The Largest Lake Trout Ever Caught in Washington Was a Cold-Water King

Washington State is an excellent place to test your fishing skills. There are plenty of lakes and ponds to enjoy bass, trout, and sunfish fishing. Some excellent fishing lakes within the state are Alkali Lake, Big Lake, Blue Lake, Ross Lake, Lake Chelan, and Banks Lake. In some of these lakes, you can catch lake trout. Can you guess the state’s record? Follow along to discover the largest lake trout ever caught in Washington.

What Is the Largest Lake Trout Ever Caught in Washington?

The largest lake trout ever caught in Washington weighed 35.63 pounds. On February 4, 2013, Phil Colyar caught this large fish in Lake Chelan in Chelan County. The current world record for lake trout is about double the size of Washington’s record. According to the IGFA, the All-Tackle Record for the largest lake trout weighed 72 pounds. In 1995, Lloyd Bull caught this monster fish in Great Bear Lake in Canada. Fun fact, the world-record lake trout by length was also caught in Great Bear Lake. In 2014, Michael J. Sadar caught a 108-centimeter lake trout. Sadar’s record tied with a 109-centimeter lake trout. Also in Great Bear Lake, John M. Wyman caught this big fish in 2022.

About Lake Trout

Lake trout are large fish in the Salmonidae family. These freshwater char live long lives. They can live for up to 70 years in the wild, however, their lifespan is generally less. Follow along to learn more about these large fish.

Description and Size

Lake trout are grey-green, brown, and white fish with light bellies. They also have cream to yellow/white spots throughout their bodies. Lake trout are rather large fish. The largest lake trout ever caught (in a net) weighed 102 pounds. It was 50 inches long, making it over 4 feet long. Most lake trout though range from 5 to 40 pounds. The average size of a lake trout is 2 to 3 feet long.

Distribution and Habitat

So, where can you find lake trout naturally? Lake trout are native to the northern parts of North America. However, you can find these fish throughout the United States and even some countries in Europe. It’s a popular fish species for fishing. Lake trout can be highly invasive. They are invasive in the Yellowstone National Park, where they compete with native fish species like the cutthroat.

Diet

Lake trout aren’t picky eaters. Their diet though changes as they age. For instance, young lake trout mainly eat plankton and small insects. The more they grow, the larger their prey becomes. They also feast on crustaceans.

Predators

Larger lake trout have little to no predators. They are large and fast enough to run away and cause a fight. Most large predators aren’t active hunters. Still, lake trout are vulnerable to large birds like eagles. They are also hunted by larger fish like northern pikes and muskies. Humans, though, are this fish species’ main predator.

Other Fish in Washington

Washington State has plenty of fishing opportunities. You don’t have to just seek out lake trout either. Listed below are a few different fish species you can find within the state and their state records.

Walleye

The first fish on our list is the walleye. It’s a very common fish in the state, although non-native. Walleye are sometimes also called yellow pike or yellow pikeperch. These fish are listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. They are native to most of Canada and the Northern United States. Walleyes are gold or olive in color with a beautiful pattern. The pattern is broken up by five darker saddles. Although not as large as lake trout, walleyes can reach up to 42 inches long. How does this compare to Washington’s state record? The largest walleye ever caught in Washington State weighed 20.32 pounds. John Grubenhoff caught this giant in Lake Wallula in 2014.

Yellow Perch

Next on our list of other fish species in Washington State is the yellow perch. This vibrant fish goes by many names, including the striped perch, perch, and American river perch. It’s a yellow, olive, and green fish with distinct stripes on its body. The yellow perch is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Yellow perch are about 4 to 10 inches long. Like walleye, they are very common throughout the United States as gamefish. Most yellow perch weigh about 1 to 1.25 pounds, sometimes less! The largest yellow perch caught in Washington though is about double that size. On June 22, 1969, Larry Benthien caught a 2.75-pound yellow perch in Snelson’s Slough in Skagit County.

Bluegill

Bluegills are also found in Washington State. These small sunfish are easy to identify from their small sparkling blue-black spot. Bluegills are about 7.5 inches long, although they can reach as long as 12 inches. The maximum reported weight of a bluegill is 4 pounds and 12 ounces Bluegills are shiny and also vary in color, but typically have blueish sides. These tiny flatfish are common throughout North America. You can especially find them in clear rivers and lakes. The best time to catch bluegills is during spring and summer. Now, onto the largest bluegill ever caught in the state. In 1984, Ron Hinote caught an impressive 2.33-pound bluegill in Tampico Park Pond. Most bluegills only weigh about half a pound or less.

Chinook Salmon

The next fish on our list is the Chinook salmon. Chinook salmon are large silvery olive-green fish in the genus Oncorhynchus. They are about 24 to 36 inches and can weigh anywhere from 10 to 50 pounds. Chinook salmon have a large range. They are native to the North Pacific Ocean and the river systems of western North America. The largest chinook salmon ever caught in Washington surpasses 50 pounds. Mark Salmon caught a 68.26-pound Chinook salmon in 1992 in the Elochoman River.

Channel Catfish

The channel catfish is another animal you may find in Washington State. Channel catfish are native to the Nearctic. They are especially common and abundant throughout the eastern and central United States. These catfish are one of the most targeted fish by anglers for their impressive size and fight. Channel catfish aren’t picky eaters. They are excellent hunters and are a thrill to catch. Anglers use live, dead, and artificial bait to entice channel catfish. Common types of bait include minnows, frogs, hot dogs, and more. So, just how big do these large catfish get? The largest channel catfish ever caught in the state weighed 37.70 pounds. Cole Abshere caught this fish on August 20, 2019, in Lake Terrell.

Lake Whitefish

The last fish on our list is the lake whitefish. This fish species is native to North America. Lake whitefish have small heads and long bodies. They are about 20 inches long but can reach 31 inches. Lake whitefish also weigh about 1 to 3 pounds. They are native to northern parts of North America including most of Canada and some of the United States. A great place to fish for lake whitefish in Washington State is Moses Lake. Here you can also find walleye and bass. The lake whitefish Washington state record is 7.86 pounds. Gavin Boggs recently caught this record-breaking fish on February 11, 2023, in Lake Roosevelt.