Teen breaks state record with northern pike catch

Matthew Swanson, of Woodbury, Minn., caught the northern pike on the Rainy River. (Handout/Minnesota Department of Natural Resources )

Apparently, the first time's a charm for this teenage angler.

Matthew Swanson, of Woodbury, Minn., recently caught a record-breaking northern pike during a fishing trip with his dad and brother on the Rainy River. For three days, Swanson watched as his dad and brother landed several large pikes — some measuring more than 30 inches long.

Using his dad's 30-pound test wire, Swanson took a few casts and suddenly "water around his fly exploded," the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) described in a Monday news release. Right away, Swanson knew he had hooked something huge.

Following a "brief fight and some careful netting," Swanson managed to examine his impressive catch: a 45.25-inch northern pike.

Swanson posed for a few pictures with the large fish — a freshwater fish that can be found throughout the Northern Hemisphere that's an average of 24 to 30 inches long, according to American Expedition — before releasing it back into the river. The largest pike ever caught in the U.S. was reportedly 58 inches long.