Lots of water... big trout responding

[Phil Lilley]

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.

 

[Phil Lilley]

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

[snagged in outlet 3]

Wow!  What a beauty.  The fish, not Steve.

[Phil Lilley]

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.

[Quillback]

Hope he pulls through OK (the fish, not Steve). 

[Phil Lilley]

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.

[JestersHK]

Man that's an awesome catch.  Congrats to Steve, and I hope that fish pulls through and makes it back.  

[netboy]

Well if it doesn't make it, it sure will make a nice mount.

[Smithvillesteve]

What a beautiful fish!! Hope she makes it. You mentioned lots of water Phil. So they are running water now? I know Table Rock is about 8 feet low. Not sure that matters to them. Bitter cold weather need power? Not sure anybody knows what triggers it. Congrats Steve. Warmer weather headed your way. 

[Johnsfolly]

8 hours ago, Phil Lilley said:

It's a triploid brown.

Phil - I was going to ask if you thought that this was a triploid brown. Seems like the few that I have seen have that silvery brown coloration and not the deeper yellow / orange of diploid trout. They look like the browns that guys catch in the great lakes. That's a great big fish. I hope that it can be released.