McCALL, Idaho — State wildlife officials have officially certified a new benchmark for trophy fishing in Idaho. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) announced that a Utah angler has broken the state’s coveted catch-and-release record for lake trout. The historic fish was landed at Payette Lake, a popular destination nestled in the mountains near McCall.

The record-breaking catch occurred during the early morning hours of June 19, 2025. Aaron Goettsche, a resident of Stansbury Park, Utah, was visiting the area for a family reunion vacation. An experienced angler and custom fishing rod maker, Goettsche decided to take advantage of the calm morning waters and went out on the lake alone. [5, 6, 7]

While trolling solo in  bigfishmccall.com water approximately 80 feet deep, Goettsche hooked into a massive fish. He was utilizing a large wooden plug lure on a downrigger setup. The hookup initiated an intense 15-minute battle. Landing a fish of that size alone presents extreme challenges, as the angler must simultaneously steer the boat, manage the rod pressure, and deploy the landing net. Goettsche described the experience as a physical test, noting that pulling the fish over the gunwale felt akin to lifting a farm animal. [8]

Once the fish was safely on board, Goettsche placed it on a certified measuring board to document the event. The lake trout measured exactly 42 inches in length. This officially eclipsed the previous state catch-and-release record of 41.5 inches, which was set at the same lake in 2018 by angler Dylan Smith.

In accordance with state catch-and-release regulations, Goettsche quickly photographed and videotaped the trout to verify its dimensions before safely releasing it back into Payette Lake. Because the fish was released alive, an official weight was not recorded, though a lake trout of that length typically exceeds 30 pounds.

For state fisheries biologists, Goettsche’s achievement represents more than an individual trophy; it serves as validation for a long-term ecological restoration project. In the early 2000s, the Payette Lake ecosystem suffered a severe imbalance. The population of kokanee salmon—the primary food source for apex predators like lake trout—collapsed. Consequently, the lake’s trout became severely emaciated, with biologists noting that 30-inch fish often resembled thin snakes.

To combat the decline, IDFG launched a targeted fishery management plan in 2018. The agency aggressively stocked millions of kokanee salmon fries to rebuild the forage base. Concurrently, biologists removed over 3,000 smaller lake trout from the system to reduce competition for food.

The strategy has proven highly successful. With a rejuvenated food supply and less competition, the remaining lake trout population has shown rapid growth and improved health. Goettsche’s 42-inch record provides clear evidence that Payette Lake has successfully returned to its status as a premier trophy trout destination.