Austin Lee knew the second the fish hit his line at Canyon Ferry—it wasn’t just big, it had to be the biggest fish he had ever hooked in his life. After more than an hour-long battle, he hauled in a monster northern pike that weighed 35 pounds and measured 50 inches.

Now, Austin isn’t exactly a small guy—6’1”, 225 pounds—but this fish made him look like the sidekick in his own fishing story. To put it in perspective, it was just 2.5 pounds shy of Montana’s state record, set back in 1971 by Lance Moyer at Tongue River Reservoir. That is record book close!

Austin’s catch turned into an unforgettable Father’s Day memory. One big fish, one long fight, and one amazing story to tell for the rest of his life.

Well done. That’s one fish story that doesn’t need any exaggeration!