Whats Your Biggest Busch Wildlife Trout?

[esox niger]

just curious to see what other people are catching out there. I was out today, probably my second time every fishing trout out there, and definitely not my last. today my big fish was a 24 inch slab-sided rainbow. right after hook up i seen'm flash....my first thought... "holly McShiznit ! I hooked a carp! " ill admit i was pretty much shaking after i let im go. 3 wt with some micro tippet and a beadhead yellow sparkle bugger. biggest trout ive ever caught period. I had about 10 other regular fish, a nice 18 incher that got off, and a couple of break offs.

I was very surprised to see that fish, i thought sure there might be some holdovers but dang!

[ozark trout fisher]

just curious to see what other people are catching out there. I was out today, probably my second time every fishing trout out there, and definitely not my last. today my big fish was a 24 inch slab-sided rainbow. right after hook up i seen'm flash....my first thought... "holly McShiznit ! I hooked a carp! " ill admit i was pretty much shaking after i let im go. 3 wt with some micro tippet and a beadhead yellow sparkle bugger. biggest trout ive ever caught period. I had about 10 other regular fish, a nice 18 incher that got off, and a couple of break offs.

I was very surprised to see that fish, i thought sure there might be some holdovers but dang!

17" is the biggest I've put a tape to. 24" is a great trout... I bet that was a good fight.

[esox niger]

your right it was. ... he sorta thrashed his head around reel good and went deep while i tried to get my leg out of my line....then he kept spinning my drag which i didnt have set appropriatly...then after some fumbling and cursing i finaly got my stuff in order....only to find he was sitting on the bottom Kinda like hed transfered me to a snag but to my relief he was still there and free...then he gave one good run followed by a couple short runs. and that was all i remember. sort of a blurr. the old slightly rusty fly snapped off from abraision two fish later.

[Thom]

your right it was. ... he sorta thrashed his head around reel good and went deep while i tried to get my leg out of my line....then he kept spinning my drag which i didnt have set appropriatly...then after some fumbling and cursing i finaly got my stuff in order....only to find he was sitting on the bottom Kinda like hed transfered me to a snag but to my relief he was still there and free...then he gave one good run followed by a couple short runs. and that was all i remember. sort of a blurr. the old slightly rusty fly snapped off from abraision two fish later.

What lake was that on. I thought the lakes were frozen over and ice fishing was only possible but the ice is too thin to walk on now. I was there Sunday and the ice was craking and poping when it was walked on but I can't imagine it being melted off enough to use a fly rod yet.

[stlfisher]

Biggest trout I caught was 18 inches at Busch and a 19 at Forest Park, but I see people catching some really nice ones all the time. From what I understand they stock the "lunkers" in a few weeks after the intitial stocking. I have seen the truck at Forest Park.

I do think some trout have survived at 28 and 21 from last year. The water never really got much above 80 this year and 28 and 21 have been renovated in the last 10 years and made much deeper.I think that combination may make it feasible for a few hardier trout to survive the summer in the deeper water.

[esox niger]

What lake was that on. I thought the lakes were frozen over and ice fishing was only possible but the ice is too thin to walk on now. I was there Sunday and the ice was craking and poping when it was walked on but I can't imagine it being melted off enough to use a fly rod yet.

Ha Ha! it was!!. id seen a lake open yesterday near home, it was the rain maybe? there was some ice but 50-70% open water. not for long though. I thought "aha a break in the ice! maybe ill get a bite!" if u guessed it was a catch and release lake youd be right. you got a 50% chance gettin it right.

or maybe pm me.

[esox niger]

Biggest trout I caught was 18 inches at Busch and a 19 at Forest Park, but I see people catching some really nice ones all the time. From what I understand they stock the "lunkers" in a few weeks after the intitial stocking. I have seen the truck at Forest Park.

I do think some trout have survived at 28 and 21 from last year. The water never really got much above 80 this year and 28 and 21 have been renovated in the last 10 years and made much deeper.I think that combination may make it feasible for a few hardier trout to survive the summer in the deeper water.

i did see some fresh tire tracks on the dam. I didnt realize they stocked lunkers but perhaps they do. i fished catch and release looking for a holdover lunker...id like to think of him as that...either way, quite a surprise.

[eric1978]

I haven't been lucky enough to land one of those pigs this year, but they're in there. There are rumors of an 8 pounder being caught this year, and I heard a couple grumblings about 6 pounders and I saw a 4 pounder. I played one that may have been close to 20", but probably more like 18" but lost him, and had on what surely was a lunker from the way he pulled, but he took me into some cover and broke me off. I've had quite a few around 16" this year, which I can do all day and have a fine time. I would like to get one hog before the catch and keepers and the intolerable water temps wipe them out for the year.

I'm thinking about going this morning.

[ozark trout fisher]

your right it was. ... he sorta thrashed his head around reel good and went deep while i tried to get my leg out of my line....then he kept spinning my drag which i didnt have set appropriatly...then after some fumbling and cursing i finaly got my stuff in order....only to find he was sitting on the bottom Kinda like hed transfered me to a snag but to my relief he was still there and free...then he gave one good run followed by a couple short runs. and that was all i remember.

Sounds like fun... I've never gotten into a real pig of a trout like that before, and frankly I'm not sure what I would do if I did.

[mhall02]

Biggest trout I caught was 18 inches at Busch and a 19 at Forest Park, but I see people catching some really nice ones all the time. From what I understand they stock the "lunkers" in a few weeks after the intitial stocking. I have seen the truck at Forest Park.

I do think some trout have survived at 28 and 21 from last year. The water never really got much above 80 this year and 28 and 21 have been renovated in the last 10 years and made much deeper.I think that combination may make it feasible for a few hardier trout to survive the summer in the deeper water.

That would be pretty interesting, I caught one a few years ago in mid to late May at 28, but I'm not sure how cool it stays down deep in late summer. Browns are a little more tolerant of higher temps but don't remember catching any after that last year they stocked them, anyone else? It is something to ponder.... I would be tempted to figure out how to take DO levels and temp in the lower depths in July/August timframe. Maybe one could rent a unit somewhere and head out in a boat and see...a little research project if you will.