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 Monster Bull Trout: Melting Alberta's Winters Icey Grip
Posted by BigBear on December 26, 2005
In Western Alberta we are fortunate enough to get a break from "Old Man Winter" in the form of a Chinook. Snow eating Pacific winds blow over the mountains and descend on South Western Alberta. This gets us devoted fly fishermen out from the ice fishing shacks and vices for open water fishing. On one such trip I was joined by a fly fishing companion who had not yet experienced a mid February day on a local tail water fishery. We left town in the darkness driving south for two hours to our destination. In the vehicle both of us had our fingers crossed that the "W" (you can't say the word wind on such outings in hope that you are not cursed all day) had subsided. When we arrived to the canyon all was calm and the temperature was a bit brisk as the sun had not yet peeked into the valley.
We arrived at the river. After rigging up, I went down stream to cross the river side and my friend ventured upstream in hopes to find a willing rainbow trout. As we were fly fishing below the outflow of a dam I thought it best to go deep and use a full sink line and a weighted conehead black wooly bugger.
I stood atop a man made boulder and excellent current deflector. I made my first cast down the seam between fast and slow waters. As my fly sank in the slow steady current my mind drifted to the possibility of what type of trout lay in the
depths. There were rainbow trout, bull trout, brown trout as well as pike burbot and lake trout and rocky mountain whitefish. My first cast came up empty. I tried out just 5 feet further still on the same seam. Again, I waited as thoughts of what my fly was doing and what fish may or may not bite my deeply fished bugger.
On the retrieve I could feel the fly ticking the bottom. Suddenly, 15 feet of line tightened and I set the hook. I was into a freight train as the line peeled of my Winston 6 weight and then in to the backing. I know this was and could only be the fish of my dreams. A lunker Bull Trout. I couldn't budge the fish and he took more line. My friend about 200 yards away could see I was in need of some help and joined me on my side of the river. It was an epic struggle between man and beast and after 20 minutes I was in the lead and he drew nearer to the rock I was standing on. We were both giddy as my friend tailed the Bull Trout. He held it in the current for a while so we could admire this truly wonderful fish. We snapped a couple pics, taped it and the fish retreated to his underwater lair. The final measurement was 32 inches with a sizeable girth. He was the top of the food chain in his underwater world. The only thing cold that day were the beers we drank later that evening while recalling our brush with an amazing bull trout.
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Re: Monster Bull Trout: Melting Alberta's Winters Icey Grip
by Shaq on December 26, 2005 http://www.theanglersnet.com | | OH My God!!!! Great Fish Congrats. What A True Winter Gift!! |
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Re: Monster Bull Trout: Melting Alberta's Winters Icey Grip
by MarshallD on December 26, 2005 http://www.flyanglersguide.com | Gorgeous Bull Trout, BigBear!
I never caught one on several trips to Montana and Idaho, but I may have had one on. Nothing the size of this monster you caught, tho. Congratulations!
marshalld |
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Re: Monster Bull Trout: Melting Alberta's Winters Icey Grip
by greg on December 26, 2005 http://www.fliesandfinsnorth.com | | An absolutely great looking fish, colors and symetry terrific, congrats on a great looking Brown. |
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Re: Monster Bull Trout: Melting Alberta's Winters Icey Grip
by KodiakCommando on December 26, 2005 http://www.royalwolf.com | | Great fish man, bet that made your holidays! Good to see a big bull trout, it's unfortunate to see their populations dwindle but every pic of a mature one gives me hope! |
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Re: Monster Bull Trout: Melting Alberta's Winters Icey Grip
by joey on December 26, 2005 http://www.fliesandfinseast.com | What an amazing looking fish!! The bright colors and the white tipped fins-awesome. What a rewarding day- getting out in the winter is such a good release. Battling the cold temps can be tough- cold hands, feet and some times little hope. Although when you do land a fish, It is funny how you have no problem dunking your already frozen hands into 32 degree water.
People do not realize how rewarding it is to catch a fish of that size- it is a precious moment when you hold a trophy. After chasing him for days and constantly being defeated it is a Great Moment when you finally raise victory.
Great story big bear- happy new year.
j- |
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Re: Monster Bull Trout: Melting Alberta's Winters Icey Grip
by waterwhippa on December 27, 2005 http://salmonriverspecialists.com | | Great read man. Those fish are awesome, glad the "W" layed down for you. Kranes and I got into quite a few big bulls in Idaho a couple years ago. They are a blast. |
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Re: Monster Bull Trout: Melting Alberta's Winters Icey Grip
by alrightdon on July 31, 2006 | Wow that bully is a ripper. Awesome job, i have only managed a few small bulls here on the upper Bow so far but everytime i see the right conditions im putting on a streamer.
Could well have gone 10lb that beast!! |
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