8-Year-Old Girl Lands New Idaho State Record

By Premier Angler Staff Last updated Nov 29, 2021

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It’s always exciting to hear that a state record has been broken. That news gets even better when the angler hasn’t even reached double-digit birthdays yet!

Congratulations Sophie Egizi on setting a new Idaho catch-and-release record for Gerrard rainbow trout. #fishidaho https://t.co/5Q93vOFaw2 pic.twitter.com/TGzWX7q7sJ
— Idaho Fish and Game (@idfg) November 4, 2019

8-year-old Sophie Egizi’s catch — a whopper 36.5 inch *Gerard rainbow trout — was caught while trolling flies in October on Lake Pend Oreille. According to the IDGF website, the fish now stands as the catch-and-release Idaho state record Gerrard rainbow trout.

The catch is one of many caught on the lake’s waters, including the certified weight Gerrard which was caught in 1947.

*According to WeSportFish.com, Gerrard rainbow trout are native to the West Kootenay (British Columbia) area and are the largest rainbow trout in the world. The world record Gerrard rainbow trout (52 lbs) was caught on Lake Jewel in the 1930s. Today, the species can still weigh up to 30 lbs.

Because of the large size of the fish, Idaho categories the Gerrard separately from other rainbow trout when considering state records.