South Dakota last week recognized a new state bowfishing record for brown trout, stirring anger on social media.
“New state record alert!” South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks exclaimed via social media. “Ty Smith broke a record in the ‘bowfishing’ category with this 6lb, 12oz brown trout out of Lake Oahe. Congratulations, Ty!”
The issue some had was that brown trout are prized by most hook-and-line anglers (notably fly anglers) as a catch-and-release species. Trophy-size trout, they maintain, ought to be returned to the water.
“Absolute [waste] of a trophy trout, no records broken only a giant lost,” reads the top Facebook comment, which garnered more than 600 reactions.
South Dakota keeps hook-and-line records in a separate category.
Bowfishing records are part of a larger category described as “unrestricted records.” Unrestricted methods include spearing, snagging, and bow-and-arrow.
“I didn’t know this was a thing, or even ethical or legal,” one follower chimed in, in reference to bowfishing.