Fish of a Lifetime: Monster Northern Pike Caught on Lake Delta

It was a fishing trip that 26-year-old Adam Reames will be talking about for the rest of his life.

On Monday evening, August 3, while on Lake Delta near AOK Marina in Rome, New York, Reames landed the biggest fish he's ever reeled in.

A Fish of a Lifetime

The monster northern pike measured an incredible 49 inches long and tipped the scales at 32.5 pounds.

Reames said he hooked the giant around 7 PM while casting an 8-inch swimbait. What followed was about a 10-minute battle before he finally got the fish to the boat.

"I've been fishing since I was a little kid," Reames said. "This is definitely the biggest fish I've ever caught."

Adam Reames

Lake Delta Keeps Producing

This wasn't Reames' first trophy fish from Lake Delta.

His previous personal best also came from the same lake—a 44-inch northern pike weighing 21 pounds.

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Even after catching plenty of fish over the years, nothing prepared him for seeing this giant come up out of the water.

Impressive Fish From Lake Delta

Lake Delta has become known for producing some seriously impressive fish.

Last year around this same time, Schuyler angler John Sodaro also pulled in a huge northern pike from the shoreline.

READ MORE: How 'One More Cast' Made Fishing History in Central New York

The lake’s biggest officially reported northern pike stretched an incredible 54 inches long, caught by local fisherman Casey Weissmuller.

While Lake Delta has its share of trophy fish, the New York State record northern pike is still a monster. That fish weighed 46 pounds, 2 ounces and was caught by Peter Dubuc on Great Sacandaga Lake in Fulton County back in 1940 — a record that has stood for more than 80 years.

Caught... and Released

Instead of keeping the fish, Reames made sure it was returned to the water.

He released the massive northern pike so it could swim away.

Somewhere beneath the surface of Lake Delta, there's now a legendary fish swimming free—thanks to an angler who chose to let it live to fight another day.