Chasing Dinosaurs

Kentucky light line specialist finding more giants on Texas waters

  • Weston is the owner of 38 current IGFA angling records linked to 14 freshwater species from six different countries. Among them is this 27-pound smallmouth buffalo he caught on two-pound line while fishing at Lake LBJ near Austin in December 2023. Fishing guide Austin Anderson with Carp Pro Texas Guide Service steered him to the catch. (Photo courtesy Art Weston)
    Weston is the owner of 38 current IGFA angling records linked to 14 freshwater species from six different countries. Among them is this 27-pound smallmouth buffalo he caught on two-pound line while fishing at Lake LBJ near Austin in December 2023. Fishing guide Austin Anderson with Carp Pro Texas Guide Service steered him to the catch. (Photo courtesy Art Weston)
  • Weston said massive claws on the alligator snapping turtle looked almost like bear claws. (Photo by Kirk Kirkland)
    Weston said massive claws on the alligator snapping turtle looked almost like bear claws. (Photo by Kirk Kirkland)
  • On April 7, light line specialist Art Weston of Union, KY., caught and released a 188-pound alligator gar on Sam Rayburn Reservoir using spinning gear and 4-pound test line. The fish is pending certification with the International Game Fish Association as a 4-pound line class world record for the species. Last September, Weston landed the IGFA All-Tackleworld record alligator weighing 283 pounds using 6-pound line, also on Sam Rayburn. (Photo by Kirk Kirkland)
    On April 7, light line specialist Art Weston of Union, KY., caught and released a 188-pound alligator gar on Sam Rayburn Reservoir using spinning gear and 4-pound test line. The fish is pending certification with the International Game Fish Association as a 4-pound line class world record for the species. Last September, Weston landed the IGFA All-Tackleworld record alligator weighing 283 pounds using 6-pound line, also on Sam Rayburn. (Photo by Kirk Kirkland)
  • Fishermen never know what might find a succulent piece of cut bait soaking on bottom in big water. Weston recently caught and released this alligator snapping turtle while targeting big gar on Sam Rayburn. The alligator snapping turtle is a threatened species that is protected in Texas. Anglers who inadvertently catch one should always release it immediately. (Photo by Kirk Kirkland)
    Fishermen never know what might find a succulent piece of cut bait soaking on bottom in big water. Weston recently caught and released this alligator snapping turtle while targeting big gar on Sam Rayburn. The alligator snapping turtle is a threatened species that is protected in Texas. Anglers who inadvertently catch one should always release it immediately. (Photo by Kirk Kirkland)
Outdoors Writer Chalk up another IGFA line class world record alligator gar for light tackle specialist Art Weston. Caught earlier this month at Sam Rayburn Reservoir, the 7.04-footer weighed 188 pounds. The tackle Weston used to pull it off may come as a shock. He landed the monster gar on a 6-foot, medium-action spinning rod matched with an Okuma spinning reel. The reel was spooled with 4…

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