Tyler Wike caught a 10.4-pound brown trout while fishing the Nantahala River in western NC on April 24, 2024.
Wike, of Swain County, NC said making the catch was quite a treat, especially since he landed it on what many consider to be a beginner’s rod-and-reel.
“It’s my biggest brown trout ever,” said Wike. “The Nantahala never disappoints. It took 30 minutes to get him in. And here is the kicker: it was caught on a Zebco 33 rod-and-reel with 10-pound test fishing line.”