19lb 12oz Brown out of PVR today 5/7/12 - HOLY COW!!!!

[Sierra_Smitty]

Just reporting a report but dang....talk about a PIG!!! That fish is eating very well......Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaangggggg!!!!!!

No details on what it was caught on but it was caught by a Bishop local apparently.

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o181/sierrasmitty/pvrbrown.jpg

[kenny8308]

That thing is a gd beast. How is that reagans store doing btw I'll have to remember to stop by there in a couple weeks.

[Spaulding]

PVR SUBMARINE. Damn, that thing is massive!

[Which Way Out]

Front page next week I bet...
WWO

[Matt44]

Thing is a beast for sure what a lucky guy! Wonder what it hit! Tails a little thrashed but a beast for sure!

[fishermanx14]

i want one...

[FSHNLIC]

That is on big old ugly mofo

[Big Country]

ant eggs...lol

[flytyingreloader]

That one will need a little make-up and orthotics work via the taxidermist, but should clean up all right. Heck of a fish, in any event. I wonder how old a fish is that reaches that size.

[Crawler]

DAMN! I fished the dam yesterday, one strike on a mini jig and only saw one other guy fishing. That is an unreal fish.

[cutbait]

That's a trout???

Nasty!

Is that natural or stocked? That tail is cut right?

Forgive my ignorance on Browns..

Looks like those genetically mutated Rainbows stocked at the pay lakes..

No way in my mind that can be a native fish?

[cpt_majestic]

He should of let it go, that's what cameras are for

[tpfishnfool]

Oh $hi^ ! Bob is going to be pissed !

[Sierra_Smitty]

That's a trout???

Nasty!

Is that natural or stocked? That tail is cut right?

Forgive my ignorance on Browns..

Looks like those genetically mutated Rainbows stocked at the pay lakes..

No way in my mind that can be a native fish?

Hatcheries clip the adipose fins on hatchery trout, not the tail fin.

While ugly, it is not a recently stocked fish - they haven't put Browns in PVR for years.

Think of how a 90 year old person looks compared to a 20 year old...would you expect an obese senior citizen of a fish to look that good? Fish was probably days from death lol!

[teejay]

Looks like a fish from the "River Monsters" show.

[Big Country]

I was thinking the same thing Smitty, just couldn't put it to words. It will be interesting to hear the story and find out what the fight was like. Hopefully it went out like the majestic beast it is and gave the angler hell and didn't just belly-up like all the steroid trout do down south in the freeway lakes.

I'm usually a CPR guy up there, but there is absolutely no way I'm snapping a pic of that beast and then watching it swim away. I can hear all the bs now that would come as a result of a photo only..."he's holding it too far out in the photo", "he's only 5 ft tall so it looks bigger than it is", etc. etc. etc.

Hats off to the angler for a job well done, I just hope he didn't get it on 2 lb line ;)

[Matt44]

Smitty hit it right on the head alotta times those old browns will die befor there even caught there so elusive and hard to catch. Didnt you use to have a pic of the huge skeleton from twins big country? Heard it hit a rago bait!

[Big Country]

Yep, still got those pics Matt...skin and skeleton weighed 12 lbs alone and taped out at around 32". I can't wait to hear the story about this one though, I bet it is a good one.

[bstolton]

WOW!!
Can`t wait to hear the whole story. I will be up there this weekend, gotta stop at reagans and get more details. Maybe a stop at PVR is in order too.

[TroutOnly]

Just think of what it would have looked like if it was a big old hook jaw male,,,,,,,,,,with narly teeth,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,its belly is bigger than trollys,,,,,,,,,,,lol,,,,,,,,,,,,

[flytyingreloader]

I'm sure Smitty and others are more tuned in to trout stocking/rearing policies than I am, but my impression has been that the propogation of browns and brooks is being de-emphasized while the work on goldens--cutts--and rainbows is being advanced to some extent. Some bit about "native species emphasis" being the latest fashion statement in trout culture. More drivel from the condor cuddlers and fauna fascists, I imagine.

[OC ANGLER]

what a monster !

[Sierra_Smitty]

I'm sure Smitty and others are more tuned in to trout stocking/rearing policies than I am, but my impression has been that the propogation of browns and brooks is being de-emphasized while the work on goldens--cutts--and rainbows is being advanced to some extent. Some bit about "native species emphasis" being the latest fashion statement in trout culture. More drivel from the condor cuddlers and fauna fascists, I imagine.

Interesting and somewhat confusing statement....where are you going with that?

[flytyingreloader]

Not really "going" anyplace with it, sir. I have concerns that Cal-DFG is unduly influenced by such groups as Center For Biological Diversity, an over-reaction to the many lawsuits filed to stop or delay trout planting schedules. Having worked for a government agency that was similarly over-sensitive to such litigational harassment, I would prefer to see DFG do their job in spite of the pressure exerted by these anti-hunting/anti-fishing extremists. The MLPA areas in our oceans do not bode well for the future of sport angling. At my old shop about halfway through my career our leadership finally figured out that no matter how we did business, we got sued anyway--so ya might as well do your job and sort the trash out later. Net effect? We got sued less frequently, and with a LOT less success, by not encouraging suits through timidity. Maybe that last bit is my real thrust here.

[Big Country]

In English, I think he means all the tree-huggin hippies are screwing things up in CA and that an agency such as the dfg should just say "f&*k it" and keep planting trout regardless of what lawsuits these a-holes file.

[flytyingreloader]

There ya go, BC. CBD is trying to unring a bell that has chimed for nearly a century, and it makes no sense at all. I don't give a rapid rip that brown trout aren't native and weren't here when Columbus showed up--they are here NOW, and I like them. A lot. Leave them and the brookies alone, for cryin' out loud. "Invasive species", mi nalgas.

[Sierra_Smitty]

Not really "going" anyplace with it, sir. I have concerns that Cal-DFG is unduly influenced by such groups as Center For Biological Diversity, an over-reaction to the many lawsuits filed to stop or delay trout planting schedules. Having worked for a government agency that was similarly over-sensitive to such litigational harassment, I would prefer to see DFG do their job in spite of the pressure exerted by these anti-hunting/anti-fishing extremists. The MLPA areas in our oceans do not bode well for the future of sport angling. At my old shop about halfway through my career our leadership finally figured out that no matter how we did business, we got sued anyway--so ya might as well do your job and sort the trash out later. Net effect? We got sued less frequently, and with a LOT less success, by not encouraging suits through timidity. Maybe that last bit is my real thrust here.

I couldn't agree more with the above....the current state of enviro wackos directly affecting policy is pretty scary stuff, especially when you consider that there are zero trout native between Big Pine and Bridgeport. It scares the crap out of me because 2/3 of my business is fishing dependent.

I just thought the comment about the DFG not paying enough attention to Browns & Brookies was confusing and for you uncharacteristically ill-informed so I figured I'd ask for an explanation. Brookies are like weeds - too much of a good thing IMO. Browns are used strategically by the DFG to thin out Brookie populations here and stocked consistently in other parts of the state that are better suited for them to flourish (Almanor for instance) but aside from that - do you really think they need help? They're everywhere below 10k on the Eastside. They're also a poor game fish for the majority of people because they're so damn hard to catch. I think management of Cutts Goldens and 'Bows is pretty on point from where I sit...Cutts in Cali are a novelty, Goldens are the state fish and Rainbows are easily produced and easy to catch for most anglers (and good feed for Browns like that hahaha).

[sierraslam]

I'm pretty sure Tim Alpers raises Browns at Conway Ranch. I don't think they're some kind of endangered species. As for the Golden's, I did not know that there is still a stocking program for them. good news!

[tpfishnfool]

In English, I think he means all the tree-huggin hippies are screwing things up in CA and that an agency such as the dfg should just say "f&*k it" and keep planting trout regardless of what lawsuits these a-holes file.



Bingo !!! Hit that one on the Head...

[flytyingreloader]

No fervent disagreement with your points, Smitty. As originally stated, I'm certain that you and your business community have a much better and more accurate take on the trout habitat situation than I do. A lot of the waters containing brookies show fish that are stunted, so they probably don't need help--not if browns are sent in to trim their numbers back. (That's news!). Browns serve another purpose--to cater to the more masochistic end of the trout fishing fraternity, those that love being ignored enthusiastically by a species far less evolved than we are. :)

I might be over-simplifying the matter, but I've never met a trout I didn't like. All their species are precious to me. Now, the monster out of PVR needs a few upgrades--bondo, re-paint, and a buff-out......but it's still a trout, at the end of the day. Call it a "restoration".

[Sierra_Smitty]

No fervent disagreement with your points, Smitty. As originally stated, I'm certain that you and your business community have a much better and more accurate take on the trout habitat situation than I do. A lot of the waters containing brookies show fish that are stunted, so they probably don't need help--not if browns are sent in to trim their numbers back. (That's news!). Browns serve another purpose--to cater to the more masochistic end of the trout fishing fraternity, those that love being ignored enthusiastically by a species far less evolved than we are. :)

I might be over-simplifying the matter, but I've never met a trout I didn't like. All their species are precious to me. Now, the monster out of PVR needs a few upgrades--bondo, re-paint, and a buff-out......but it's still a trout, at the end of the day. Call it a "restoration".

Kinda wish there was a like button on here.....

Ya, the Browns have been strategically placed in certain areas to help thin out brookie populations. They're typically in the 2-3lb range when stocked and carried by packers. I know they put in a bunch at Loch Leven and Dingleberry in our area seven or eight years ago. Little Lakes Valley is another place where they have tried this....hasn't really helped much but there are some submarines swimmin' around :)

[flytyingreloader]

One of those "Los Angeles-Class" brownies would thrill ya soundly on 3-weight fly tackle, I'd bet.

[smokinflies]

That's one nasty looking trout.



...That fish is eating very well....

was eating very well...:Crying:

[smokehound]

Dear god, that thing is ugly as hell.

Looks like it's been feasting on 12 inch trout.. Toss some HUDDS!