09-10-2009, 08:44 PM
[url "http://www.9and10news.com/category/story/?id=169361"]http://www.9and10news.com/...ory/story/?id=169361[/url]
Man Catches 41-pound Trout in Manistee; Unofficial New World Record
![[Image: 09-09-09-big-fish-pkg-6.jpg]](http://www.9and10news.com/scripts/image/resample.aspx?q=85&p=1&f=/images/managed/09-09-09-big-fish-pkg-6.jpg)
A downstate man in his mid-60's had envisioned a relaxing day on the Manistee River, catching a few salmon.
And that's how the fishing trip started, until he began the fight of his life with a 41 and a half pound brown trout.
"It was kind of violent there for a while especially for an old guy," says Tom Healy of Rockford. "I got the hook in him and he started to go up stream then he came back down stream."
Healy says the fight lasted about 15 minutes. His friend Bob Woodhouse from Grand Rapids, and veteran fishing guide, Tim Roller, were both there to help.
"I've been guiding on the Manistee for 18 years now, and never seen a fish like this before," says Roller.
Eventually the fish gave up, and the men got it in a net and took it to shore. That's when they found out how special of a catch it was.
"I've caught some pretty big fish in my day but certainly not a world record fish," says Healy.
The men called up their friend at Pier Pressure Charters in town to bring down a certified scale. The brown trout came in at 41.45 pounds.
The DNR confirmed the catch smashed the state record by four pounds. Although it's not yet confirmed through official record-keepers, the monster fish also broke the world record by a few ounces.
"This is a major deal," says Todd Kalish, Regional Fisheries Supervisor for the DNR. "This is a huge deal for the state of Michigan and it's really a testament to the world class fishing opportunities available in Michigan."
Word of the record breaking catch has already spread.
Throughout the morning Wednesday, hundreds of people made their way down to Pier Pressure Charters in Manistee to see the fish for themselves, and of course meet the new celebrity in town.
"It couldn't have happened to a greater friend, because Tom has worked, he's fished on this river for 40 years or more and he deserves it," says Woodhouse, Tom's friend. "He put in a million casts to earn this fish."
9&10's Ryan Raiche and Photojournalist Jeremy Erickson have an up-close look on the super size fish.
The video
[url "http://www.9and10news.com/player/playlist.asp?id=169361&flightid=209"]http://www.9and10news.com/...=169361&flightid=209[/url]
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Man Catches 41-pound Trout in Manistee; Unofficial New World Record
A downstate man in his mid-60's had envisioned a relaxing day on the Manistee River, catching a few salmon.
And that's how the fishing trip started, until he began the fight of his life with a 41 and a half pound brown trout.
"It was kind of violent there for a while especially for an old guy," says Tom Healy of Rockford. "I got the hook in him and he started to go up stream then he came back down stream."
Healy says the fight lasted about 15 minutes. His friend Bob Woodhouse from Grand Rapids, and veteran fishing guide, Tim Roller, were both there to help.
"I've been guiding on the Manistee for 18 years now, and never seen a fish like this before," says Roller.
Eventually the fish gave up, and the men got it in a net and took it to shore. That's when they found out how special of a catch it was.
"I've caught some pretty big fish in my day but certainly not a world record fish," says Healy.
The men called up their friend at Pier Pressure Charters in town to bring down a certified scale. The brown trout came in at 41.45 pounds.
The DNR confirmed the catch smashed the state record by four pounds. Although it's not yet confirmed through official record-keepers, the monster fish also broke the world record by a few ounces.
"This is a major deal," says Todd Kalish, Regional Fisheries Supervisor for the DNR. "This is a huge deal for the state of Michigan and it's really a testament to the world class fishing opportunities available in Michigan."
Word of the record breaking catch has already spread.
Throughout the morning Wednesday, hundreds of people made their way down to Pier Pressure Charters in Manistee to see the fish for themselves, and of course meet the new celebrity in town.
"It couldn't have happened to a greater friend, because Tom has worked, he's fished on this river for 40 years or more and he deserves it," says Woodhouse, Tom's friend. "He put in a million casts to earn this fish."
9&10's Ryan Raiche and Photojournalist Jeremy Erickson have an up-close look on the super size fish.
The video
[url "http://www.9and10news.com/player/playlist.asp?id=169361&flightid=209"]http://www.9and10news.com/...=169361&flightid=209[/url]
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