Missouri State Record Brown Trout!

[Bill Babler]

 

Triploid Brown Trout, Lake Taneycomo September 4th. 2019  Girth 28 inches, length 41 1/4 inches weight Forty pounds 6 oz.  Certified Missouri State Record.

Really at this point I have no idea for a title for this post or a reason that God made it possible for me to catch it.  It was simply his plan.  For sure a day I will never forget, with a sad note in that we were not able to get it properly released even with the amount of care that we provided.  Again it was not to be and there is a reason for everything.

On a much brighter note, I just caught the State Record Brown trout and got a big congratulations call from the Director of the Missouri Conservation Department.

Today was a pleasure fishing trip for me.  Seems like there has been a few lately just getting back from Alasky with Phil, but never the less my long time best friend from Grade School came down to trout fish today and we were going to get him a couple of nice plump rainbows to take home.

If you have been following our reports you know that the fish have been all over the Power Worm.  Bubble Gum.  Don't buy any.  Both Duane and I have been fishing the same stretch of water just below the restricted zone for a week.  Duane more than me, as a matter of fact I keep wanting to fish a scud in the restricted zone and he as they say, "made me do it."

None the less, since we were going to keep a couple we started  below the mouth of Fall Creek, with the Pink Worm.

At this point I will tell you there is never a day that my equipment is not gone totally over.  I never fish terminal line or tackle two days in a row.  Never.  Everything is broken down and rebuilt, everyday.  Never fail and what I and Mark were fishing was put together last night.

Main line on the Daiwa Fuego,   BP Excel mono in 4 lb. to a carrot float.  Below the float a Spro, sampo style swivel and then 7'6" of Orvis 6X tippet 3.1 lb. test at .005 diameter. 

 All fished on a Rod Shop 7' Signature White River Outfitters Custom Rod.  We were using of course the pink worm.  Worm was on a 125th. oz. full micro jig.  First super glued and then cemented. Prior to Turner Jones passing, he made me 100 heads with out bodies on size 12 mustad hook.  They are very good, in the Full Micro size but a bit weak in the half micro size of 14.  These were the Full, they work perfect with the PW as the  head glues directly to a wide flat jig head surface.

We were running a bit late and not on the water till 8 as Mark drove down about 60 miles.  Our first pass he put a nice rainbow in the boat while I got him going, just like I would on a guide trip.  Here is the great deal.  Very much unlike a guide trip I was going to get to fish.  On the second pass I grabbed a rod after he was drifting nicely and about that time a cloud came over and it got kind of dark on the water.  Looked great.  My float dipped under and before i could even lift the fish came to the surface and just swirled.  I told Mark this was a big fish, then I said a HORSE as the drag started whirling and buzzing, smooth as silk.  We were fishing a trough and the fish immediately headed for mid-stream.  By then just a 1/2 minute or so Mark had reeled in and grabbed the net.  I hit my bow switch and trimmed my main motor out of the water and pointed my trolling motor to the middle and let it pull drag keeping the rod high letting it absorb the pressure instead of the line.  The drag was set perfect, I never had to touch it, it just peeled off like string after a kite.  The fish made 2 circles in front of the boat and then headed to the back.  Went under the boat and then came out with its head up.  We were not quite ready and back he went under the boat.  He did the same thing again and we were ready.  Right into the Fish Pond net.  As we lifted him into the boat his nose went thru the basket as I lowered him and he rested on the carpet.  We immediately put him in the live well and did our best to keep him frisky and he was fantastic until he wasn't.

I have 3 people in this world that I would have loved to share that type of an experience with.  First is my son Steven and the next two are my buddy Mark and of course Phil.  However Phil and I have had similar experiences in strange lands.

Just feeling so blessed and again, right place, right time.

Good Luck 

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[Brennan]

Simply awesome. Well done sir...you deserve it!

[cracklebak]

Congratulations, awesome fish. Guess I'll be fishing harder when a cloud passes over now 😂

[duckydoty]

Incredible fish Bill but don’t cut yourself short.  It was 40.4 pounds which means it was 40 pounds 6 ounces. Two ounces larger than Rip Collins fish out of the Little Red.

I can not think of a better deserving fisherman for this to happen too. Congratulations Bill Babler!  Job well done.

[Walleyedmike]

Congratulations!

WM

[laker67]

Once again my congratulations. And just to point out that "if" that fish had eaten 2 more 15 inch rainbows prior to you catching it, it would be a world record. That's how close you came to being the next world champion. Quite a feat for a missouri trout fisherman.

[Rolan Duffield]

Congratulations Bill. Wish I was there to see it, though the pics tell a great story you will always remember. I'm extremely proud for you.

Rolan Duffield

[JD Dudley]

Bill I know we’ve never met but I’ve heard of you over the years through Phil and Mike McClelland. I’ve read your posts and seen how your clients love to be around you and get to learn from your wisdom on the water. The fact that you were afforded the chance to take a break and fun fish today, all the while helping your friend catch some fish on your day off speaks even more about your passion for what you love. CONGRATS on a truly unbelievable fish!! Yes, God has a plan for everything and it’s apparent that today, he wanted to bless you through what you love!

[Quillback]

That is really an incredible fish, congrats Bill!

[Gavin]

Probably in the top 5 ever to tip the scales!