ive heard lots of stories, but the biggest one i have seen in person is 42 pounds. ( caught in a net) most fishermen are great liars( myself included ), and all those 50 inch fish you hear about are probably around 45 . i did see a fish yesterday in the river that would have exceeded 40 pounds.( no lie! i chased it around for five minutes before it could find a hiding place.) i just had a 37 pounder mounted today. check out my quinalt post.