Lots of water... big trout responding

[duckydoty]

The fish was released about 4:30 this afternoon.  It stayed up right for about 3 hours and would spook if you got close.  Phil video taped the release and he swam off great. Congratulations to Steve!

[JestersHK]

Great to hear.  Thanks for the update D.

[Phil Lilley]

 

[Phil Lilley]

14 hours ago, Smithvillesteve said:

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. 

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

[Phil Lilley]

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.

[knuck]

Steve here, both the fish & myself made it and thanks for the concern. I think my buddy & net man Kirt had a tougher time through the ordeal, I could not hear a thing since my heart was pounding so hard but he claims he was making a huge racket because he could not catch his breath, hyperventilating I guess.

Just an amazing experience, something I'll enjoy playing back in my mind forever.

Want to send a huge shoutout to everyone at Lilley's, this was the 35th year of the Boswell Memorial Tournament which has been at Lilley's Landing since 1990 and everyone there puts in a great effort to make sure we are all taken care of and in doing so provide a fantastic event for us. Thanks to all!

As to the triploid..... Phil, Ryan, Duane & Curtis put in a huge effort to get this guy safely weighed, measured and back in the water. Made my day guys, really appreciate it. 

[MOPanfisher]

Steve, that was an awesome fish, glad it was exciting for all!

[Phil Lilley]

@knuck you need to post a pic of the Rap...  that's an incredible story in itself.

[knuck]

Maybe Rapala will replace the shad rap, that big guy just destroyed it. Was surprised the Trilene XL 4 lb. held up, through the entire fight I thought the fish would bust that line. At one point the drag was just ripping for what seemed like an eternity, we were drifting on the inside bend above Lilley's which as most of you know is loaded with timber, the current was running and it felt like he wrapped me up but then all of a sudden he was shooting out towards the middle again and gave me a little more hope we would get him in.

Still riding that high and will be for a while.  

[snagged in outlet 3]

Wow!