Dinosaur Rainbow Trout (10/13/18)

[JDTuna]

After our morning musky adventure, Chrisper and I decided we wanted to hit a stretch of river for some trout before heading. Well, especially me since I had a decent musky eat my lure at the boat, spit the hook and I'm pretty sure he laughed at me before swimming away. I needed to catch something before heading home.

The river was still rising but fishable. However, over all the fishing was pretty slow. Midway through the stretch, Chrisper picked up a nice brown trout in full fall coloration.

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/JL1981/20181016_135802_zpsztgumf3z.jpg

We continued on and saw a few fish but they weren't interested. I was running short on time so we couldn't sit and try multiple presentations on the few fish we saw. Just had to find a fish that would cooperate.

We got to a particular hole that usually holds fish. Sure enough, I saw activity as I approached. They weren't interested, so I switched to another "go to" lure. On the second cast, a fish hit. The fish rolled on top and I couldn't believe the size of the fish. He took off peeling drag. I knew I needed to get this fish in the net asap because of all the timber around the hole. The fish kept bulldogging, popping up top for a few headshakes. I waded in the hole to wait for my shot. Sure enough, he popped up again and I slid the giant male rainbow trout in the net. Got him on the tape and he was pushing 26 inches. My new personal best trout of any species from a stream in NJ. After a few pics, he was released to hopefully get even bigger.

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/JL1981/20181013_180523_zpspsuhgxad.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/JL1981/20181015_141108_zpsexwaoxvz.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k320/JL1981/20181014_170109_zpsoqbixncv.jpg

[BT67]

:eek:

[NJSquatch]

That thing looks like it is an escaped mutant refuge! WOW just WOW
what a fish...Congrats dude....

Dakota this is what you get for encouraging them!

[Detour66]

Congrats on catching that monster and double congrats on letting it go to swim another day!

[dakota560]

That thing looks like it is an escaped mutant refuge! WOW just WOW
what a fish...Congrats dude....

Dakota this is what you get for encouraging them!

Knew about it before my earlier post but Justin's fish so didn't want to steal his thunder. Many wouldn't release a trophy that size and with those colors, Justin / Chris keeping it wouldn't even cross their minds. Not coming at anyone who would since they're certainly entitled to but that fish is the once in a lifetime catch we all hope to hook into some day and as far as I'm concerned fish like that deserve their freedom. The more released, the more of us who will realize that lifetime dream.

Great job as always guys, don't know how you do it as consistently as you do. My hats off to you both on the catch and especially the release! Great job all around.

[FASTEDDIE29]

That’s an old fish right there man! That fish has seen it all and survived! It is very difficult to catch fish like this in NJ Trout streams. Especially a big holdover male that big!!! Great fish!!! :D

[OMC]

Justin what beast Congrats and way to go on the release !!!

[Mikey topaz]

Fricken awesome fish Justin! Look at that big dookie thing hah👍

[ALS Mako]

Congrats on the new PB trout. Do you think it's a fresh stocked? Tail looks worn and in the one pic looks like it has a double pec fin.

[thmyorke1]

Looks like you pulled that thing out of Round Valley haha woooooooow :eek: :eek:
The color on that is insane too.
Congrats on the PB, JD. Also nice looking brownie Chrisper :)

Great to hear big trout out of a NJ stream.

[Jigman13]

Nice fish justin. Tank holdover! We gotta swap some info! Hahaha...

[AndyS]

Maybe that was one of those big trout stocked from that pond in Hackettstown that you guys drool all over during the spring meeting ?

[JDTuna]

Congrats on the new PB trout. Do you think it's a fresh stocked? Tail looks worn and in the one pic looks like it has a double pec fin.

I think it's a holdover, not fresh stocked. We saw this fish in the spring in the same location. Plus, it's in spawning coloration which is unlikely to occur for a fish just dumped in the river. Confident it's a long term holdover.

[JimmyL]

Amazing...

[ScowardNJ]

That thing is nutso! What do you think the story is about that bo? Some big hold over or stocked breeder? Or some native yeti trout that's been eating waterfowl for the past few years?

[Chrisper4694]

i obviously can't be 100% sure, but in this same hole, early last spring, i saw a ginormous trout that was very red and i stalked it and hooked it, battled it in that hole for a few seconds before it defeated me. I have to think this is that fish so it's been in there for at least about a full season minimum if that's the case.

it was pretty awesome to see the fish caught in person and the very rare occasion of seeing JDtrout/tuna bust a personal NJ trout record (might be a once in a lifetime occurrence!)

[NorthJerzyG]

Regardless, that's a memorable fish for sure! Awesome!