The Largest Brook Trout Ever Caught in Virginia Was an Absolute Unit

Fishing records unite us all in the pursuit of “the big one.” That said, seeing other people’s massive catches can be a lot of fun, even if it reminds us that we will hold a record ourselves! Today, we will look at one of the most famous fish in North America, the brook trout. These amazing fish are beautiful, but they’re also one of the best game fish around. Here’s the largest brook trout ever caught in Virginia, plus the largest one ever caught in the world.

The Largest Brook Trout Caught in Virginia

The largest brook trout ever caught in Virginia was 5 lbs. 15 oz. and was caught by Thomas Garth in March of 2019.

Brook trout are native to Virginia in many streams and rivers across the state. With their abundance in Virginia, who doesn’t love to catch these incredible fish! The honor of the largest one ever caught in Virginia belongs to Thomas Garth, a man from Standardsville, Virginia.

Garth was fishing in Cub Run, a tributary of the Shenandoah River in Page County when he hooked into something huge. After a fight, he was able to pull it in, and with something this size, he probably knew immediately it was a record. After hearing measurements from a nearby general store, a biologist’s verification, and even a review by the State Record Committee, it was official. The fish measured 20.5 inches in length and weighed 5 pounds and 15 ounces. It was the largest brook trout ever caught in Virginia. Garth’s catch broke the previous state record of 5 pounds and 10 ounces set in 1987.

Garth took a photo of his catch and released it back into the water, hoping that it would survive and grow even bigger. He later submitted his photo and a witness statement to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR), which verified his record-breaking catch. Garth received a trophy fish citation from the DWR and a certificate from the International Game Fish Association (IGFA), which also recognized his catch as a potential world record for brook trout on a 5-weight fly rod.

The Largest Brook Trout Ever Caught

The Virginia record was pretty large, but the world record is a few pounds larger. The largest brook trout ever caught was a 14.5-pound monster that measured 31.5 inches in length. Dr. W.J. Cook caught it on July 21, 1915, in the Nipigon River in Ontario, Canada. Even today, this record still stands, and the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) recognizes it as the all-tackle world record for brook trout.

To make matters even more unbelievable, the fish probably wasn’t even at its largest. Cook likely stayed out a few days after the catch, and the fish is reported to have decreased in weight during the journey to Toronto. Even still, his catch set a record that other fishers may never beat!

Brook Trout: A Wonderfully Adaptable Species

Brook trout are one of the most diverse and adaptable trout species in the world, which has really helped them to thrive in the United States. There have been a lot of pollution and environmental changes that have impacted other species quite drastically, but these resilient little fish have taken it all pretty well.

Brook trout can live in a variety of habitats, from cold mountain streams to large lakes and even the ocean (known as “salters” or “coasters”). They can also tolerate a range of water temperatures, pH levels, and salinities. Different populations of trout have some different behaviors, with the saltwater ones migrating into freshwater to spawn.

Brook trout are also known for their appearance and are prized game fish. They usually have a dark green to brown color that lightens towards the belly. They also have a distinctive sprinkling of red dots, surrounded by blue halos that can make them easy to identify for beginners. A brook trout usually reaches 9 to 10 inches (23 to 25 centimeters) in length, which shows just how big the record fish was!

Not all game fish are edible, but trout most definitely is. Their meat is pretty light and delicate but valued for its almost sweet flavor when compared to other trout. You can prepare “brookies,” in a variety of ways, but the most authentic way? On a pan right next to the stream they came from!

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/Devin Davenport