Hooked a fish today that will haunt me for awhile

thegorn

thegorn

New member
Joined
Jun 16, 2024
Messages
3
City
Chester Springs
Been in Chester County for about 10 months now and have been obsessed with learning the area. Last couple months have been productive, I've hooked some quality trout as I get to know the area better. Bushwacked to a great spot today, saw no one all morning. Waded down then up a half-mile of the creek, best looking spot was right near where I started out, lots of nice deep channels, eddies, overhanging trees below and above several small rapids/riffles. Nothing for like 2 hours, then hooked a rainbow, about 12 inches or so. As I hooked it, I saw another rainbow more than twice that size darting around, excited by the movement of the smaller trout. It was the biggest trout I'd spotted in Chesco yet, at least 30 inches. There's a couple of really big palominos at another spot I go to, they've been for at least a month and probably much longer, but they're just teases, I've seen guys throwing all kinds of nymphs and streamers at them, it's a waste of time.

This monster was just floating at the bottom of the creek, barely moving unless I caught one of the other smaller trout in its vicinity, all on prince nymphs. I stayed there for a good 90 minutes, watched it chilling as I ate lunch. Didn't go for anything I threw at it. There were definitely stoneflies around so I tried to match them with one of mine, figured I'd give it a couple more casts before I gave up. Second cast with the stonefly and I hooked it. Fought it for a good 5 minutes, it kept bulldogging underneath a log or big rock. Definitely a reason it lived to be as big as it was. Eventually it just snapped off my 3x tip-it line like it was nothing.

I still can't get it out of my head! I learned something though. Shoulda moved to shallower water quicker, among other things. Landing the smaller trout seems ridiculously easy now in comparison. This guy outwitted me, plain and simple.

I tried to take a picture while watching him but it's impossible to see. I did take a picture of the area where I hooked him, which you can see below. I'll definitely be back to try again, I have a feeling it's not going anywhere anytime soon.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0645.jpeg
    IMG_0645.jpeg
    667.7 KB · Views: 194
I feel you man. I had a wild brown yesterday that took a big streamer, it took off ripping drag downstream until it jumped and got off. 22-23 easy, would have been my biggest ever. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forget seeing it’s head come up out of the water and watching my fly pop out of its jaw and come flying back towards me
 
Mikey2006 said:
I feel you man. I had a wild brown yesterday that took a big streamer, it took off ripping drag downstream until it jumped and got off. 22-23 easy, would have been my biggest ever. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forget seeing it’s head come up out of the water and watching my fly pop out of its jaw and come flying back towards me
Click to expand...
That stinging memory will someday be reflected on with fondness and joy. These are the things, both personal victories and defeat, that keep us coming back. It's the real surprise of not knowing how things will turn out, of having to quickly think on our feet while angling. That's part of the fun, the adventure.

Even just hooking the fish was a blessing. You never will forget about it's head throwing your streamer, but that's what angling does. It creates lasting memories.
 
Definitely know the feeling, had a wild brown in February crush a streamer that was above the 2 foot mark, the only reason I know this is because I saw him not only eat, but roll twice after he was hooked. They sting for a little while, but it’s just added fuel to the fire.
 
Try to catch it at night when you can get away with 1x tippet. I’ve gotten the same big palomino a couple times where I go night fishing and can just horse it in. It’s not anywhere near 30 inches but it puts a pretty deep bend in my 7wt streamer rod.
 
Mikey2006 said:
I feel you man. I had a wild brown yesterday that took a big streamer, it took off ripping drag downstream until it jumped and got off. 22-23 easy, would have been my biggest ever. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forget seeing it’s head come up out of the water and watching my fly pop out of its jaw and come flying back towards me
Click to expand...
Now you know where he lives. Give him a few days until it rains again and go get him again
 
Oh I meant the wild brown. I’d rather catch a 12 inch fallfish than a horrendously out of place stinker stonker in chesco. If i wanted to catch huge stocked rainbows I’d just go up to Erie.
 
Nocktavius said:
Now you know where he lives. Give him a few days until it rains again and go get him again
Click to expand...
This fish was definitely on the move. I hooked him in about two feet of water out of a spot that would almost never hold a fish that big for very long. I guarantee the fish is either already a good ways upstream or is hiding under the big logjam just downstream from where I got him. Doesn’t mean I won’t be back though
 
Nocktavius said:
Now you know where he lives. Give him a few days until it rains again and go get him again
Click to expand...
I missed the part about the rain. That is my plan, I know there’s at least one or two other fish of similar size in the general area. The reason I thought my fish was on the move was because I hooked it the day after it rained a fair amount, this undercut is usually too shallow when the water isn’t high. Now that it’s been a day or two and it hasn’t rained I bet he’s elsewhere
 
Mikey2006 said:
This fish was definitely on the move. I hooked him in about two feet of water out of a spot that would almost never hold a fish that big for very long. I guarantee the fish is either already a good ways upstream or is hiding under the big logjam just downstream from where I got him. Doesn’t mean I won’t be back though
Click to expand...
The fish very likely may have just been in that fast, riffle-like water to feed. That may be a regular routine for that fish, moving form the logjam safety net into the swift water to catch drifting nymphs, etc. If that is the type of water the fish was in when you hooked it....
 
Mikey2006 said:
This fish was definitely on the move. I hooked him in about two feet of water out of a spot that would almost never hold a fish that big for very long. I guarantee the fish is either already a good ways upstream or is hiding under the big logjam just downstream from where I got him. Doesn’t mean I won’t be back though
Click to expand...
Exactly, was gonna say there is probably something structural about that spot that you can’t see that makes it a good feeding lie (current, bottom structure, funnel point etc) at least at those flows . Big fish don’t usually do things for no reason
 
jifigz said:
That stinging memory will someday be reflected on with fondness and joy. These are the things, both personal victories and defeat, that keep us coming back. It's the real surprise of not knowing how things will turn out, of having to quickly think on our feet while angling. That's part of the fun, the adventure.

Even just hooking the fish was a blessing. You never will forget about it's head throwing your streamer, but that's what angling does. It creates lasting memories.
Click to expand...
Couldn't agree more! Thanks
 
Go back. Good chance it’ll be around there. Possibly in the log jam, maybe where you hooked him feeding.

You were spot on about the shallow water too, if you were to hook him again, try as hard as possible to get it shallow, when they start rolling around even the biggest fish are toast.

Don’t be afraid to up your leader too, I get large ones all the time on 6 pound fluro leaders. (I spin fish)

Enjoy it though, it’s the thought of it that keeps you wanting more. Good luck I hope you get it!!
 
Oregon_OwlII said:
There a book written, probably in the 1970s titled My Moby **** that describes the chase of a guy who hooks and loses a giant one-eyed stocked brown trout somewhere in Massechusetts (maybe the Berkshires). Your quest for that fish reminds me of the book.
Click to expand...
I can't believe that the title of a fishing tale was censored. You can find it on Amazon as My Moby D!ck by William Humphrey.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Montana Angler Fly Fishing
Montana Angler Fly Fishing
Harman's North Fork Cottages


Real Time Data From
the USGS Site

Share this page

Back
Top