Originally posted by: hillbillyangler on 12/3/2006 12:21:42 PM

A state record saugeye was caught by Mr. Everett Chapman of Milton, WV, according to Frank Jezioro , Director of the Division of Natural Resources. Mr. Chapman caught the 27.68-inch, 8.73-pound fish from East Lynn Lake in Wayne County on October 15, 2006 using a Rat-L-Trap for bait. Chapman’s catch establishes a new West Virginia record for both length and weight. The previous length record for saugeye was a 27.44-inch fish caught by Rick Dunlap from Stonewall Jackson Lake in 2005. The previous weight record for saugeye was a 7.55-pound fish caught by Brian Moore. Mr. Moore’s fish was also caught from East Lynn Lake in 2005.

“Saugeye are a hybrid fish produced in hatcheries by crossing a female walleye with a male sauger,” according to Bret Preston , Assistant Chief of the Wildlife Resources Section. “Reservoirs such as East Lynn and Stonewall Jackson were stocked each year with saugeye fingerlings until 2001, when pure walleye fingerling stockings began. The last stockings of saugeye are reaching large sizes and more records may be caught within the next few years.”

Anglers who believe that they have caught a state record fish should check the record listing in the current West Virginia Division of Natural Resources Fishing Regulations brochure. The brochure also outlines the procedure to follow for reporting a state record catch. This information is also available online at www.wvdnr.gov.