[ratherbhuntin]

Finally had a day devoted to fishing. Was way late getting started but finally got stream side around 9:00. Decided I was going big today and throw articulated streamers. Which are quickly becoming my favorite way to fish. Played around at a big stocked hole but just small rainbows chasing my streamer around. Wasn't long after that and the first fish was a 16" brown. Exactly what I was looking for.



Made it another 10 minutes and brownie #2 was in the net at 18" and bulging at the sides with cray fish.



Missed the hook set on another trophy brown but quickly redeemed myself with my first 20+ of the year with this 21".


I traveled some water and had 2 close encounters but I missed the hook set and finally settled for lunch at another stocked hole. Drifted some Nymphs and ate some lunch with good success on stocked and wild fish.




I went quite awhile after lunch as the stream split into 4 or 5 sections without a hook up but that's the game throwing big streamers. But the wait paid off with this 20" beauty. Pics do it no justice. Definitely among the top 3 prettiest browns I've ever caught.


On another note I need to research snow shoe hares. Seen a rabbit in this tangle of Creek willows that was over twice the size of any cottontail I've ever seen. Also seen a few American Brook lampreys cruising around.

And this was the hot ticket today.

 

[Trout Traveler]

Those are some nice trout, especially the big fat brown. Congratulations!

 

[psychobeagle12]

Not sure how much bigger they are than an Eastern Cottontail, but could it have been an Appalachian cottontail? Nice pictures!

 

[.257]

Great fish .....and good looking fly did you tie that yourself??

 

[ratherbhuntin]

Lol no a friend ties them in trade for deer tails from my butcher shop

 

[FrankTroutAngler]

I believe Appalachian cottontails are slightly smaller than Eastern cottontails.

Showshoe hares are a good bit bigger than either.

 

[psychobeagle12]

Hmm I'll have to look. There was an article on them on here not too long ago and I could swear one of the defining features was that they like a higher elevation than Easterns and that they are a bit bigger. I may have it backwards, the article I read was a while ago.

Edit: Indeed Frank you know better than I! The Appalachian is the smaller of the species.

 

[Trout 2003]

Atta boy! I look forward to seeing the big trout you manage every year.

 

[pahoytman]

Some awesome trout! Thanks for sharing

 

[beagler]

 

[FrankTroutAngler]

I read on another site, likely PAFlyFish, that fly anglers get a lot of deep hooking with articulated streamers. What's your experience been?

Congrats on all of the big trout. Are they all wild?

 

[ratherbhuntin]

Yes wild fish. I haven't had any hooked deep. I've got them with front and rear hooks and never had an issue. That is a big meal for them to just swallow down like a nymph or even a spinner

 

[hunter-trapper21]

very nice