Indiana DNR’s Fish of the Year program saw a record-setting season in 2025 as Steven Kellett of Linton landed 17 winning catches, breaking the previous mark of 15 set in 2022. Kellett’s achievement was a family affair. His 9-year-old son, Landon, added five Fish of the Year wins of his own, as the pair spent the season learning species, tracking trends, and setting goals together on the water. Among Steven’s standout catches were a 25.5-inch channel catfish from Goose Pond FWA, a 22.25-inch saugeye from the Whitewater River, and a 21.5-inch brown trout from a private Greene County pond. Landon’s highlights included a 28-inch black buffalo and an 18.5-inch shorthead redhorse. Kellett said fishing helps his family unplug and reconnect with nature while continuing a tradition passed down from his father and grandfather.
