to offer,” said West Virginia Division of Natural Resources Director Brett McMillion in a news release. “We encourage anglers to get outside, cast a line and experience the thrill of fishing in our state’s waters this spring. You never know when you might reel in a record-breaker.”
The catch comes during West Virginia’s Gold Rush season, a two-week event when lakes and streams across the state are stocked with golden trout. One hundred of those trout are tagged for prize opportunities.
Tiger trout, a hybrid of brook and brown trout, are known for their aggressive behavior and distinctive, maze-like markings. They are typically sterile and raised in hatcheries before being stocked in select waters, offering anglers a rare and exciting challenge.
