Leah Smith, age 7 of Springfield, caught and released this 35.5-inch, 15-lb. togue August 27, 2024 in northern Washington County. She was accompanied by her father Aaron Smith and her grandfather Stuart Smith. It took 20 minutes for Leah to reel in 100 feet of lead-core line, which she accomplished “all on her own, other than some support of the rod,” said her dad, who added: “Leah caught the togue I’ve been fishing my whole life for.” As for Leah, she exclaimed, “The fish is almost as tall as me!” The family owns Smith‘s General Store in Springfield, and they have been weighing and tagging whitetail deer there for about 40 years.
