Idaho tiger musky record smashed

FISHING — Edward Kalinowski of New Meadows, Idaho, smashed the state’s 12-year-old record for tiger musky while fishing in Little Payette Lake on Aug. 6, the Idaho Fish and Game Department has confirmed.

Kalinowski landed the 44.26 pound lunker on a 12-pound test line with a Neon Magic lure. The fish is 50.5 inches long with a 25-inch girth.

The previous record was 38 pounds, 7 ounces, 48.25 inches with a 22.5- inch girth. It was caught June 16, 2001, in Hauser Lake by Douglas Butts of Eureka Mont., on a Mepps Bucktail Yellow lure.

Tiger muskies have been stocked for trophy fisheries in about 10 Idaho lakes and seven in Washington, including Silver, Newman and Curlew.

• See a video the Washington Deparatment of fish and Wildlife has posted with tips for catching tiger muskies.