Cool fish story 5/22

[netboy]

Just when I thought the caddis hatch was about over SWPA finally turned the water down to true minimum flow (7mw) this morning. I went up to the dam and about 8am the caddis started coming up. There were fish coming up everywhere I looked. Didn't take the time to take any pictures as I was out quite a ways from the bank and the fishing was too good to stop for pictures.  Caught a bunch of rainbows and a couple browns all on dry flies.

 

Here's the fish story... I was casting to a pod of trout that were rising to caddis just downstream from me. They were within 10 to 20 feet of me. All of a sudden I see a huge brown charging up to the surface and he made a big swirl and grabbed a nice rainbow in his mouth and turned around and swam off. I could see the front half of the rainbow flashing in the sunlight as he was trying to get away. Then the rainbow disappeared down the brown's mouth.The rainbow was probably 14" and I would estimate the brown was 35" and looked to be in the 20lb range. It all happened in a couple of seconds but it was almost like it was in slow motion.

[Quillback]

That would be pretty neat to see.

[Greasy B]

That is a cool story, what an awesome river. 

[snagged in outlet 3]

14 hours ago, netboy said:

Just when I thought the caddis hatch was about over SWPA finally turned the water down to true minimum flow (7mw) this morning. I went up to the dam and about 8am the caddis started coming up. There were fish coming up everywhere I looked. Didn't take the time to take any pictures as I was out quite a ways from the bank and the fishing was too good to stop for pictures.  Caught a bunch of rainbows and a couple browns all on dry flies.

 

Here's the fish story... I was casting to a pod of trout that were rising to caddis just downstream from me. They were within 10 to 20 feet of me. All of a sudden I see a huge brown charging up to the surface and he made a big swirl and grabbed a nice rainbow in his mouth and turned around and swam off. I could see the front half of the rainbow flashing in the sunlight as he was trying to get away. Then the rainbow disappeared down the brown's mouth.The rainbow was probably 14" and I would estimate the brown was 35" and looked to be in the 20lb range. It all happened in a couple of seconds but it was almost like it was in slow motion.

I was with Gary Flippin below Rim about 20 years ago and we saw rainbows jumping out of the water onto the bank.  A pack of browns had a bunch of stockers corralled up and every so often one for the browns would charge in and grab one.  I caught the brown in my profile picture near there a couple years later on a streamer.  Just over 27 inches. 

[Johnsfolly]

15 hours ago, netboy said:

I see a huge brown charging up to the surface and he made a big swirl and grabbed a nice rainbow in his mouth and turned around and swam off. I could see the front half of the rainbow flashing in the sunlight as he was trying to get away. Then the rainbow disappeared down the brown's mouth.The rainbow was probably 14" and I would estimate the brown was 35" and looked to be in the 20lb range. It all happened in a couple of seconds but it was almost like it was in slow motion.

 

20 minutes ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

A pack of browns had a bunch of stockers corralled up and every so often one for the browns would charge in and grab one. 

Just have to love brown trout!

[Greasy B]

2 hours ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

I was with Gary Flippin below Rim about 20 years ago and we saw rainbows jumping out of the water onto the bank.  A pack of browns had a bunch of stockers corralled up and every so often one for the browns would charge in and grab one.  I caught the brown in my profile picture near there a couple years later on a streamer.  Just over 27 inches. 

Rainbows especially recently stocked fish don’t seem care if a boat goes over their head, browns will do anything to avoid a boat. Several years ago we ran across a brown that was trapped between our boat and an inches deep gravel flat, the fish swam back and forth looking for a place to hide. When it finally passed us by we were astonished at the size, until we got a good look at it we were asking ourselves if was a beaver. 

Hang around that river enough and you’ll see some amazing things. 

[snagged in outlet 3]

6 minutes ago, Greasy B said:

Rainbows especially recently stocked fish don’t seem care if a boat goes over their head, browns will do anything to avoid a boat. Several years ago we ran across a brown that was trapped between our boat and an inches deep gravel flat, the fish swam back and forth looking for a place to hide. When it finally passed us by we were astonished at the size, until we got a good look at it we were asking ourselves if was a beaver. 

Hang around that river enough and you’ll see some amazing things. 

I would ride around with Gary all the time way back when just to look around.  We saw some really big trout.

[Quillback]

I remember when there was a time that guides would run their boats in circles on a 'hole' where the browns were and they'd also throw rocks into the water.  Theory was that it got them to move and if they get moved they are more likely to bite.  They'd stir up that hole then fish live sculpins.  That practice has been made illegal, the stirring thing, not the sculpins.  

 

[Quillback]

From the AGFC Rules:

Drive, harass or pursue trout with noise, objects, boats or
by wading to concentrate them.

And I'm not directing this at anyone here BTW.  

[snagged in outlet 3]

I would ride with Gary as shuttled guys around the river.  We didn't even fish, just look.  Then come back later