The Real "Largest Trout of My Life"

I let Paul know that I had bought a net with a longer handle and he writes back: You’re a real optimist Howard, buying a bigger net!  It’ll be hard to beat that last tiger.

Well, when he invited me back to that private lake I was glad that I had already bought a bigger net.  That would have helped tremendously on the previous trip.   The lake has a steep bank around its entirety and an extra-long handle helps reach a large fish struggling away from being pulled too close to the bank. 

I started out using my favorite tungsten head black woolly bugger making my way around the far side of the lake. I used my loop 7 weight with a sink tip line.  Because it was bright outside, I allowed the streamer to sink a few seconds before each retrieve. 

I had a few smaller trout following when all of a sudden a large trout darted out and hit it. After wearing it out, I netted the fish.  That long handled net came in handy already. The trout was big, similar to the big Tiger I caught last trip.  Pulling out the tape measure, it indeed was 26 inches long. Wow, I never thought I’d catch another trout that big. This was a great way to start the day. 

I went back to the car for lunch as Paul was heading around the lake the other way.  Just as I finished lunch and headed back out, 

Paul caught a nice one that I was able to take a picture of from clear across the lake as he let it go. 

Then at the far end of the lake, near the trees on the shore Paul hooked into a large tiger trout.  It was putting up a good fight and I ran around the lake to help with the netting.  

The fish would fight down the side of one bank and then in the opposite direction down the other side.  I laid down reaching out as far as I could with the long handled net.  

Each time we thought we had it; it would pull out more line.  Finally we successfully got it into the net.  It was the similar in size as the largest we’ve caught here.  Addie was right there checking it out.  The fish was a little darker and the stripes were well pronounced making it one the prettiest fish yet. 

I caught a few smaller fish and then switched to Geoff’s streamer that I had used on the previous trip.  

Again, I liked the way it would hover in the water when I slowed down the retrieve.  

On the far side of the lake is an olive tree that is spread out so you can’t cast in front of it from the sides.  I cast across the lake as far as I could to hit the shore just under the tree.  It was deep near the shore but as I started to strip and the fly hit the shallower section near the moss, a huge trout came out from hiding and hit the streamer.  The fish fought a while on the far side but I eventually muscled it across the moss in the middle of the lake without allowing it to get caught up in weeds, luckily.  As it got close I could see it was my first rainbow from this lake.  It continued to fight, intending on digging deep into the weeds. 

Paul ran over to help with the netting.  As I raised its head away from the plants, Paul reached the net under the water for me to slide the fish into.  The rainbow didn’t like the sight of the net and took off again for one last run into the deep.  Finally sensing he was wearing out, I muscled it again close to shore where Paul was able to get it into the net.  This fish was heavy.  

I was tired by this time but between the two of us we were able to lift the net with the fish in it onto shore.  What a beautiful, dark colored rainbow in perfect condition. The tape measured 31 inches.  What a trophy.  Again, this was the largest trout of my life.

I laid down on the shore holding the rainbow in the water making sure he was still in good shape after that battle.  As I was holding onto the tail, it would try to swim away.  

I could tell it still had plenty of energy and had no problem staying upright; as I let go, it slowly swam back into the depths of the lake.