While fishing the Farmington river a week or so ago I was having a pretty good day. Several fish were to come to hand and the time for leaving was close. I had been fishing various flies and decided to do some experimenting. I tied on a couple of soft-hackles and on one of them I put some floatant, well not so much on the fly but on the tippet where it was tied to the fly. I false cast once and sent the fly upstream. It looked pretty good bouncing in the various currents. I fished this set-up for several minutes, moving upstream as I did. I came upon some nice pockets, the kind that look like a trout sanctuary. I cast there and the flies worked through, but not on the surface. A little more Gink a false cast and off they went. As the fly drifted a few inches a large fish rose and grabbed that fly in what seemed like a heartbeat. The fish proceeded to teach me a lesson or two on how to beat the angler. This fish took me almost everywhere in a 25 yard section. There were some beautiful leaps and some of the bulldogging is hard to describe. I have caught many fish, and most were fighters, but this one was in the top 10.
I finally gained the upper hand and the fish reluctantly drifted toward the shore. A beautiful buck rainbow lie near the grasses. I glanced at the fish and said to myself "could this be wild". I am aware that the state will claim it's a holdover, and "there's no wild rainbows reproducing in the Farmington"...well looking at this fellow I would think there are.
Wild or.....perfect fins, tail full, a dorsal fin standing tall, and almost perfect spotting. I would put this fish in a class as the most beautiful rainbow I've ever taken
WOW!! That is one fine specimen Brk Trt! If not wild certainly one hell of a holdover!
ReplyDeleteTROUTI
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Pete you have taken your fair share of beautiful rainbows. You can pretty much tell.
Not only the looks but the way he fought make me think wild.
When a trout stream is healthy and provides the trout all the things it need I believe anything is possible. We trout streams in south pa. Where my home is that even though their stocked you will catch a very small trout every once in a while,proof that some reproduction is going on. That is a beautiful rainbow , Alan whether wild or holdover. I think cabelas should give you a personalized c g r for all the free advertising you give them,that's a cool outfit.
ReplyDeleteBrad Basehore
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Brad it seems like they don't want to acknowledge the possibility..oh well.
I may just contact Cabela's and show them how great that little rod is. And they just might do as you suggest.
Alan,
ReplyDeleteI don't know that I have ever seen so beautiful a rainbow. So dark and wild looking although I cannot comment on that aspect. I love the black fins and spots galore. It almost reminds us of a steelhead out west!
A beautiful fish from the beautiful Farmington,
Doug
Dougsden
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Doug, I can tell you it fought like a steelhead. That river is special.
That's a wild fish, Alan. That's an absolutely gorgeous fish. The blue tint to his fins is unreal...awesome find! Now we know why it fought like a demon. There are rainbows that reproduce in the Farmy...look no further than the bow I caught last time.
ReplyDeleteRI brook trout
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Jon you also believe it to be. The fins are eye catching. Wait until I post the photo of another rainbow I caught several years ago. Very convincing.
A beautiful fish. It certainly looks like a wild rainbow.
ReplyDeleteAll the trout that I catch in my local creeks in Victoria, Australia are wild, naturally self sustaining and the colours, especially the browns can be quite stunning, much like the stunning colours of your rainbow.
I still have to wait a month or so before I can fish for trout in our running waters. 'Til then, I'll admire and be not a little envious of your successes.
Cheers,
Steve.
Steve Haynes
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Steve I have you in the yes wild column. Wild browns can take on some awesome colors. Stop by and fish with me anytime.
I hope that I can visit the US again sometime in the future and fish for the brook trout that you so love.
DeleteIf you ever cross over the big puddle to Australia, the invitation to fish my local creeks, as well as other waters, still stands.
Cheers,
Steve.
Steve, might show up on your doorstep.
DeleteThanks for the invite.
That is a gorgeous Bow Alan. Congrats on landing him. His fins sure look like those a wild fish would posess...
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Will he was a tough one. I'm putting you in the wild column.
I have to agree. that's a mighty fine looking Bow.
ReplyDeleteMark Kautz-Shoreman
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Mark your in the wild crowd.
Wow, that's the nicest looking Rainbow I've seen in quite a while. Must have been exciting to get a glimpse of it when bringing it in!
ReplyDeleteTroutandFly
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It was a fish that did pretty much everything to elude capture. I did enjoy the fight.
Alan - beautiful fish! There are some very nice looking rainbows in the river this year, some quite large
ReplyDeleteMark Wittman
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Mark you are so right. The ones Ive hooked into have been spectacular.
A beautiful fish very worthy of anyone chasin' Rainbows! My guess would be that is a wild fish. To perfect in too many ways not to be...............
ReplyDeleteCongrats, Alan.
Grandpa Mel
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Mel your down in the wild column as well.
Nice rainbow, your 3wt must of look like a u, what a fighter. Putting the floatant on your tipet paid off. Good job adjusting and trying different set ups with your fly fishing.
ReplyDeleteJohn Wirtes
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John that 3wt handled it very well. The glass rod is like a shock absorber. I'm still learning buddy.
What a beautiful rainbow, Alan. Like you, I believe it is wild with those colors and fins. I see no good reason why rainbows can't reproduce around here as is often reported by DFW if the water quality is excellent which the Farmington certainly is. Regards, Sam
ReplyDeleteParachute Adams
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Sam your down as wild. And for the same reasons as you stated believe the same.
I'll go with wild as well Alan. You just know when you have one.
ReplyDeleteHoward Levett
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Howard you have been added to the wild list.
There's just nothing quite like watching a rainbow arc out of the water after a hook set. Perfection, indeed!
ReplyDeleteFading Angler
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Chris I agree, and this one did his best.
I gotta feeling there are some wild ones in that cold water spot you took me to a few years back. Beautiful fish either way.
ReplyDeleteApache Trout
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John I know the spot you speak of and I agree. I remember you telling me of some spawning rainbows in another stream you were fishing.
nice
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