Koyt Carl Norton gives perspective to the trophy his family pulled out of Mill Meadow Reservoir. The 21 pound 14 ounce fish was 35.75 inches long and reportedly broke the state record for a rainbow trout taken from the bank. It also broke the lake record by 11 pounds. According to Gary Norton, who originally hooked the enormous fish, the family had heard the monster splashing about their favorite fishing spot for about two years. When he felt the fish on his 8 lb. Berkeley Line, a long battle ensued. At one point, Norton left his pole on the bank thinking the line had broken. However, he soon spotted the fish with the line still attached and his son quickly grabbed the pole. His sons Casey and Eric, along with his two foster boys, Jason Farrell and Larry Georges all helped bring the fish in. Gary waded into water up to his neck to net the fish and secured it just as the line broke. The catch got even more difficult when the handle of the net broke under the weight of the fish and Gary had to place the rim over his head in the deep water. For more on the Norton family, see the Outdoor Focus of today’s Sun Advocate.
Local anglers set state record with rainbow trout
