Montana pike could be world record

KALISPELL — A fisheries biologist with Montana Fish, Wildlife and parks says a Kalispell angler has likely set a world record for northern pike caught by fly fishing after hauling in a 29.74-pound, 47-inch-long fish. Mark Deleray says the fish caught by 28-year-old Ivan Keeney at Smith Lake on Thursday exceeds the size of other pike caught fly fishing listed by the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame. A spokeswoman at the Hall of Fame on Saturday said the current world record for northern pike caught fly fishing is a 28-pound, 4-ounce fish. She says the Hall of Fame hasn’t yet received an official application for Keeney’s fish. Keeney says he spent an hour battling the fish, keeping up with it in his canoe so he didn’t run out of line. Keeney says he’s having the fish mounted.