Carolina records for brook caught in the state has been falling like the autumn leaves. The state brook trout record stood firm for 30 years until January of 2010 and then records started popping in a duel between the Saluda River and Lake Jocassee. Riley Dunn, a 9-year-old angler from Tigerville, SC caught a 2-pound, 6.08-ounce brook trout in the South Saluda River in northern Greenville County, SC in January.
Photos should be taken for additional documentation and steps taken to immediately preserve the fish. This can be done by wrapping the fish in a dark plastic bag and placing the fish on ice or freezing it.South
Photos should be taken for additional documentation and steps taken to immediately preserve the fish. This can be done by wrapping the fish in a dark plastic bag and placing the fish on ice or freezing it.
Not to be outdone, Bryan Lee of Mauldin caught a 2-pound, 12-ounce brook trout while practicing on Feb. 12 for the Lake Jocassee Trout Tournament. The brook trout was weighed on certified scales at Durham’s Convenience Market near Six Mile in PickensCounty, and verified by Dan Rankin, S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Upstate regional fisheries biologist. The record brook trout was 18.25 inches long, with a girth of 10 inches.
Then, there was a third record brook trout caught on March 31, which weighed 3 pounds and 2 ounces but the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources has not completed the press release for that record. However, the SCDNR has assured me that it will be forthcoming.
Even more recent, a fourth record shattering occured according to a friend of Trout University who recently sent this email to Troutu:
“I was fishing in the North Saluda River (near Greenville, SC) and caught what will be the new state record brook trout at 3 lbs. 9.5 oz. The previous record was 3 lbs. 2 oz. I was using a super duper spinner and had to physically flip the fish up on the bank in order to land him. Just thought you might be interested.” However, this possible fourth record is still unofficial as we have not been able to confirm that it was duly registered with the SCDNR which has the following rules:
Anglers who think they have caught a state or world record fish should take the fish as soon as possible to a set of state certified scales-such as a local grocery store scale. Two witnesses must be present and available to sign the state affidavit form. Photos should be taken for additional documentation and steps taken to immediately preserve the fish. This can be done by wrapping the fish in a dark plastic bag and placing the fish on ice or freezing it.
