100 Mile House man catches massive 27-pound lake trout | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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100 Mile House man catches massive 27-pound lake trout

Murray Zelt, from 100 Mile House, caught a massive 27-pound lake trout Jan. 27, 2021.
Image Credit: FACEBOOK/Jeff Mac

A 100 Mile House resident, known by his family as “the fish whisperer” got the catch of his life this week when he found a 27-pound lake trout on the end of his fishing line.

Murray Zelt decided to go ice fishing Jan. 27 at Horse Lake after his doctor told him he didn’t need to drive all the way to Kamloops for a check up.

Zelt had a serious surgery over Christmas break, so he was due for an appointment, but the surgeon told him the consultation could be held over the phone due to COVID-19 and since he was already up early for the appointment, he decided to spent time at the lake.

He chose Horse Lake because it has good cell service, he said. While on the phone with his surgeon, he could feel the tug on the line.

“He was telling me how well the surgery went… that’s when I hooked this big fish. I put him on speakerphone and I’m trying to battle this fish and talk to him. I had lots of questions to ask about how the surgery went and how I should take my recovery and he said ‘I better let you go,’ he seemed more concerned about the fish,” Zelt chuckled.

With the help of another ice fisherman who was set up nearby, he managed to haul in the beast.

“I caught a 14-pounder a few days before I caught this 27-pounder, so the fish gods have been looking out for me. I’ve been really blessed,” Zelt said.

Lake trout can reach up to almost a metre in length and weigh more than 20 kilograms (44 pounds), but they average between 38 to 51 cm and 4.5 kilograms (about 10 pounds), according to Fish'n B.C. The trout often live for more than 20 years.

Zelt estimated at that size, the freshwater char was roughly 50 years old.

READ MORE: Check out these awesome fishing lakes around the Thompson-Okanagan

“I put it back down in the hole to be caught another time, who knows, maybe when it’s even bigger,” he said.

Zelt was wearing his “papa the fish whisperer” shirt at the time, which he said has become lucky for him since it’s dedicated to his one-year-old grandson.

“It’s kind of my trademark,” he said, adding that he also caught the 14-pound fish while wearing the shirt.

His lure came at the recommendation of Bruno Sprecher, a lake resort owner, and was bought at a local sporting goods store Lone Butte Sporting Goods, he said.

“I`ll have to bring a picture into the sporting goods store so they can put it by the rack of lures so (the lures will) be selling out like hotcakes,” Zelt said.

Murray Zelt's lucky shirt that he wears while fishing.
Murray Zelt's lucky shirt that he wears while fishing.
Image Credit: FACEBOOK/Murray Zelt

To contact a reporter for this story, email Carli Berry or call 250-864-7494 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

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