Wyoming teen recognized as one of the state’s youngest Ultimate Anglers

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department reports they are happy to congratulate Brayden Baker in joining the ranks of the Ultimate Anglers — sportspersons who caught 10 different species of trophy-sized fish in Wyoming. The achievement is recognized as part of the department’s Master Angler program.

“Congratulations to Brayden,” Game and Fish Deputy Chief of Fisheries Dirk Miller said in a statement. “It’s an impressive feat to catch 10 trophy-sized fish, and even more so for someone so young.” 

According to a report from the department, it took Baker about two years to catch all 10 fish, and he managed to stay within 60 miles or so of his hometown of Lander. Though a Yellowstone cutthroat trout pushed him to 10 species, his favorite catch was the lake trout. 

Forty-four anglers have achieved Ultimate Angler status since the program’s launch. At  just 15 years old, Brayden joins two other Wyoming teens — Tristen Brodrecht and Julius Clark — as the youngest anglers to earn Ultimate Angler status. 

According to Game and Fish, trophy fish represent the largest fish in the state —  the top 5% — of the 24 eligible species. Some fisheries in Wyoming are managed for trophy sizes while others are for high-catch rates and species diversity. Participating in the Master Angler program is easy, even if catching a trophy is challenging. An angler who lands a fish that meets or exceeds the minimum qualifying length from snout to the tip of a pinched tail must take and submit a side-view photograph of the fish. Include in the photograph an object, like a ruler or a coin, to validate the length. Submit the photo, angler information and details about the species and where it was caught on the Game and Fish website.