November 25th-
The plan was to start fishing at 8am with my fishing partner, Brandon, but after tossing and turning, I got up and fished solo a few hours earlier. I launched the boat and made a few unsuccessful passes while remembering the words of legendary angler Ray Johnson, author of Big Trout, one of my favorite books. ”The first important thing to know before trying to catch trophy-sized brown trout is that THEY ARE NOCTURNAL; and if you want to catch very many of them, you will HAVE TO IN THE DARK”. After years of experience, I know brown trout don’t always bite early at this particular lake but I began to doubt myself and wished at this point I had been out a few hours before sunrise.
8:05 am and as Brandon walked down the boat ramp, he called his shot like Babe Ruth. “One of us is catching a 12 pound brown today”, he chuckled as he threw his fishing gear in my boat. “12 pounds?” I replied. “No, I want one 13 pounds ha-ha”. Actually, I was just hoping to get a few browns to bite. It had been almost a week since the last good bite and I was starting to worry why the best month of the year was so slow? We started off trolling the lake and catching a few smaller rainbows, cutthroats and browns. At 11am our friend Joe joined us. It was slightly overcast with dead calm winds. Joe caught two quick rainbows and then the bite shut off completely. At noon the wind slowly started to blow from the North, by 2 o’clock it was now officially windy.
No bites for several hours. Brandon and Joe were switching up their lures while I kept on my same hand-painted lure. I had a gut feeling it would attract the big brown I was hoping for. Just before we called it quits I relocated the boat and trolled down the windiest side of the lake. Then as my lure crossed the 1st point it stopped hard and ripped a few times powerfully back towards the bank. I leaned away from the fish and grunted at its power. The wind was blowing us back towards a snag-littered shoreline. My heart sank when I looked back and saw my line heading straight between two partially submerged trees. The boat needed to be turned out into deeper water fast. Brandon frantically cleared his line and steered us away from the shore. The feeling of this powerful surging fish got me thinking back on the last 6 years I have spent persistently fishing for trophy brown trout.
A wise old fisherman once told me, “To catch big brown trout, persistence is key.” He also said, “If you catch one DON’T TELL ANYBODY.” Actually that wise old man was my Dad and several Brown Bagger members. The Brown Baggers is a fishing club founded in 1974 by legendary angler, lure designer, and record holder, Allan Cole. Members are dedicated to catching trophy browns.
Salmo Trutta, also known as brown trout are known to be the smartest and weariest of the trout species, especially when they inhabit big deep bodies of water such as lakes and reservoirs. Catching a double-digit fish is either a great accomplishment or just dumb luck. But through the 1970′s, 80’s and 90’s Allan Cole along with other club members Richard Reinwald, Jim Bringhurst, John Hofferd and Ron Carey reeled in some of the biggest brown trout ever caught in the Western United States. Since 1974 The Brown Baggers have caught over 485 browns over 10 pounds, including numerous State and World Records.
I joined the Club in 2009 by catching my two browns both over 10 pounds and each from the west coast. It was a goal I set for myself back in 2006. The goal was to get into the Club before I turned 30 in 2011 and it was not an easy task. I fished my butt off to accomplish it. But it was after catching those two fish, that I really started learning a lot. I was now officially “in the club” and connected to some of the best brown trout fisherman from the past four decades. A wealth of information and locations were thrown in my lap and I was like a sponge soaking up every detail.
One of the things I learned is gearing up with the right equipment is vital. A reliable engine that starts and continues to run in the coldest temperatures and a solid boat that allows me to fish in wind-chopped waters is crucial because that’s when the big fish bite. In addition, I use a stiff, sensitive, 7-foot rod. With this, I can feel how well my lure is running and the smallest taps or bites. Also, my reel is a fast 6:3:1 gear ratio that holds a significant amount of line. I fish a lot in freezing temperatures so if my reel seizes up from the cold my day is ruined. Most importantly, I enjoy having a good fishing partner slash “Net Man” out on the lake with me. Spending time on the water with good company makes those long, slow days of fishing possible.
In addition to having the proper gear, I also learned to keep a very close watch on weather, air temps, water temps, cloud accumulation, other anglers’ techniques, seasonal bites and ice conditions. Once all these conditions are perfect I’m on the lake, fishing smart and fishing hard. Knowing the right locations and right times of year to fish is another advantage. Here’s some advice that I now live by. Find a lake with BIG browns CLOSE to your home because you will be spending many days, weeks and sometimes years chasing a trophy. The closer you are equals more time on the water.
Local knowledge is also very important. I regularly talk with my local biologist, fish hatcheries and Game wardens and check for updates on fishing reports through state websites and various fishing forums. I also exchange phone number with guys I see out on the lake targeting browns and call them on days I can’t fish so they can be my eyes and ears on the water. I feel gathering as much info as possible about a lake is crucial. For starters, since my target is trophy browns I don’t fish lakes that don’t have the potential for big browns. Also, water temperatures, weather patterns, lure size, lure colors, water depths are all variables I constantly evaluate in my head year after year. I’ve asked questions about these variables to experienced brown trout fisherman like: Mike Nielsen, Allan Cole and Brad Stout and after great advice, suggestions and motivation, I gained confidence in a few specific trolling techniques, lures and lakes.
With this knowledge, I decided to target a lake within ten miles of my house in Utah. It was known for its trophy brown trout, some weighing over 20 pounds. After fishing that body of water for 6 years plus, I started noticing: patterns, trends and seasons that were by far better than others. So now when I fish there I fish smart and I fish at the right times, but I always remember that old voice in my head saying, “Persistence is key”, so I fish A LOT. Some days I will be driving in one direction doing something completely different then after noticing the conditions are perfect, I change plans, grab the boat and go. Other days I go stir crazy, sitting at work checking fishing reports and web cameras, over and over 5 to 6 times a day. Knowing that the big browns are biting and I am missing it is PAINFUL. I spend so much time focused on brown fishing that my wife, family and co-workers think it’s an obsession. When the conditions feel right or when I am fishing a new lake that I know holds monsters it makes me physically sick. I’ll get so nervous and anxious, my bowels start churning uncontrollably. So, maybe it is an obsession? It’s definitely more than a hobby but honestly, it feels like I hardly get to fish enough.
For more than a half-century, since Browns were transplanted into America from European waters, they have stirred up and created more drama than any other freshwater species. On the west coast each year boat ramps and Internet fishing forums turn into Soap Operas. People will lie, cheat and fight for a chance at a trophy brown and I’ll admit it, I am a true brown trout junkie. Nothing gets me more anxious, excited and nervous then browns do. So that day on the lake with my fishing buddy, Brandon and friend Joe with a potential big brown on my line, my heart pumped faster than ever as I battled the heavy mystery fish.
As Brandon steered the boat trying to avoid the snag-covered bank, suddenly, my line got heavy and the fish stopped fighting. Despite Brandon’s efforts, I was snagged between the two submerged trees. I’ve been in this situation before and I’ve always lost or broke the fish off but I wasn’t going to let that happen this time. We switched angles and drove back towards the bank. As the boat came around I felt something popped. I thought my 10# test line had snapped but as I reeled fast to get the slack out, I felt the awesome power of the fish again. It was making a big run into deeper water and I could feel the force of a few big head shakes. With my line darting hard left then right it was now apparent I was hooked into a big fish. It gave me some slack and as I reeled it towards the boat I could feel that it was very heavy. At that point, I thought I was in the homestretch but then I saw the fish aggressively change directions. It was charging back towards the submerged trees again. I hollered at Brandon to gun it out into even deeper water. As I held my breath, I daringly placed my thumb on the reel to pull the fish away from the shoreline. If it stuck me in those trees again it would likely break my line. I had already gotten lucky once and knew I wasn’t going to have a second chance at it. Our daring maneuver got us into the clear and I was able to settle into the fight.
Three minutes into the fight, layers of clothing I had on to keep me warm in freezing temps are now smothering me as my body is dripping with sweat. My heart is beating so hard that Brandon says he can see it about to explode out of my chest. After another minute of fighting this mystery fish, we all got quiet, hearing only the sounds of the engine chugging and the water lapping up against the boat. We waited for the color spot to appear out of the dark green water and then as I reeled, inch-by-inch I got the first glimpse of a golden circle. “That thing is 15 pounds”, I thought to myself as I gasped and gulped for another breath of air. I went from 3 to a 9.99 on the nervous meter. It was looking like Brandon’s prediction of a 12-pound brown today was about to come true.
I nervously looked over at my long-time fishing partner Brandon and he looked back at me as he calmly waited with the net in hand. I reeled in the last 20 feet of my leader. Then the fish circled around the boat and then suddenly floated to the surface off the bow. Joe was filming from the bow with his phone and asked, “You want to give me that net?” Just then, the female brown exposed her massive belly for us all to see. I shouted out “Give him the net, give him the net, give him the net”, so Brandon reluctantly gave up the net. Joe slowly scooped up the fish and we finally saw how big it really was. Screams of joy, fear, disbelief, and utter exhaustion exploded from the boat and I’m pretty sure I did some sort of touchdown dance. Joe laid it in the boat and the first thing I noticed was that it was just as big as the 6-gallon bucket it was lying next to. It was well over 12 pounds. At 32.5 inches long and maxing out my 20 lbs scale, I knew it was a true FISH of a LIFETIME!
After a few quick calls, we loaded up my boat and drove to the supermarket to get the official weight, 21.5 pounds. This big brown was definitely going on my wall. I am a firm believer in catch and release and this is the first fish I’ve kept in the last 6 years. This trophy brown is something I have heard stories about and seen pictures of but never did I think that would catch one. I knew there were 20-pound browns in that lake but I had only dreamed that one-day a 21.5-pound would eat my lure I hand-painted myself.
Believe me, I would love to give more details on exactly how and where I caught it, but I was sworn to secrecy on a few details. One friend told me not to mention the lake, another said to keep the lure and color quite, and another said not to tell how fast I was trolling or how deep of water I was in. It is funny how secretive brown trout fishermen are and quite frankly I’ve already said too much.
Equipment used:
~ Hand Painted Rapala
~ Abu Garcia Reel- C4 6601
~ G-Loomis Rod- IMX 7 ‘ Med-Heavy Fast Action
- Sufix 832 Braided Line in Lo-Vis Green- 20#
~ P-Line Floroclear- 10# leader
~ Pro-Cure Scent- Rainbow Trophy Trout Super Gel
~ Mercury Engine – 40 hp
November 26th-
We are addicted to this Brown Trout thing.. after catching the fish of a lifetime we are right back on the lake trying to get another.. All the clouds had blown out and High pressure and blue skies set in. The bite was slow . A few Bows and a 21 inch Brown were all we could troll up. But we had fun thinking back on that absolute Monster I caught the day before.. Man O man .. I still can’t believe it.
November 27th-
Its Brandon’s turn now. I asked and he said he was feeling his luck was going strike at HIS favorite lake, so we switched things up and left my lake behind. As we were getting our lines out I got a good bite in the rod holder that didn’t stick. I lost another fish real quick and Brandon got slammed and lost it.. 3 for 0 and the bite turned off.. We worked the lake over a few times and after a quick call from Nielsen who said we were crazy to not be out on my lake wrangling trophy sized Trout again.! So at 2:30 we switched lakes.. I hope Brandon’s luck will soon reward him no matter which lake we decide to fish.
Trolling by 3:15 we ran straight to my point, but for the first passes our slow bite continued. We stayed persistent and trolled what we know will work for a big one and now our tactics are proven. After years or research and fishing the actual lake, I’ve learned, what I fell is, the best way to troll for these Trophy Trout — Thanks to guys like: My Dad, Mike Nielsen, Allan Cole, Jim Bringhurst, Brad Stout, Brandon Eyre, Mark Knoch and Ryan Stott- I’ve been able to learned how to effectively fish for big Brown Trout.
At 4:21 I got bit and got the skunk off the boat!! A thick, chubby, 21 inch Brown trout never looked so small..as I thanked him and released it to gain 20 pounds in the next 6 year, so I can catch him again. We each caught a few bows before dark and on our last pass I got broke off by a fish that splashed but we never saw it. Maybe it was something big… or… small… or…. the same size as most fish we usually catch…and that’s what I love !!! You just never know!! …….uhhhgg.. I bet it was big… yep, son of a……
November 28th
Headed back up to Tigervlle to try to get my 10 pound Tiger Trout. I know may luck was hot so I figured I better try one last time before it freezes. Jimbo came along and did some serious damage with his fly rod. Fishing was slow at first but then we both figured out what the wanted- Jimbo put on a clinic once he found the secrete bug. I was scrambling to tie one on- but he got 4 more Tigers before I could finish tying. I never saw the big one today but we each caught several chunky, colorful Tigers. My last Tiger was all lit up with a red belly!! I will be trying to get on this lake when the ice melts- That it the best time for a Giant.
December 3rd
It was supposed to be a cloudy, snowy day but the weather man was wrong once AGAIN. ! Brandon and I trolled all day for 3 Browns and 3 Bows, biggest was 21 inches- Wish the low pressure would have stayed around. It sure makes fishing tuff when there is blue skies and a north wind.
December 4th
The weather looked perfect and after a nice relaxing morning with Nicole- she let me rally my stuff and try to salvage the weekends fishing. I met Brandon at noon and in the first 2 hours we did well with 4 Browns and a few Bows. Biggest was 22 in- but it felt really good for a Big Brown to bite. Conditions were ideal, low clouds, slight wind, and gray lighting. when all the sudden the clouds lifted and the wind kicked out of the north blowing the storm away and all our bites too- it was dead slow the rest of the day- I just hope we get some more good fishing days on the weekends so I can get Brandon his Big Brown.
December 10
I only fished 3 hours during the middle of the day and didn’t catch anything- it was clear skies high pressure and a full moon. a friend, Fishnut stayed ALL day for 3 small browns and a few Bows.
December 11th.
I met Nielsen at 11 am and we fished till 5 . He schooled me 12 Browns to 1. When he jumped in the boat he painted his lure really quick..a secret B.T. special !!! it worked great he caught a few nice one up to 5 lbs. One of em spit out a 5 inch rainbow in the net!! and when we looked closer we saw a 7 inch Bow inside it’s throat . We saw 2 other Brown Baggers on the lake . Allan Cole came back into town and Mike Arhets, were both out looking for their next big bite! . Each of em caught a nice brown at 6-7 lbs. there was 4 Brown Baggers on the lake at the same time!! and nobody else !! Perfect.
I was a Wizard falls fish hatchery, a place we visit every time we are in Oregon. We watched the big Bows swim around the pond eating everything in sight.
