7-20-12 Trip Report And Boat Review

[Justin Spencer]

That's a seriously big rainbow, Biggest I saw was shocking at 22", and I've seen a few 20 inchers. Lots of 20-24" browns in here however. Might consider selling my coosa's after this year if I can get more. I'm not a dealer so I can't order new ones for people.

[Ham]

I was mainly wondering if you were going to up the fleet from the two boats you have now. Like I said, I won't be buying one until my Tarpon is dead or my wife takes a Coosa out for a spin.

[Justin Spencer]

Right now I don't think I will get more, need to get more Jackson Riviera's though.

[Gavin]

Great report! I've been fishing the NFoW for....darn near 30 years...and I can count the number of 20"+ bows on one hand....always some nice browns down there...not the numbers you find on the Current...but the numbers of 24" plus brownies...is better I think....I've seen pics of a 28" and a 30" fly caught browns in the last couple of years...7-8 that size over the years.

[gotmuddy]

I saw some 20" class trout last sunday between blair and james. Biggest trout I had seen.

[Brian Wise]

There are a TON of big browns in Summer-time holds on the river right now....floating now is kind of like going to a zoo. I would be crazy proud of a 25" rainbow Ham, we have a few really big 'bows but not many. The NFOW simply doesn't grow really, really big rainbows. If you think about it I would venture to say that if there are 100 24"+ rainbows caught state wide in Missouri per year that 99 of them are brood stock from hatcheries.

I think the opposite of the triploid fish is what is happening on the NFOW. Triploid fish don't spawn at all--so they do nothing but grow. Our rainbows spawn, and spawn well and I think that is the main reason behind them not growing to really, really big sizes. Which is ok because I don't think I could land a NFOW rainbow that is bigger than 25".

With the browns in the river this streamer season is looking to be pretty good.

[Ham]

I was really impressed with all the trout I caught. Pretty fish , not a blemish on them. Made me realize how many fish on the Lower White are scuffed up from the hatchery. They were all really full bodied fish as well. Very muscled up and well feed.

I really had a change of heart about trout fishing on the NFOW before I caught the she beast. Thanks for the feedback of the relative size of her. That will in all likelihood be the biggest Rainbow I ever catch. I do intend on going after big bows in Alaska sometime or another so maybe there I'll have a shot at bigger one.

NFOW certainly is special. It fishes a little different too so I'm sure a guided trip would be a good idea for guys wanting to fly fish it. They need to be ready though. Giants swim there.