BOISE, Idaho (KBOI) — David Ekmark is no stranger to fishing, but he did encounter an experience that very few come face-to-face with: A record-sized catch.
Ekmark was fishing in Lake Cascade in May when he caught a 17-inch yellow perch. He is now sharing his story with us.
“I knew it was a big perch within a few seconds of setting the hook. What I didn’t know was just how big it was going to be,” Ekmark said. “It was the largest perch I had ever seen.”
The yellow perch is a widespread species in the northern U.S. and in Canada. The perch is known to devour almost any natural bait according to the International Game Fish Association.
Ekmark submitted paperwork for the Idaho State record and received a certificate for landing a catch and release state record length yellow perch.
The location of the catch is no secret Ekmark feels he needs to keep. “It’s no big secret, lot’s of people catch big perch in the same place, right here in the lip!”
Ekmark says, most record fish are caught by people "like you and me who are fishing for fun and to put some fish in the freezer.”
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