ELY, Minn. – A record northern pike, 46 and 1/4 inches, was caught in Basswood Lake on Rainy River on the Ontario border, the state wildlife agency confirmed. Brecken Kobylecky, 15, of Geneva, Illinois reeled in the pike on June 19. The previous record was 45 and 1/4 inches, also on Rainy River, in 2018. Kobylecky said he was within 10 minutes of heading home at the end of a final day of fishing when he hooked the big one. After recording the catch, Kobylecky released the monster back to open water. The Department of Natural Resources reported the record in an end-of-season compilation of fishing records. The agency also certified a 57 and 1/4 inch Muskie caught July 23 on Lake Vermillion near Tower by Todd Kirby of Hudson, Wisconsin, with buddies John Gavic and Will Gavic. The fish tied a 2019 Muskie also caught on Lake Vermilion.
Weight-lifting exercise. Illinois lad lands record northern.
Verbatim
Kobyleckym: “We hooked onto a huge pike that was barely hooked and could hardly land it due to the sheer size and weight of the fish. The whole experience went by in a flash but it was an experience of a lifetime I’ll never forget.”
Kirby: “That Friday night we were up against the weather. There was a huge storm front moving through creating extremely unstable conditions. The humidity was high, and storm clouds were building. It was one of those nights that the fish seemed to be super active. I compared it to reeling in a large moving log and after a few dark splashes, she was in the net. Everything just happened so fast!”