The Fishing Gods Smiled Today

[troutface]

I was out on the ice for some small Lake trout this morning to stick in the smoker. No love until I was about to pack up at noon and head home. That's when this old boy took me for a ride. Taped at 35" and 12+ pounds. The state record is just over 50 pounds, so I still have a ways to go!

 

[teufelhund]

Nice catch... That'll make for dinner. Congrats!

 

[petes03]

Nice Lake trout! I've never caught one myself. There's a couple of mountain lakes around here that have them, they're big but very hard to catch, and quite rare. Congrats on a beautiful fish!

 

[cobguy]

OH ... That's a beauty!! What area are you in?

 

[crazypipe]

Wow that is some fish, have a nice dinner. ::

 

[saint007]

Nice catch! Here I am on the Louisiana Gulfcoast thinking it's too cold to go fishing in 40 degree weather.

What's all that white stuff?
I think I own the same Browning jacket you are wearing.

 

[lestrout]

tf - nice. What did he hit?
hp

les

 

[gnatjulio]

Nice catch, troutface.

 

[houndstooth]

That is beautiful! Really nice New Year's Day catch!

 

[troutface]

What area are you in?

Colorado high country

What's all that white stuff?

:rofl: At least I don't have to worry about gators eating my dogs when I go duck hunting.

What did he hit?

Of all things he hit a 1/4 oz. silver Kastmaster tipped with a waxie. Not exactly typical monster fare.
Lake trout (Mackinaw) are very slow growing and this fish is probably between 30 and 40 years old according to what I've read. After the measurements and photos he was released. He would have tasted horrible anyway.

 

[saint007]

Troutface, I've seen that white stuff on TV ! Looks like fun.
I wouldn't duck or goose hunt without the dog in my avatar wearing his Mardi Gras costume. Good Labs just need to be able to swim faster than a gator. :wink:

 

[troutface]

Good Labs just need to be able to swim faster than a gator.

Just get yourself some chessies, they'll beat the crap out of the gator. :wink:

 

[saint007]

I like Chessies, very tough. An American Retriever! Deep Run Farms (kennel) in Virginia has been trying to place one with me. I'm just a one dog at a time kind of guy.




My neighbor with his gator harvest from two seasons ago.

 

[petes03]

Wow! Nice gator! What was the length and weight on that sucker?

 

[terry]

Nice fish!!

 

[taerin]

Biggest fish I ever caught in freshwater is around that size (catfish). That's quite a catch!

 

[saint007]

Wow! Nice gator! What was the length and weight on that sucker?
Pete, it was almost 13 feet long but short of the state record. The processor that it was taken to does not weigh them as a practice. They pay per foot and not weight.

 

[homeatsea]

That's some beautiful scenery you got there. And a great fish to match! Congrats.

 

[docwatson]

Thanks for sharing your fish story. LOL

No, really, that's a great Laker and you are a true sportsman for returning that monster to swim again because like you say, it would've been lousy tasting. Keeping the 4 or 5 pounders is another story. Great photo and beautiful Chessies as well. :clap:

 

[petes03]

13 feet, wow! That's a big boy alright!