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Linton dentist sets state fishing record
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Fish of the Year program (FOTY), recognizes anglers who have caught the longest fish of each species DNR tracks in that year.
For 2025, Steven Kellett, a Linton (Greene County) dentist, set a new FOTY record with 17 FOTY winning catches, eclipsing the mark of 15 FOTY winning catches set by Liu He of West Lafayette in 2022. The Kellett name also appears five more times on the 2025 FOTY list, as Landon, Steven’s 9-year-old son, caught five winning fish.
The elder Kellett said fishing with his son makes him think back to his childhood and helps him shape his son’s future.
“Spending father/son time away from the everyday stresses of life means everything to me,” Steven Kellett said. “I have awesome memories fishing with my dad and grandfather, and I want Landon to have some of the same experiences that I did.
“A lot of kids these days do not get to experience the outdoors, living in our tech driven culture. When I’m not working or at a sporting event, we make an effort to go fishing! These memories will last a lifetime!”
Steven’s FOTY catches for species that are most commonly pursued by anglers included a 25.5 inch channel catfish he caught at Goose Pond Fish & Wildlife Area, a 22.25 inch saugeye from the Whitewater River in Franklin, and a 21.5 inch brown trout from a private pond in Greene County.
The largest of Landon’s catches were a 28 inch black buffalo from the Wabash River in Sullivan County and an 18.5 inch shorthead redhorse from the Tippecanoe River in White County.
The elder Kellett said the FOTY program serves as extra motivation to fish for both he and his son.
“The FOTY competition offers a unique opportunity to either specialize in a single species or diversify into multiple,” he said. “I enjoy teaching my son to identify different species of fish and learn what is around us.
“We are both goal driven, and we like to log our catches, not only to send in for the competition, but to chart trends, locations, baits, and our own personal bests. This helps us find fish in the future, too.”
To learn more about DNR’s FOTY and Record Fish programs, see on.IN.gov/recordfish. To buy a fishing license and start your next fishing trip, go to GoOutdoorsIN.com or visit one of more than 500 retailers statewide listed at on.IN.gov/HuntFishLicenseRetailers.
To view more DNR news releases, please see dnr.IN.gov.
For 2025, Steven Kellett, a Linton (Greene County) dentist, set a new FOTY record with 17 FOTY winning catches, eclipsing the mark of 15 FOTY winning catches set by Liu He of West Lafayette in 2022. The Kellett name also appears five more times on the 2025 FOTY list, as Landon, Steven’s 9-year-old son, caught five winning fish.
The elder Kellett said fishing with his son makes him think back to his childhood and helps him shape his son’s future.
“Spending father/son time away from the everyday stresses of life means everything to me,” Steven Kellett said. “I have awesome memories fishing with my dad and grandfather, and I want Landon to have some of the same experiences that I did.
“A lot of kids these days do not get to experience the outdoors, living in our tech driven culture. When I’m not working or at a sporting event, we make an effort to go fishing! These memories will last a lifetime!”
Steven’s FOTY catches for species that are most commonly pursued by anglers included a 25.5 inch channel catfish he caught at Goose Pond Fish & Wildlife Area, a 22.25 inch saugeye from the Whitewater River in Franklin, and a 21.5 inch brown trout from a private pond in Greene County.
The largest of Landon’s catches were a 28 inch black buffalo from the Wabash River in Sullivan County and an 18.5 inch shorthead redhorse from the Tippecanoe River in White County.
The elder Kellett said the FOTY program serves as extra motivation to fish for both he and his son.
“The FOTY competition offers a unique opportunity to either specialize in a single species or diversify into multiple,” he said. “I enjoy teaching my son to identify different species of fish and learn what is around us.
“We are both goal driven, and we like to log our catches, not only to send in for the competition, but to chart trends, locations, baits, and our own personal bests. This helps us find fish in the future, too.”
To learn more about DNR’s FOTY and Record Fish programs, see on.IN.gov/recordfish. To buy a fishing license and start your next fishing trip, go to GoOutdoorsIN.com or visit one of more than 500 retailers statewide listed at on.IN.gov/HuntFishLicenseRetailers.
To view more DNR news releases, please see dnr.IN.gov.