The summer of fish records continues with Moore angler’s alpine trophy

Just when you thought the Idaho fish record books didn’t have any blank pages left, one adventurous angler from Moore, Idaho, caught (and released) one of Idaho’s most coveted alpine fish back on June 20. 

Like many of us during the dog days of summer, angler Wade Jensen grabbed his collapsible fly rod and headed high into the mountains for a weekend of alpine fishing. Alpine lakes aren’t necessarily known for producing abnormalities in the size department, but can offer venturesome fishermen and fisherwomen a smorgasbord of species, from tiger trout to golden trout. 

But high atop every mountain angler’s bucket list is the fabled Arctic grayling — a chromatic, alpine phantom that looks like it had a mountain whitefish and Florida sailfish for parents. And Jensen was in the heart of their country. 

While stripping in his fly at Fishpole Lake, Jensen witnessed a pronounced gulp just above the water’s surface, set the hook, and fought to reel in what might’ve just been any other alpine lake fish. But after netting the fish and noticing its characteristic large dorsal fin, Jensen knew he had a special fish on the end of his line. 

But upon measuring the Arctic grayling with a tape measure — stretching 16.7 inches — it was clear Wade Jensen would be flirting with the record books once he got back to civilization and bringing with him a moment he would remember forever. 

Congratulations to Wade on his new Idaho state catch-and-release record Arctic grayling! 

—  Idaho Department of Fish and Game