A 15.89-pound lake trout pulled from Seneca Lake during Memorial Day weekend gave a Southern Tier angler the biggest catch in one of the Finger Lakes’ most recognizable fishing tournaments — and one of the largest winning fish in event history.
Mark Curren of Pine City, in Chemung County, landed the massive lake trout on the opening day of the 62nd National Lake Trout Derby, earning the tournament’s $7,500 grand prize.
Tournament officials said Curren’s fish ranks as the seventh-largest winning catch since the derby began more than six decades ago.
Curren caught the fish Saturday morning while fishing with Richard Augustine aboard Augustine’s boat, “Dempsey’s Legacy,” near Sampson State Park on the western shore of Seneca Lake.
Augustine said the fish stayed deep throughout the fight, taking roughly 10 minutes to reel in.
The winning setup included riggers, dipsys, and lead core trolling equipment. The trout struck a black-and-white glow Carbon 14 Singer spoon while the anglers were trolling against the waves.
Tournament organizers reported 562 entries this year, including 517 adults and 45 juvenile competitors. More than 160 fish were weighed in between derby stations in Fayette and Watkins Glen.
Augustine also captured first place in the landlocked salmon division with an 11.4-pound fish.
Other top winners included Gary Chambers in the brown trout division with a 9.85-pound catch and Shawn Domblaser in the rainbow trout category with a 9.08-pound fish.
The National Lake Trout Derby has become a longstanding Finger Lakes tradition centered on Seneca Lake’s nationally recognized cold-water fishery.
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