Phil Lilley

Hey- Copy and paste the details - lodging and everything. It will help.

Benz caught it while throwing a Shad Rap, a medium crank bait usually used for bass fishing but many anglers know that big browns like big baits here on Taneycomo. With 4 units running this morning and current really moving here on the lake, these baits are perfect lures to use for trophy trout. He was only using 4-pound line and the fish fight completely destroyed his lure. It is amazing Steve's trout didn't get away... one treble hook was gone and of the 3 hooks on the back treble, one was bent out straight. The wire connecting the back hook to the front bill had pulled loose from the body and pulled the bill down and was hanging off the lure.

Generation - the pattern is they are running water early and late in the day on very cold days EXCEPT today (weekend).

I've never thought about gills freezing on fish caught in REALLY cold weather. And I don't think I've seen it discussed on this forum. Thoughts? If you haven't seen it - we've had a big brown come in here on Taneycomo this morning and we're trying to revive it. Shane Bush brought the frozen gills to my attention.

Shane pointed out something I've never thought about. It's 15 degrees out. The fish was out of the water for several minutes because their live well was frozen. Shane said the fish's gills may have, probably froze to the point of damaging them. it would take long at all... they are paper thin. The fish seems like it's doing better though. Gills are red. He's staying upright more on his own.

It's a triploid brown. It's sterile. Asked Shane Bush, MDC biologists, and he said it probably is 7 years old. First diploid stocking was in 2012 and they were 2-year old fish when released. That's 2.5 pounds per year growth.

"He's in a tank getting some tinder loving care, trying to revive from his ordeal..." the fish, not Steve.

Steve Benz just caught this 30+inch, 17.4 inch brown on a Shad Rap. He's here to fish a private tournament this weekend but I've heard there's a hefty big fish pot today... I think his fish is safe. He's in a tank getting some tinder loving care, trying to revive from his ordeal... witnesses says the fish tail walked several times. And being 9 degrees outside, livewells don't work. They landed it close to the dock and rushed it in. Hopefully it'll get its bearings and revive. It's swimming pretty good but keeps turning on it's belly. We have it in an aerated tank.

We get the props rebuilt... they are aluminum. Every great once in a while, we'll get one that we can't rebuild. Plus - you can only rebuild them so many times.

Any pictures? Love to see the brook.

I don't throw them very often but this is what I do. Baitcast - yes. Heavy line too. Just like bass fishing. Regular size, just like bass fishing. A lot of the guys are throwing megabass lures.

Not a bad first post... Thanks!

Saw this posted on FB.

Did anyone fish?

Sorry guys.... got stuck here at the resort. Computer issues.

For the water being off, that's impressive. Ryan said you didn't waist any time putting the fish back... he made it a point to tell me. Saw a lot of fish brought to the dock for cleaning today but others said it was slow, esp fly fishers. I fished with a friend for the last hour of the day and we found it slow too.

Doty told me there was an issue with my word filter setting... I see why now. Made me chuckle... I removed "hell" from the filter. Never thought about the Hell Bender lure... Have a good New Years everybody!

Size. Friend of a friend is very tall. I'll pass on the info. Thanks

Looking for the best place to order custom made breathable waders. Any suggestions?

Welcome. Glad you found our small fishing community. Fox is a good friend. He came over years ago and helped with a fly fishing clinic we hosted. I see him on Facebook quite a bit.

I got you beat in only one category... trips. That is if you count stepping out my office door and casting once a "trip".

Stink'n bass...

http://www.newstribune.com/news/local/story/2016/dec/24/winter-drawdown-lake-ozarks-ahead-schedule/654508/

Richy, I'll post your review on OA when you're done. Thanks