Another record tiger trout caught in Deer Creek Reservoir

A tiger trout caught at Deer Creek reservoir by Mark Randolph of Ahsahka is the latest Idaho catch-and-release record for the hybrid species.

Randolph landed the 21-inch tiger trout early last month and it easily passed the previous record of 19 1/2 inches set in 2017, according to Idaho Fish and Game.

Fish and Game first stocked tiger trout in Deer Creek Reservoir six years ago and since then it has become a popular fishery for the sterile hybrid trout that are a cross between brook trout and brown trout. The reservoir has already produced a half dozen state records.

Deer Creek Reservoir lies in the mountains east of Orofino, and was first stocked with tiger trout in 2014. Tiger trout are rare across Idaho, and have only been introduced in a handful of waters. The hybrid trout was stocked at Deer Creek Reservoir as a predator fish in an effort to manage non-native golden shiners.

The state catch-and-keep record for tiger trout in 2017 was a 17 ½ inch tiger trout taken from Deer Creek Reservoir. But on June 10, which was Free Fishing Day, the record was broken three times, according to Idaho Fish and Game.

Anglers first caught a 17 3/4-inch tiger. Soon, another angler caught an 18-inch tiger and by the end of the day a 19 ½-inch tiger trout was caught by Richard Miller. The fish weighed 2.65 pounds. That record was smashed the next year when Aaron Lougee of Lewiston caught the current state record catch-and-keep 22-inch, 4-pound tiger trout.

Tiger trout have been stocked in five other lakes in south and eastern Idaho.

The name of the fish comes from the appearance of the adults, which have tiger-like stripes, or vermiculation, across their backs. The worm-like pattern is a characteristic of brook trout. Tigers also have a greenish cast and their fins can often bear the distinctive white trim of a brook trout, according to Fish and Game.