On an otherwise routine fishing trip, Missouri angler Ryan Young catapulted from an infamous nickname to setting a state record. KSDK reports that on October 13 at Stockton Lake, Young, previously dubbed "The Trashman" for his knack for landing less desirable catches, reeled in a colossal 55-pound, 9-ounce black buffalo. This catch outdid the previous 53-pound benchmark that had held since 1989. Young's disbelief was palpable as he stated "I’m just in shock," reflecting on the unpredictability of angling.
He was fishing with guide Kris Nelson, who humorously had suggested that Young should aim to quickly catch a carp or buffalo to round out his collection of Stockton Lake species. "And the next time he drops his line, he hooks into something big," Nelson told KSDK. True to form, Young's engagement with the gargantuan fish took 30 grueling minutes, culminating in his remarkable feat which has been officially recognized as the fifth state-record fish landed in Missouri this year.
The black buffalo is a species of sucker fish, a group known to largely populate the bottoms of Missouri's waterways, often out-weighing other fish populations combined. Their diet primarily consists of small invertebrates and plants. According to a report by Spectrum Local News, the previous rod-and-reel record held for a catch of its kind stood for over three decades, until Young's recent triumph.
Missouri's Department of Conservation, which runs a program to recognize state records for catches in two categories, pole-and-line and alternative methods, has been kept on its feet with a surge of record-setting catches this year. Young's black buffalo now ranks amongst these notable achievements. "It just shows you never know what you'll catch when you head out," Young reflected according to a statement obtained by Spectrum Local News, summarizing the incredulity and joy of an angler in the wake of an unexpected triumph.
