Koi Fish Caught In Michigan Lake Breaks the World Record

Northern Michigan's Glen Lake, located in Leelanau County's Glen Arbor, faces a colorful problem: invasive Japanese koi fish—those vibrant, oversized goldfish you see in fancy people's ponds. However, these weren't your average, everyday koi invaders. These fishy little ninjas have caused serious problems for Glen Lake and others like them dealing with this invasive species.

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The koi invasion has put the Glen Lake Association on high alert, so they called in the big guns--a team of bowfishers from Thundering Aspens Sportsman Club from Mesik, Michigan. Why take such measures? Because it's estimated that 3 out of every 4 of the koi in the lake are pregnant, according to The Cool Down, and if there's one thing worse than invasive koi, it's an army of invasive koi.

World Record Japenese Koi Fish Taken in Michigan Lake

They might be pretty and colorful, but these not-so-innocent fish were poised to turn Glen Lake into a koi kingdom. With the Thundering Aspens Sportsman Club set loose on the waters by the association, the goal was to take out as many koi as possible, but I don't think anyone could have imagined the monster that would be caught.

According to the Glen Lake Facebook page, the largest koi landed during the event was a whopping 32 inches long and tipped the scale at 24.5 pounds. That's not just big; it's a world record for koi taken with a bow. Keep in mind that this beast is more than a decedent of a released house pet, so think twice before letting Goldy out in a Michigan lake.

Why Invasive Koi Fish Are Dangerous to Michigan Lake Ecosystems

So what makes these formerly tiny house pets such a big problem for Michigan's freshwater? Koi are basically the bullies of the lake world. They survive anything, grow enormous, and eat like they're at an all-you-can-eat buffet. They also like to mess with the lakebed, which is a vital part of the water's ecosystem, providing nesting grounds and habitat and serving as a food source for native species.

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So, if you learn anything here today, such as if you have a pet koi and you think of releasing it into the wilds of Michigan's freshwater lakes, think again. Either that or the Thundering Aspens Sportsman Club may have to travel to your lake next.