GILLETTE, Wyo. — A Kemmerer boy has become the newest state record holder for tiger trout, landing a nearly 13-pound fish from the record-producing Viva Naughton Reservoir, according to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.
According to Game and Fish, 13-year-old Jaxon Krall set the new tiger trout record in late July with his 12.77-pound catch outside of Kemmerer, shattering the previous record of 11.93 pounds that was also landed from Viva Naughton Reservoir in 2023.
Krall’s fish was 31.25 inches long and had a girth of 16.75 inches. It was caught from shore on a Thomas Buoyant lure, Game and Fish says.
Per Game and Fish, tiger trout are a sterile hybrid of brook trout and brown trout that have been stocked in Viva Naughton annually since 2014. The reservoir has a large Utah chub population, which is believed to be the primary food source for stocked tiger trout in Viva Naughton.
“We stock small numbers of tiger trout to provide an opportunity for anglers to catch an exceptional fish from time to time,” Robb Keith, Green River Region fisheries supervisor, said in a statement.
Keith says he’s not surprised with the performance of tiger trout in Viva Naughton, given the species’ aggressive predatory nature and ample food source. Between the food supply and stocking efforts, Viva Naughton should continue to grow exceptional fish, per Game and Fish.
For anglers looking to land a large tiger trout for themselves, Keith says the species is found predominately close to shore down to 25 feet of water. They are found close to structures and eat shiners and chubs, which means anglers should choose lures or baits that resemble them.