 Maine Brook Trout: Not Stocked, Not Small, Not Hanging On A Wall
Posted by fisherboy on September 09, 2006
It is true. The big wild brook trout have eluded me for so long. Infact, I have been an avid follower of these fish since I had met Jeremy.
Jeremy and I drove miles into The Great North Woods and were only targeting one thing, "a large brook trout." I thought about all the great salmon that have been caught this year by the both of us and said to myself, "those salmon are nice, but what I really need is a big brookie before this season comes to an end." Whenever I go freshwater fly fishing, there has always been a little something in the back of my mind saying "a big brookie would be sweet."
So, Jeremy and I arrived at the river. The water was high and made the crossings a little hairy. All of the sudden Bang! My face slams into the water. "Not the best start to a day," I said to myself. Jeremy and I made our way to where Jeremy said the fish were going to be. I laid down the sinking line and conehead wooly bugger across the channel. As the line moved down river, I started a
slow retrieve then BAM! A nice salmon comes clear out of the water multiple times. Even though this salmon was big and fresh, and I knew it was one of my best salmon this year, all my thoughts were linked back to the brook trout. Jeremy and I approached the run in different ways by changing flies, changing positions, and switching up retrieves and only caught salmon. Where are the brookies? I reeled up all my line and I think that both jeremy and I were getting tired of the spot. I turn around and see jeremy waist deep in the water holding a busted rod in the air. We are down to one rod and it's time for another river crossing. We got to the other side and Jeremy whispers "I think I saw a few guys pick up a few over there last time on nymphs." Jeremy and I rig up 2 copper johns and an indicater and we are soon fishing an all time favorite method. I watched Jeremy fish downstream with the and saw a flash of red under the tip of his fly rod. Soon enough, Jeremy had caught the first big brookie of the day. After that fish, we can no longer catch anything on nymphs, so we go the distance to from a floating back to a sinking line and tie on a wooly bugger. I'm up! I made a short cast somewhat upstream. I start a slow but steady retrieve and I am in shock. My line goes tight fast, and then starts tearing into the current. Now I'm nervous, It's the biggest brookie I've had on in a long time! What should I do? So, after alot of tug o' war I start reeling in. I get off of the giant rock and jeremy verifies that the fish is infact a brookie and not a chub. "Dude it's not heartbreak hotel, its a giant brookie!" Wait a minute, it's not just the biggest brookie of my lifetime, it is the biggest brookie I have ever seen! I slowly but steadily walk the fish back to the bank. My heart is racing and I know that it only takes one little thing to loose the fish of a lifetime. Before I know it, jeremy is holding my fish with a huge smile on his face. "Here you go A-town, you got what you came for," he says. I am amazed by the strengh, power, and mezmorizing beauty of the fish. We get some quick shots, and unlike so many other great brook trout that are caught in Maine the fish swam off and is not hanging on some wall. On the walk back to the car I said, "you know i'm gonna be looking at that photo all the way home." Jeremy nodded his head and said "Me too."
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Re: Maine Brook Trout: Not Stocked, Not Small, Not Hanging On A Wall
by ChrisR on September 09, 2006 | | Congrats Austin! That is one beautiful monster Brookie you landed. I dream about Brook trout like that daily. And Maine is always what I think of when it happens. You guys are definitely lucky to have some of the best brook trout waters that remain is the United States. And that fish right there is proof positive. Great work. |
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Re: Maine Brook Trout: Not Stocked, Not Small, Not Hanging On A Wall
by greg on September 09, 2006 http://www.fliesandfinsnorth.com | | Thats the best looking Brook trout I've seen. No need to go to Labrador for you. Great fish my friend. |
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Re: Maine Brook Trout: Not Stocked, Not Small, Not Hanging On A Wall
by waterwhippa on September 09, 2006 http://salmonriverspecialists.com | | Way to go Fisherboy! Just a perfect specimin. That is the squaretail of a LIFETIME! I'm sure some men have fished that river their whole lives and never yeilded those results. Nice bird doging J-Bone |
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Re: Maine Brook Trout: Not Stocked, Not Small, Not Hanging On A Wall
by wrh on September 10, 2006 http://www.theanglersnet.com | | That is one sweet brookie! Wow, Maine really has many gems. For us out of staters it's great to see the fish that Maine produces. |
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Re: Maine Brook Trout: Not Stocked, Not Small, Not Hanging On A Wall
by caddishead on September 10, 2006 | | Lucky dog! I caught a 12 inch the other day and that was big for CT. Nice going. |
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Re: Maine Brook Trout: Not Stocked, Not Small, Not Hanging On A Wall
by MarshallD on September 10, 2006 http://www.flyanglersguide.com | Truly a Brook Trout of a lifetime! Congratulations Austin.
Marsh |
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Re: Maine Brook Trout: Not Stocked, Not Small, Not Hanging On A Wall
by joey on September 10, 2006 http://www.fliesandfinseast.com | | Great loking fish Austin.. I was truly shocked when I opened up the home page this morning. |
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Re: Maine Brook Trout: Not Stocked, Not Small, Not Hanging On A Wall
by Fisherboy on September 10, 2006 | Hi everyone
Thanks for all the compliments. I was so nervous when that fish took my fly, surely an experience I will never forget!!
Thanks again
Austin |
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Re: Maine Brook Trout: Not Stocked, Not Small, Not Hanging On A Wall
by Shaq on September 10, 2006 http://www.theanglersnet.com | | Sweet, A fine fish and a great story |
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Re: Maine Brook Trout: Not Stocked, Not Small, Not Hanging On A Wall
by Boz on September 10, 2006 http://www.maineriverguides.com | Holy Cow!
That brookie took a one way wooly bugger to A-Town!
Nicely done! |
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Re: Maine Brook Trout: Not Stocked, Not Small, Not Hanging On A Wall
by Marcel_Karssies on September 11, 2006 http://www.hechtclub.eu | | Great fish with stunning colors, I guess you can not call that a brookie anymore. |
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Re: Maine Brook Trout: Not Stocked, Not Small, Not Hanging On A Wall
by RickW on September 11, 2006 | | That is a beautiful fish Austin. Many will fish a lifetime and not accomplish what you have. You are quite a young man, your dedication and passion for fly fishing is inspiring. Thanks for sharing your success. |
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Re: Maine Brook Trout: Not Stocked, Not Small, Not Hanging On A Wall
by grayghost on September 11, 2006 | My hearty congratulations...What a beautiful fish!!
And you released it...Atta boy!! The fish gods are shining on you.
You will remember this for the rest of your life.
grayghost
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Re: Maine Brook Trout: Not Stocked, Not Small, Not Hanging On A Wall
by rolcast on September 11, 2006 | | Nice job!!! What a great feeling!!! I hooked my biggest brookie this year as well. Not as big as that one though. |
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Re: Maine Brook Trout: Not Stocked, Not Small, Not Hanging On A Wall
by Luke on September 11, 2006 | | Hats off to you! What a fine fish. This is what it is all about. I will second Joey. I opened up the page and said......... well you know. Followed by almost passing out. Nice work! Congratulations! |
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Re: Maine Brook Trout: Not Stocked, Not Small, Not Hanging On A Wall
by joe-m on September 12, 2006 | | holy brook truot! Now that's a fish great job !! |
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Re: Maine Brook Trout: Not Stocked, Not Small, Not Hanging On A Wall
by timd on September 13, 2006 | Austin,
Great fish. What part of the river were you fishing?
Tim |
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