Vacationer Catches Record-Breaking Fish In Colorado

COLORADO -- A woman vacationing in Colorado caught a record-breaking arctic char, weighing 4.15 pounds and measuring 23.5 inches in length.

Lindsay Regali of Charlottesville, Virginia, caught the fish on Nov. 6 at the Dillon Reservoir, Colorado Parks & Wildlife announced recently.

The agency certified the fish as the new state record, breaking the previous record of 3.75 pounds and 20.5 inches, caught in Dillon Reservoir in 1994 by Marshall Brenner.

"There was an ongoing joke throughout the day that I was jealous of how many fish my husband had been catching," Regali said. "I was laughing and joking around because I realized I had finally caught one that I knew was bigger than his. I realized it was big but had no idea how big until we got it in the boat."

Regali, a self-described casual angler, had initially been interested in the sights surrounding Dillon Reservoir more so than what lay beneath the surface.

"It was such a fun, unique experience to be fishing with snow coming down, surrounded by the Rocky Mountains. It was almost surreal," Regali said. "Mostly, it was just a lot of fun and it was something I'll definitely want to go back and do again.

"I immediately texted my parents from the boat and sent them a picture. I knew my dad especially would think it was pretty cool. I still can't believe it. I just went out there to have fun. I certainly didn't go out to set a state record. It's a good story to tell."

The agency first began stocking arctic char in Dillon in the 1990s. After a 10-year break, agency biologists began stocking the slow-growing fish again between 2008-15.

Dillon Reservoir is the only public body of water in the lower 48 states, outside of Maine, in which arctic char can be caught. Most populations are found in Canada and the arctic regions, the agency said.

--Photo courtesy of Colorado Parks & Wildlife