Teenage fisherman catches wallet with $3000 inside

A high-schooler made an unusual catch while fishing with his family this summer, pulling up a wallet filled with cash.

A US high-schooler made an unusual catch while fishing with his family this summer, pulling up a wallet filled with cash.

Connor Halsa, 14, caught the odd item during a recent fishing trip at Lake of the Woods in Minnesota near the Canadian border, according to the US news outlet WDAY-TV.

“My cousin opened the wallet up, and he said some words you probably shouldn’t say, and he showed everyone,” the teen told the program.

Inside was US$2000 in cash (A$3095) and a business card with a telephone number on it.

Connor’s dad suggested he return the wallet to its rightful owner, which he agreed to do, WDAY-TV reports.

Connor said it was important “to be nice to everyone”.

“We didn’t work hard for the money, he did, so it was his money,” he added.

A teenager reeled in a wallet on a family fishing trip. Picture: WDAY-TV

The wallet contained $3000. Picture: WDAY-TV

Connor’s family got in contact with the owner of the wallet, Jim Denney of Iowa.

Mr Denny said he’d lost it a whole year earlier during his own fishing trip at the same lake.

The farmer recently travelled to meet with the Halsa family. He tried to give them some of the money they had returned, but his offer was rejected.

It’s reported Mr Denney took the family out to dinner and bought Connor a new cooler to say thank you.

Mr Denney bought Connor a new cooler to say thank you. Picture: WDAY-TV

Mr Denney told the outlet he “would take Connor as a grandson any day.”

“I have the billfold in my hands, and it is still hard to believe,” he marvelled.

Commenters praised the teenager on a viral video recounting the incident that was uploaded to YouTube.

“BRAVO! That’s how it’s done! Good parents!” one person wrote.

A second added: “Good job young man! You’re parents taught you right.”

“The fact that he snagged it with a fishing hook is amazing. I only ever catch rocks and branches,” noted a third.