NORTH IDAHO - Thomas Francis took home a 40.76 pound northern pike while fishing on Hayden Lake on March 21 - WOW! The fish was 49 inches in length and 26.5 inches in girth.Â
According to Idaho Fish and Game, Francis has been an avid northern pike angler for a while.Â
In a press release, Francis said, “I like having pike around; they are the biggest fish we can go after here in North Idaho, and I fish for them almost everyday.“
After catching his prize, he visited a few different places to find a certified scale before receiving the certified weight of 40.76, claiming his crown! The previous record holder was caught in 2010 in Lower Twin Lake and weighed 40.13 pounds.Â
Idaho Fish and Game
Courtesy of Idaho Fish and Game
To read the full story on how Francis caught his record-breaking fish, click here.Â
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Sydney A. Charles joined the 4 News Now team as a Breaking News Anchor and Producer in June of 2022. Her journalism career began in early college at the University of California, Irvine where she studied literary journalism and criminology. While attending UC Irvine, she was actively involved in many student media outlets, including the official newspaper, The New University, and a student-run poverty alleviation publication, Insight Magazine. Sydney also created her own podcast, Black Fam 2.5, dedicated to enriching Black student life across the UC-system. This endeavor gave life to a broadcast show, “The Welcome Table with Sydney and Tatum,” which won a CASE District VII gold award for excellence in communications. She decided to further her passion for reporting at the University of Southern California where she pursued a master’s in journalism. During her time at USC, she co-produced an entertainment show, along with anchoring and creating multimedia packages for the school’s news station – Annenberg TV News. She extensively covered environmental racism in her home city of Carson, cultural events, and COVID-19 disparities in the LA area. In her free time, she enjoys playing the piano, listening to music, and (ATTEMPTING) to cook. She’d love to connect on Twitter or via email if you have a story idea!