Officials: Salmon Caught on Lake Oahe Is South Dakota Record

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — Wildlife officials in South Dakota have confirmed that a chinook salmon caught on Lake Oahe last week is a state record.

The state's Game, Fish and Parks Department says Highmore angler Gordon Sampson boated the salmon that weighed 24 pounds, 8 ounces. Sampson caught the salmon only after five minutes of fishing Friday.

The whopper fish broke the previous state record of 23 pounds, 14 ounces.

The department says the record was verified by state fisheries biologist Hilary Meyer. She says the department has received reports of several large salmon being caught and two fish were actually close to the state record.

Meyer adds that Lake Oahe's salmon are in great shape thanks to large numbers of bait fish, such as lake herring.

Source: Officials: Salmon Caught on Lake Oahe Is South Dakota Record