Bowfisherman shoots record brown trout, sparking anger online

South Dakota past week recognized a caller authorities bowfishing grounds for brownish trout, stirring anger connected societal media.

“New authorities grounds alert!” South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks exclaimed via social media. “Ty Smith collapsed a grounds successful nan ‘bowfishing’ class pinch this 6lb, 12oz brownish trout retired of Lake Oahe. Congratulations, Ty!”

The rumor immoderate had was that brownish trout are prized by astir hook-and-line anglers (notably alert anglers) arsenic a catch-and-release species. Trophy-size trout, they maintain, ought to beryllium returned to nan water.

“Absolute [waste] of a trophy trout, nary records surgery only a elephantine lost,” sounds nan apical Facebook comment, which garnered much than 600 reactions.

South Dakota keeps hook-and-line records successful a abstracted category.

Bowfishing records are portion of a larger class described arsenic “unrestricted records.” Unrestricted methods see spearing, snagging, and bow-and-arrow.

“I didn’t cognize this was a thing, aliases moreover ethical aliases legal,” 1 follower chimed in, successful reference to bowfishing.

While galore were captious of Smith, tons of followers were supportive.

A sampling:

–“Awesome trophy and awesome eating! The awesome athletics of bowfishing continues to beryllium awesome!”

–“Probably cooked up conscionable fine.”

–“Fly fishermen are liberals of nan sport.”

For those wondering, nan South Dakota hook-and-line record for brownish trout stands astatine 24 pounds, 8 ounces, for a food caught (and kept) astatine Canyon Lake successful 1990.

The world record is listed arsenic a 44-pound, 5-ounce brownish trout caught successful New Zealand successful 2020.