Seventeen Pound, 8 Ounce Rainbow Caught This Morning

[Phil Lilley]

Bill Beck, guide here on Taneycomo, called me and said he was bringing in a big rainbow. I met him and his nephew, Aaron McDonald, at the dock. He wasn't lying!!

31 inches long, 21.5 inch girth. Big female. Beautiful colors. Not a mark on her.

Aaron caught her.

It's in the minnow tank right now trying to revive itself. We worked with her for over an hour. She's still breathing but not staying upright. Hopefully she'll get stronger and we'll release her.

Caught in the Cooper Creek area, 2-pound fluorocarbon, salmon color trout magnet. Took 45 minutes to land. Got tangled in trees twice.

Lake records aren't kept officially but I think this may be one. State record is 18-1 from Roaring River.

Picture - a little later today.

[Brian K. Shaffer]

So this is not a new state record.. but WOW .. what a fish !!

[Phil Lilley]

[OzarkFishman]

Awesome fish!!!

I love how kids can't keep their eyes off of the fish (my boy does the same thing in pictures).

[XP 590]

Glad to hear about the revival efforts. Hope she makes it for some other lucky kid to catch. What a beauty!

[laker67]

Wow! A magnificent rainbow for sure, my congrats to Aaron. I know only of a 15lber that was officially weighed in years back. Hopefully it is a record for him.

[ruthead]

HolyMoly!!! Beautiful fish. Congrats!! Does it have a splitt in the tail or is that just the pic? Gives me something to dream about till we get down there next week. I'm sure my friend thats going to show us the ropes down there will have no problem putting us on multiple fish like that! LOL JK. Once in a lifetime fish. Congrats again!!

[97procraft]

How old do you expect that fish to be?

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

Very neat fish. Thank you for sharing with us.

[emjay]

Lunker