Quarry 2/17

Lazy day on the lake, didn't get on the water til 1pm or so.  Trolled for a few hours for nothing, and right about when I was about to doze off, wham!  Thought it was a snag at first but then it headed for deep water, fast!  I could tell it was good-sized, maybe a LMB?  I was using an ultralight setup, (4lb test on a Mitchell 308) so I eased off the drag all the way and let her take as much as she wanted.  But right then the wind kicked up hard, pushing me into the bushes on shore so it was kinda dicey as I somehow paddled and held the pole at the same time, keeping the line taught, trying to chase the fish down.  Finally got it close but she ran again.  But I saw the shine and tail and knew it was a big trout.  I was sure it was gonna break off.

As you can see this one has almost a normal tail.  And the meat is very red, like salmon.  Maybe this one has been in there awhile?

Anyway, it was a lot of fun on light gear.  7.7lbs, 24 inches.

You picked a nice day for fishing.

And you picked up a nice fish too.

She's a beauty.   Nice tail and with the red meat you mentioned, most likely a holdover.  What were you trolling?

BTW, you stole one of Raymac's fish!

Michael

Eric B
That is one nice fish and the prettiest one seen in a long time. I bet it was a lot of fun to boat it on light tackle! Way to go! 

Michael, I was trolling a jointed rapala, (is there anything they don't catch?)

Compa, thanks.  I also scouted out a lmb spot there that I have have somehow missed, til now.  Your tutoring helped!

Glad to hear that, Eric. 

Lazy day on the lake, didn't get on the water til 1pm or so.  Trolled for a few hours for nothing, and right about when I was about to doze off, wham!  Thought it was a snag at first but then it headed for deep water, fast!  I could tell it was good-sized, maybe a LMB?  I was using an ultralight setup, (4lb test on a Mitchell 308) so I eased off the drag all the way and let her take as much as she wanted.  But right then the wind kicked up hard, pushing me into the bushes on shore so it was kinda dicey as I somehow paddled and held the pole at the same time, keeping the line taught, trying to chase the fish down.  Finally got it close but she ran again.  But I saw the shine and tail and knew it was a big trout.  I was sure it was gonna break off.

As you can see this one has almost a normal tail.  And the meat is very red, like salmon.  Maybe this one has been in there awhile?

Anyway, it was a lot of fun on light gear.  7.7lbs, 24 inches.

Ive been told by the parks people every so often they plant a load from Orgeon and some of those are redish meat. Don't worry about taking raymacs fish, they plant new one's every week. The BB Rapala in J7,J9 has been a go getter for me.

eric, nice work. if you are going to be catching them that big tho, maybe you should try your 5500 with a topshot of 6 or 8lb,  , make it like practice for ocean trolling. I remember you doubted you could set the drag light enough, but koke fishermen use those reels for that, it will handle it great. keep your old mitchell straight and unbent for little streams and the like? sure is fun having a fish bigger than the reel was made for tho, and bringing them in.

I guess you got your hit basically late afternoon as the sun was getting low in the sky and that fish figured he better eat while he could?

John,

The trusty 308 actually handled the situation quite well.  If I'd been on shore I am pretty sure I'd have lost the fish, but being on a kayak I was able to follow and keep the tension within reason. 

It was well before sunset...  I think maybe it was the wind that turned the bite on.

Thanks to raymac for the inspiration and the recipe...  It's brining in a soy/applejuice/brown sugar concoction in preparation for smoking tomorrow night.

Eric, that's what Ray has said in the past. When you start to see the ripples in the water, the fish go on the prowl.

Nice trout Eric! WTG!

Had a couple of buddies at Quarry on the lake shore fishing today (Monday 2-18).  No bites and they saw one kid get one near the boat ramp from shore.  Sounds like a slow day.  I will be out as soon as the rain lets up.

Ken kickfish

Eric -

Nice looking trout!!!

scott

Dang Eric!
That is a nice trout man!

Now I am totally bummed, as I was planning to hit Quarry (for the 1st time) on Monday. As I was getting prepped on Sun night, my plans got vetoed by the commander-in-chief. Double-dang!!!!

Thanks for the report+pic,
PK