Hello to all;
I was thinking the other day of the largest trout I've caught to date. We were camped in Slough Creek in the North East corner of Yellowstone Park. It was a beautiful day in July, sunny and warm.
I was fishing a number 18 PMD on 5X tippet. I saw the fish feeding before I got in the creek. It was near the left bank feeding aggressively. I watched for a while and tried to figure out what it was feeding on and finally went with the PMD because I just couldn't figure out what they were feeding on. I slid into the river about 15 feet below the fish very quietly. I did not want to alarm him. I got about 3 feet off his line and cast about 5 feet above him. To my amazement he tried to hit it and missed. (At least that's what I thought at the time). I cast again in approximately the same place and this time he was on. I hooked him in the right corner of his mouth. He took off down stream and the fight was on. I followed him down stream being very careful where I stepped. He seemed to tire quickly, thank goodness, because I was concerned I could loose it.
I could tell he was a large fish by the way he felt. It felt like I was reeling in a log at times. My rod was an Orvis Power Matrix 10 in 4 weight. I fought the fish for only a few minutes and soon he was by my side. I had a small net with me and he barley fit into it. I was a little worried handling that beautiful fish, I didn't want to hurt him, but I got him unhooked easily due to my barb less hook.
My brother saw how much my rod was bent and came running to help me. We measured the fish at 20 inches and set it free. I remember feeling very happy with catching that Cut throat trout, but also even happier setting it free unharmed.
