Record-Breaking Fish Caught in Golden Valley

For Ryan Bauman, fishing is more than just a passing hobby.

“Usually, it’s the first instinct I have if I have free time. I will immediately think about where I’m fishing today,” said Bauman, a 28-year-old substitute social studies teacher from Golden Valley.

Bauman has enjoyed fishing since he was 4 years old. Today, he usually likes to go where the big fish are.   

“You’ve got to start commuting farther and farther away to catch the big ones in the quite obscure places that you had to research really hard to find out where you should go,” said Bauman.

But on a whim this April, Bauman decided to go to a familiar fishing hole:  Sweeney Lake in Golden Valley.

“I figured I’d just give it a shot,” said Bauman.

He got his trusty rod and reel, put on the bait and jumped in his kayak hoping to catch a bass or crappie.

But what he got, was something much better. His hour and a half on the water was rewarded in a big way.

The Big Catch

Bauman reeled in a 28-pound, 36.25-inch bigmouth buffalo, topping the previous state catch-and-release record by more than two inches.

“Its head was just so gigantic bigger than a human, than my head, and its eyes were enormous too, they have like this giant black eyes,” said Bauman.

The record-breaking bigmouth buffalo laid out on shore.

What makes the catch even more incredible than just its size is that bigmouth buffalo aren’t known to live in Sweeney Lake.

Bauman said the one he caught might be the only one there.

“I’ve never caught one, I’ve never heard of someone catching one, or even seeing one,” he said. 

He brought his record catch to shore so he and others could have a better look.

“I called my dad,” said Bauman. “He came over with my brother and my mom and they all wanted to take a look at it.”

Since Bauman released his prize back into the lake, there’s a chance some other angler can hook the now-famous fish. 

Now, Bauman has got his sights on his next big catch.

“I haven’t caught a 100-pound fish yet, I would say that’s one of my goals,” said Bauman. 

Bauman’s catch was one of nine new state records certified by the Minnesota DNR this spring.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has invited him and the other record holders to come to the State Fair for an event to be recognized.

Golden Valley