Bartee pictured immediately after hauling in his record setting brown trout at 1:43AM last Wednesday morning.
CHARLOTTE (AP) – You may not think of the Queen City as a fishing capital of the world, but it is now – at least temporarily until this local man’s record setting catch is overtaken.
Early last week, William Bartee of Clover, SC, took in quite the haul while on a late-night fishing jaunt along the Freedom Park stretch of the local Little Sugar Creek Greenway.
With the glowing backdrop of the city’s skyline behind him, Bartee was doing little different than usual: he was wearing his trusty waders and using his favorite rod and reel while doing some evening fishing. Many nights, he frequents this section, catching bream, bass, and crawdads – and just for the thrill of it. He says, “most don’t understand, and that’s OK – I just come out here for the peace and quiet and to hear myself think.”
On this night in particular, his son had accompanied him on this trip and it’s a good thing he did. Bartee cast in his last line of the night, watched his hand-tied fly disappear into the calm but deeper than usual waters, and felt as something bit. After a 5-10 minute fight, he won, and a brown trout was his. And it was big. But just how big?
Weighing in at 43 pounds 2 ounces, Bartee knew he had something of significance – but just didn’t know how significant this was. Brown trout are only found in the mountain regions of the state and so to catch one deep in the Piedmont was incredibly unusual.
The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission states that “brown trout were introduced to North America in the late 1800s. [They] are often reclusive, hanging out close to underwater structure, such as fallen trees and undercut banks. Larger specimens are often caught near dark and after rain storms that result in dingy water.”
And this is how experts believe that this trout found its way into Charlotte. The recent rains and swollen waterways across the region allowed this particular trout access to previously unreachable waters. Due to this season’s unique pattern of water level rises and falls, much like a lock system in a canal, the trout was able to gradually make its way into Little Sugar Creek and into Bartee’s fishing net.
But this wasn’t the only anomaly for the late night adventure. Bartee quickly realized that this trout’s size might actually be of interest to not only the state’s record keepers, but to the worldwide record books as well. As it turns out, this monstrosity beat North Carolina’s previous brown trout record (24 pounds 10 ounces), the United States’ record (41 pounds 8 ounces), and, if that wasn’t enough, the world record from New Zealand (42 pounds 1 ounce).
Sound fishy? Well thanks to Bartee’s son as a witness, there were a plethora of photographs and videos taken. In addition, Bartee, the President of Jesse Brown’s Outdoors store located in the SouthPark Shopping District, knew how to properly prepare for and submit an application to the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) for certification. Bartee saved and submitted his line and tackle, along with photographs, his IGFA-certified scale, and other information to be entered into the official books.
The record was certified late last night, Wednesday evening. The trout is fine. As to Bartee? He quietly states that he’s “going to keep on fishing those holes. You never know what’s going to turn up.” And isn’t that the truth.
*****SHOP BARTEE’S OUTFIT AT JESSEBROWNS.COM & BREAK A FISHING RECORD*****
Hat: Jesse Brown’s Fly Shop Patch Hat
Jacket: Men’s North Face Printed Class V Fanorak
Baselayer: Men’s Icebreaker 200 Oasis Merino Baselayer Bottoms
Waders: Simms Headwaters Pro Stockingfoot Waders
Boots: Men’s Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GORE-TEX
Rod & Reel: Redington Path Complete Freshwater Outfit
(Happy April Fools’ Day!)