Twice in April, Wyoming angler Patrick Edwards set two new state fishing records.
On April 2 the Riverton man broke the state record for longnose sucker when he caught a 3-pound, 15.6-ounce fish. The old record was set in 2022 by Christopher Bobo of Casper at 2 pounds, 11.3 ounces. It marked the third consecutive year the longnose sucker record was broken.
Then on April 17, Edwards broke his own state record for white sucker with a 6-pound, 8.45-ounce fish. His old record from March 2020 was 5 pounds, 6.45 ounces.
“Living in Wyoming my whole life and being an avid angler, I never thought I would have one state record — let alone two,” Edwards said.
Both record fish were caught along the same stretch of the Wind River. Edwards said he used a pickerel rig, which consists of a slip sinker, hook, another section of line and another hook. Each hook was baited with a piece of worm.
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Edwards didn’t know right away his longnose sucker was a record because he wasn’t sure what he caught. He knew it wasn’t a white sucker. He took pictures of the fish and sent them to some people he knew. They confirmed it was a longnose sucker — and a big one.
Video courtesy Wyoming Game and Fish
Edwards went to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s website and looked up the state record for longnose sucker, and knew his fish was bigger. That was confirmed after it was weighed on a registered scale at a post office in Riverton.
The white sucker record may also tie a world record. According to the International Game Fish Association, the world record white sucker of 6.8 pounds was caught out of the Rainy River in Minnesota in 1984. Edwards said his fish is still being considered by the IGFA for its record books.
The only world-record fish Wyoming boasts is the golden trout when C.S. Reed of Omaha, Nebraska, landed an 11-pound, 4-ounce fish from Cook Lake in Sublette County in 1948.
“Catching a state-record fish of any species is quite an accomplishment, but to break two state records is incredible,” said Alan Osterland, Game and Fish chief of fisheries.
Rules for submitting a state-record fish and lists of the current Wyoming fish records can be found online.
Gallery: Wyoming Walleye Stampede Tournament
Wyoming Walleye Stampede
Competitors in the Wyoming Walleye Stampede tournament line up to fish on Saturday morning at Glendo Reservoir. Over 100 teams participated in the walleye catch at the reservoir. (Dan Cepeda, Star-Tribune)
Wyoming Walleye Stampede
Ben Acres, 14, of Casper poses with a walleye he caught during the Wyoming Walleye Stampede tournament at Glendo Reservoir on Saturday morning. Acres was fishing with his uncle Cling Acres of Riverton and finished in 3rd place in the tournament. (Dan Cepeda, Star-Tribune)
Wyoming Walleye Stampede
Hunter Craig, 14, of Mitchell, Nebraska, takes his walleye to be measured during the Wyoming Walleye Stampede on Saturday morning at Glendo Reservoir. The tournament attracted contestants from most neighboring states, as well as from all over Wyoming. (Dan Cepeda, Star-Tribune)
Wyoming Walleye Stampede
Ben Acres, 14, gets a fist bump from co-organizer Mitch Bauers after Acres first catch at the Wyoming Walleye Stampede tournament on Saturday morning at Glendo Reservoir. (Dan Cepeda, Star-Tribune)
Wyoming Walleye Stampede
Co-organizer Mitch Bauers prepares to measure a constant's catch during the Wyoming Walleye Stampede tournament on Saturday morning at Glendo Reservoir. (Dan Cepeda, Star-Tribune)
Wyoming Walleye Stampede
Co-organizer Brian Woodward talks to contestants on the radio shortly before the start of the Wyoming Walleye Stampede tournament on Saturday morning at Glendo Reservoir. To ensure order and fairness, teams line up in formation and are allowed to race to their chosen spot individually on Woodward's command. (Dan Cepeda, Star-Tribune)
Wyoming Walleye Stampede
Contestants line up in a chosen orderly fashion while following the official weighing boat before being allowed to individually race to their chosen spot during the start of the Wyoming Walleye Stampede on Saturday morning at Glendo Reservoir. (Dan Cepeda, Star-Tribune)
Wyoming Walleye Stampede
Cory Hays of Vernal, Utah, poses with two walleye catches during the Wyoming Walleye Stampede on Saturday morning at Glendo Reservoir. (Dan Cepeda, Star-Tribune)
Wyoming Walleye Stampede
A walleye is prepared to be measured during the Wyoming Walleye Stampede on Saturday morning at Glendo Reservoir. (Dan Cepeda, Star-Tribune)
Wyoming Walleye Stampede
Contestants resume fishing after weighing their early catch during the Wyoming Walleye Stampede on Saturday morning at Glendo Reservoir. (Dan Cepeda, Star-Tribune)
Wyoming Walleye Stampede
Mitch Bauers, left, calls back measurements to Brian Woodward during the Wyoming Walleye Stampede on Saturday morning at Glendo Reservoir. (Dan Cepeda, Star-Tribune)
Wyoming Walleye Stampede
An angler makes adjustments while competing in the Wyoming Walleye Stampede on Saturday morning at Glendo Reservoir. (Dan Cepeda, Star-Tribune)
Wyoming Walleye Stampede
Co-organizer Brian Woodward shoots photos of a contestant and his catch after measurements during the Wyoming Walleye Stampede on Saturday morning at Glendo Reservoir. (Dan Cepeda, Star-Tribune)
