Fisherman talks about catching what likely will be a new MN state record burbot

3040923+Possible state record pout.jpg — Brent Getzler of Roosevelt, Minn., caught this 19.67-pound eelpout Monday on Lake of the Woods. The fish was weighed on a certified scale and is on track to be confirmed as Minnesota's new state record eelpout. (Photo courtesy of Brent Getzler)

By Brad Dokken

December 21, 2016 at 8:23 AM

It’s all but official: Lake of the Woods is about to break its old record for the biggest eelpout ever officially weighed in Minnesota.

Brent Getzler, of Roosevelt, Minn., caught the big ‘pout, which weighed 19.67 pounds -- 19 pounds, 11 ounces -- on a certified scale. Once all the paperwork is complete, Getzler’s big eelpout will break the old record of 19 pounds, 8 ounces, set in February 2012 on Lake of the Woods by Aaron Guthrie of Bemidji.

Dennis Topp, assistant area fisheries supervisor for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in Baudette, Minn., said he confirmed the weight and measured the girth at 23 ⅞ inches and the length at 33 inches. Click here for more about the record-setting fish.

By Brad Dokken

Brad Dokken joined the Herald company in November 1985 as a copy editor for Agweek magazine and has been the Grand Forks Herald's outdoors editor since 1998.

Besides his role as an outdoors writer, Dokken has an extensive background in northwest Minnesota and Canadian border issues and provides occasional coverage on those topics.

Reach him at bdokken@gfherald.com, by phone at (701) 780-1148 or on Twitter at @gfhoutdoor.

Fisherman talks about catching what likely will be a new MN state record burbot

It's all but official: Lake of the Woods is about to break its old record for the biggest eelpout ever officially weighed in Minnesota. Brent Getzler, of Roosevelt, Minn., caught the big 'pout, which weighed 19.67 pounds -- 19 pounds, 11 ounces -...