Popular Post Jayhad Posted October 22, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted October 22, 2015 Maybe, maybe not, but currently I have no desire to angle right now, since that day. I spent 112 days focusing on purely brown trout streams looking for a trophy this season, I only drifted the Bow once and used my drifter twice, I've just been solely focused on slamming a true trophy bruin. I saw a lot of 14-18" browns, a few over 20" and a couple over 22." There really wasn't a fish that stood out for the season but I feel I did crack the code on a bunch of these brown trout creeks. After Oct 1st I don't really hunt for the browns as much as I want to because I like to respect the spawn, so I decided to switch up my focus and look for some cutties and dirty rainbows... I went into an area that I had never fished and figured I would yank a cuttie and maybe tie into a tank rainbow or two. I had just bought a new Sage VXP 590 and I wanted to swing it for a bit so that was the stick in my hand. I was using the only fly to use, the Sparkle Minnow. I walked a couple K from the car and found a piece of water I had checked out on Google earth, I did two swings nothing, on my third my fly stopped cold.... on one of the many logs this creek has in its waters... so I thought. I pointed the rod to the "snag" and started to pull to bust it off and it moved..... moved hard and fast... I had to run a little, scramble along the rocks a little, keep my line out of log jams a little, I peed a little when I saw the size and then cried a little when I landed her... my personal best brown. After the release I sat on shore for an easy hour, just in awe of what happened... I've seen a 28" brown before personally but this is the biggest brown I have caught or have seen personally. I haven't had the desire to fish since, I have bought a bow and I am practising for some hunting now. I will happily give my finned friends a break until April 1st, or when the itch needs to be scratched but for now I am a content angler. I'm going to let you guys figure the length, I know what she was. That there is a brown that clearly goes past the first section of a four piece 590. Enjoy 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Posted October 22, 2015 Share Posted October 22, 2015 Wow! Nice fish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monger Posted October 22, 2015 Share Posted October 22, 2015 Cool. Congrats on accomplishing an interesting goal. Sure is lots of blue on her operculum spreading even under the eye. "Snags" that move are always good!! Looks pretty close to 31" 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ÜberFly Posted October 22, 2015 Share Posted October 22, 2015 Beauty! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buck Posted October 22, 2015 Share Posted October 22, 2015 Nice fish Jayhead, now you just gotta muster up some strength to pull that bow back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayhad Posted October 22, 2015 Author Share Posted October 22, 2015 Nice fish Jayhead, now you just gotta muster up some strength to pull that bow back upright rows every day, and lots of pulling on the bow... I'll get it there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aaa Posted October 22, 2015 Share Posted October 22, 2015 The fish of a lifetime, congratulations. She was ok after the fight? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayhad Posted October 22, 2015 Author Share Posted October 22, 2015 aaa, Thank you. The fight was much shorter than one would imagine, but still 5-6 minutes, she released very slowly and it took longer than average for her swim away. She was already missing her left eye and realistically I assume a fish that size is 10-12 years old+ and probably close to the end. I am sure me catching her took days away from her grand total. We involve ourselves in a pure blood sport all I can do is handle them as little as possible, keep them under water once landed and get them in as quick as your equipment allows. I have fished 35 years, I've fished on a few continents, landed monster sturgeon, tangled with 15 years of salmon and steelhead. I've been chasing browns for 8 years and this is the most meaningful fish I've landed. It pains me to know I am possibly responsible for her death. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedBeard Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 What a beautiful fish, thanks for sharing the story Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eagleflyfisher Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 I landed a rainbow the other day that I held up to my rod & memory marked where it was to the ferrel of my 4 piece. Thought I would measure later just out of curiosity. It was about 4 or 5 inches short of the ferrel & it struck me as being a pretty good one. Your brown is freaking awesome. That's a great one ! Nice work ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverDoctor Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 Thanks for posting, love those intimate waters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbow Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 that is a dandy alright. and would be tough to repeat. congrats on fulfilling your quest. reminds me of years ago when we took a complete newbie floating on the red deer river. browns were on stoneflies. the newbie landed 3 browns over 20" one likely in 23/24" range. we told him for his own piece of mind it's best he never fly fishes again - different but the same. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muha Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 That is a gorgeous fish. Congrats on catching it, you definitely set the bar with this granny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanadianFish Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 Perfect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyGopher Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 Wonderful fish. Congrats. Am wondering why you'd bother avoid fishing the spawn when you clearly fished through the hottest, driest weather and lowest, warmest water we've had in years? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
troutlover Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 There are lots of central Alberta streams that are spring fed where the temps and flows remain relatively consistent. Good for you Jay for clearly not targeting fish in streams that had warm and low flow conditions. Also, NICE FISH! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayhad Posted October 23, 2015 Author Share Posted October 23, 2015 Wonderful fish. Congrats. Am wondering why you'd bother avoid fishing the spawn when you clearly fished through the hottest, driest weather and lowest, warmest water we've had in years? I don't recall seeing you following me when I was pounding waters this season. Is that why you are confused as to when and where I fish? I didn't fish any creek during the heat and closures that was over 12C and I was pretty vocal on this forum informing guys there were lots of opportunities to fish during the closures just check with your thermometer before casting. Next to not fishing, i put the fish first in all of my outings, to suggest I don't shows you don't me and perhaps you need to put in some more miles and leave the tourist waters to the tourists 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LastBoyScout Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 Perfect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reset Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 Wow. A beauty for sure. Love the colors. Ive yet to catch anything that big on a fly rod. Im guessing minimum 30"? Im green with envy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danhunt Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 Nice fish, congrats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjthom2 Posted October 24, 2015 Share Posted October 24, 2015 Nice fish - well deserved reward for a guy who puts in serious time and serious miles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcubed Posted October 24, 2015 Share Posted October 24, 2015 Wow. A beauty for sure. Love the colors. Ive yet to catch anything that big on a fly rod. Im guessing minimum 30"? Im green with envy. Think your guys math is off.. I'd say 28. Nice fish either way. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weedy1 Posted October 24, 2015 Share Posted October 24, 2015 I'm going to let you guys figure the length, I know what she was. That there is a brown that clearly goes past the first section of a four piece 590. Enjoy Each section of a VXP 590 is 28.5 inches. If you swung the centre of the tail up to the butt of the rod I think the nose would still be past the first section by at least 1/2", maybe 1". So my guess is 29 1/4". 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flyfisher Posted October 24, 2015 Share Posted October 24, 2015 That's a beauty alright. Doesn't appear to be colored up for spawn either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest hoangtrismpk Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 Wow, i like it, nice picture Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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