Congratulations Jared Shypkoski on your new state record walleye at 16.4 pounds! I know the excitement you are experiencing and am truly happy for you! I can't wait to hear more about it.
New Guest My name is Tom Volk, and I (still) caught the largest walleye in North Dakota at a whopping 16.59 pounds (16 lbs 9.4 ounces)! I wish the story could be that short, but as many know, it isn't. My 16.59 pound (or 16 pound 9 ounce) walleye was verified by Game and Fish to be the largest walleye caught in the state of North Dakota on April 21, 2019. It surpassed Neil Leier's walleye (the current state record at the time I caught my walleye) by nearly a pound. After my walleye was verified, Game and Fish opened an investigation on how my walleye was caught. They claimed that witnesses came forward and stated my walleye was "foul-hooked" which would be a violation of Game and Fish regulations and ultimately a crime. They conducted what they call an "investigation" and concluded my walleye was foul-hooked. They didn't charge me with a crime but mailed me a written warning for the possession of a "foul-hooked" fish. They did this even thou