Chase Stokes was out fishing with his dad when he felt a familiar tug on his rod. But the power in
this pole was different than usual. When this fisherman reeled in his huge catch, he had no
idea of the size. But by breaking the record, it was clear there was something special!!!!
Fishing is a big industry in Vermont. We have a ton of rivers and streams that provide an
opportunity to fish. It's important, because it brings in 375 million $ to the local economy
each year. One of the major thrills for aspiring anglers is catching the biggest fish they can.
Fishermen and women in Vermont have broken their previous state record a number of times recently,
with some records showing a marked improvement over the previous year.
Some of the most sought-after catches are carp. English writer, Isaac Walton described to the
mighty fish as “the queen of rivers.” And it's not hard to see why? the biggest carp ever reeled in
weighed a massive 108 pounds when it was caught. Until summer, the state carp record in Vermont
stood at a more modest though, still impressive 33 pounds. The fish that holds the record
also measured 35 inches in length, and it, no doubt provided junior fishermen, Chase Stokes,
something to aim for. Stokes first started fishing when he was just 18 months old.
It was his mom and dad who introduced him to the sports and with their guidance by the time Stokes
was 11, he was already an accomplished angler. To help him hone his craft, Stoke spends as
much time as possible on the water. “I go fishing anytime I can.” He revealed to the Rutland Herald,
and luckily for him, he lives right on the doorstep of Vermont's famous Otter creek.
There over the years, Stokes has reeled in fish of all shapes and sizes.
Some of the species he's hooked include pike, catfish and of course the much-coveted carp.
Stokes was presumably proud of himself when he once managed to net a 20-pound example.
However, little did Stokes know that he would go on to dwarf this.
It was then that the young boy was out fishing on Otter Creek with his dad, John. But what started
out as a pretty ordinary day ended with a record-breaking catch. In fact, Stokes and
his father hadn't set out to break any records that spring day. “We were fishing for anything
that might bite,” Stokes revealed. However, when something did take a nibble, the youngster could
tell that whatever it was, it was massive. Recalling the incident, Stokes revealed,
“after a few big bites, this huge fish almost took my poll right off the stick.” So, with excitement,
presumably washing over him, the angler grabbed onto his rod and held on for dear life. Explaining
his struggle Stoke said, “it just started to take drag almost to the other side of the river.”
“I was just about tired out and got it to shore almost and it took right back off. It did that
about three times. I knew it was going to be the biggest carp I ever caught.” Eventually Stokes
got the fish under control. Then with his dad in charge of the net, the youngster was finally
able to bring his catch to the riverbank. It was then that he got his first glimpse
of the mammoth carp. Describing the moment, he first set eyes on the fantastic fish Stoke said,
“I was so happy! I just yelled out. I thought it must be a state record.”
As a result, he took the carp to a bait and tackle shop in New York to have it weighed. It was there
that Stokes first learned the carp weighed a giant 33.25 pounds and measured 40 inches in length.
Consequently, the Vermont fish and wildlife department confirmed that Stokes fish had
indeed broken the state record. Needless to say, Stokes was over the moon with his achievement
and he sends vowed to have his colossal carp mounted so that he can admire it forever.
Moreover, there's a good chance he'll add to his record-breaking hall as the years go by.
That's because the kid really does seem to be as keen as mustard. Just ask Shawn Good, biologists
with the Vermont fish and wildlife department who runs the state's master angler program.
The initiative encourages anglers to enter a trophy fish for recognition.
And according to Good, Stokes has submitted more fish than anyone else. “When we first introduced
the program, we accepted and approved 4,887 trophy fish entries.” Good revealed. Chase Stokes
had 439 of those, almost 10%. Chase is our most prolific participant in the master angler program.
Far and away, he has entered more trophy size fish than any other angler adult or
kid in the seven years of the program. But while Good has Stokes down as a
fishing maniac, the youngster has no plans to turn professional. For now,
at least he's happy to keep angling as a hobby and pursue a career in something else. “I would
probably want to become a game warden, because you get to be outdoors all of the time,” He explained.