Wabash River yields Indiana fish record

WABASH, Ind. (AP) - A northern Indiana girl who caught a strange-looking fish in the Wabash River has ushered in a new state record fish category with her haul.

After 13-year-old Lindsey Fleshood landed a shortnose gar in July, the Wabash girl discovered that Indiana had only a single “gar” state record category for the three types of the long-snouted, cylindrical fish species found in the state.

She entered a photo and other information about her 24 1/2-inch, 1.58-pound catch in the Department of Natural Resources’ record fish program. State fisheries chief Bill James reviewed her entry and decided to add a state record category for shortnose gar.

Fleshood says she’s excited her catch is now the new category’s reigning champ.