18.1 Pound Walleye Pummels Pennsylvania's 41-Year-Old State Record

Richard "The Breeze" Nicholson pulled a 34-inch, 18.1-pound walleye from the Youghiogheny River in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, while fishing alongside his son Richard Nocholson Jr. The enormous walleye breaks a 41-year old record that was caught from the Allegheny Reservoir back in 1980.

The duo was fishing with live creek chub minnows, a popular and oftentimes unbeatable technique for targeting fall walleye, and after a presumably epic battle, the behemoth was captured and in their hands. Richard Sr. had plans of turning his catch into dinner, but that was before his son looked up the current Pennsylvania state record walleye and then convinced dad to enter his fish as the new potential record.

After a bit of back and forth with the state Fish & Boat Commission, the fish was certified, and a new state record was born. On top of catching the state record walleye, the pair wrangled in two more walleye and one bonus musky that day. So it's safe to say, old Richard might have had his desired fish fry after all.

Credit: Erie Times-News

"I just hope it encourages other people to fish," he said. "That’s what it’s all about. Fishing is one of the cheapest things you can do. For a $20 bill (fishing license approximate cost) you can fish every day of the year. … It’s a good thing.”



When looking back on the achievement, he summarized, “I was just in the right place at the right time. It could have been anybody. It just happened to be lucky me.”

He’s planning to have the fish mounted and hoping the taxidermist can save the meat. “I want to have a walleye party,” he said about enjoying eating what he catches. “It would be a shame to waste all that meat.”

Richard Nicholson via the Erie-Times News

Learn More: Every State Record Walleye In America