South Dakota last week recognized a new state bowfishing record for brown trout, stirring anger on social media.
“New state record alert!” South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks exclaimed via social media. “Ty Smith broke a record in the ‘bowfishing’ category with this 6lb, 12oz brown trout out of Lake Oahe. Congratulations, Ty!”
The issue some had was that brown trout are prized by most hook-and-line anglers (notably fly anglers) as a catch-and-release species. Trophy-size trout, they maintain, ought to be returned to the water.
“Absolute [waste] of a trophy trout, no records broken only a giant lost,” reads the top Facebook comment, which garnered more than 600 reactions.
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South Dakota keeps hook-and-line records in a separate category.
Bowfishing records are part of a larger category described as “unrestricted records.” Unrestricted methods include spearing, snagging, and bow-and-arrow.
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“I didn’t know this was a thing, or even ethical or legal,” one follower chimed in, in reference to bowfishing.
While many were critical of Smith, lots of followers were supportive.
A sampling:
–“Awesome trophy and great eating! The great sport of bowfishing continues to be awesome!”
–“Probably cooked up just fine.”
–“Fly fishermen are liberals of the sport.”
For those wondering, the South Dakota hook-and-line record for brown trout stands at 24 pounds, 8 ounces, for a fish caught (and kept) at Canyon Lake in 1990.
The world record is listed as a 44-pound, 5-ounce brown trout caught in New Zealand in 2020.
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