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David Hunsicker was fishing Pennsylvania\u2019s Pohopoco Creek on April 29 when he caught a heavy rainbow trout on a small jig. Hunsicker\u2019s fish reportedly weighed over 15 pounds, which means it might have replaced the state-record rainbow trout that has been on the books for more than 35 years. We\u2019ll never know, though, because he decided not to submit the fish for record consideration.<\/p>\n
Hunsicker, who lives in Palmerton, told local news outlet GoErie<\/a> that he hooked the big trout in one of the creek\u2019s deep holes near a log. Using an ultralight rod and four-pound test line, he said he was lucky to land the rainbow. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIf he would have gotten me stuck on a limb coming down [stream], I would have lost that fish,\u201d Hunsicker said. He explained that he\u2019s caught several big trout from the Pohopoco as well as the other small creeks that connect with Beltzville Lake over the years.<\/p>\n Hunsicker ended up keeping the fish, which he said measured 31 7\/8 inches with a 20 1\/8-inch girth. It weighed 15 pounds, 11 ounces, according to the hand scale he had with him. That would make it roughly five ounces heavier than the standing Pennsylvania state-record rainbow<\/a>, caught from Jordan Creek in 1986 by angler Dennis Clouse.<\/p>\n \u201cIt would have surpassed the record,\u201d Hunsicker said, adding that he didn\u2019t have enough time to take the fish in for official measurements.<\/p>\n