Woodbury teen sets new Minnesota record for northern pike catch

(KMSP) - A teenager from Woodbury, Minnesota set a new state record for northern pike while fishing on the Rainy River last spring. 

Matthew Swanson, 17, reeled in a 45 1/4-inch northern pike in May while on a fishing trip with his dad and brother, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announced Monday. The DNR received his application for the record at the end of October and certified the fish soon after. 

After three days of fishing, Swanson was the only one in the boat who had not caught a pike over 30 inches. He hooked the record-setting fish using his dad’s setup of streamer flies on a 30-pound test wire line. 

The family released the fish after taking a few pictures and a length measurement.