Remember When You Were a Kid and Landed a $26,000 Fish? No?

The thrill of the catch — and the fact that you just never know when you’ll win — unites anglers everywhere.

NOT THE CATCH SO MUCH AS THE CATCHER

The Lake Champlain International Father’s Day Derby may be far from Montana, and if this story, shared by Outdoor Life, were about an adult on the other side of the country, we probably wouldn't have given it a second look. But in Vermont, 10-year-old Grayson Carey hauled in a 28.5-pound freshwater drum during the June 2025 tournament on Lake Champlain.

After a stubborn, drag-peeling fight in the middle of the night, Grayson’s dad, Jason, slipped the net under the massive fish — a moment they quickly realized could be historic.

LOTS OF ANXIOUS MOMENTS BETWEEN JUNE AND FEBRUARY

Is it a record or not? Although the catch happened during Father’s Day weekend, Vermont officials didn’t officially certify the new state record until almost 8 months later. The fish not only bested a decades-old record, it helped the Carey team walk away with about $26,000 in prize money — all for targeting a species many anglers overlook.

The freshwater drum is a unique, silver, hump-backed fish native to North America, known for producing grunting noises using its air bladder. It is the only North American freshwater member of the drum family and is often found on the bottom of large rivers and lakes.

READ MORE: Up to $225,000 in Cash and Prizes is Luring Montana Anglers

That sense of unpredictability and excitement fuels fishing contests in Montana, anglers chasing everything from perch to rainbow trout with cash and bragging rights on the line.

Because you just never know when you’ll boat the big one and walk away a winner. And as Grayson proved, age is not a factor.