We missed the opener so we made it up this past week and fished from Wenesday-Saturday from the shore and float tubes. Fishing would get really hot for an hour in the morning and again an hour in the evening, other than that it was pretty dead. Caught 15-20ish a day, most being your typical 2-3 pound cutts. We were fly fishing and had the best luck indicator fishing. Only had 1 fish hit a canadian red. Leeches didn't seem to produce very well for us. They were all full of eggs still. Didn't hook into a hybrid, found a few good brookies. This was big fish of the trip, we let him go to hopefully swim another day. He'd broke off a bait fisherman and had line wrapped all around his head and gills. He took off OK with no bleeding so hopefully he makes it. Measured 20 inches long, I'd guess a solid 5 maybe 6lbs?
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Good job letting em go but for future reference that 1st pix isnt a good way to hold a fish you will let go.
Glad you got into them! Someday ill get a Henry's big brookie.
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Next time try holding them further from you, they'll look bigger in the pictures.
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This is a joke, no?
That fish is a.) likely dead and b.) 18" and 1-1.5 pounds at most.
I don't care if you killed it, just don't claim ridiculous stuff. 5-6 lbs, LOL! If you're going to troll, try harder.
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Definitely NOT 5 or 6 lbs. I caught a really good 24 incher a few years ago. Was fatter than that one and it only weighed 4.25 lbs. If that one was 20 inches, then I'd guess it at about 3-3.5 lbs at most.
That is a nice one, however. Any brookie over 16 inches is a great brookie, IMHO. Cool picture too.
P. S. I have no problem with someone keeping a fish, especially as quality fish like that one. But just for your information, when you take one out of the water long enough to walk up on the grass, let the fish roll around in the grass, then dry out for the picture, it is going to die whether you release it or not. I don't want to offend you, but my guess is you did not release that fish. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
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Well aren't we a warm, welcoming bunch? This was a great reminder why I only get excited or desperate enough to post on BFT once or twice a year. I just can't compete with the elitist and purists that grace our presence on the forum.
1.) I won't argue on the length, I had 3 people right there as we measured it. It went 20 even, that isn't rounding up an inch or half an inch, it was twenty.
2.) When I took the pictures holding it like that I honestly didn't think it'd survive after we unwound the line that was wrapped around his head and gills. We got it unwound and cut the line farther down so it didn't get caught up again. I'd guess it got broke off in someones prop or something, it had a good 5-6 feet of line where it broke off. It was a in a C&R net that whole time in the water, it was out for the pictures and that was it. Agreed, not the best grip and grin pose to release it. I hate keeping fish, I think they taste awful. Doesn't have anything to do with not wanting to admit I kept one, i just think they are nasty tasting and hate cleaning them. We fished the same little bay for another 5 hours and didn't see him side swimming or belly up.
3.) The weight probably was a bit generous, as I said it was a guess, I didn't have a scale. You don't get to see the thickness well from any of the pictures, he was thick from his neck to his anus fin.
Wasn't trying to troll Sagebrush, seems like a lot of people have been posting lately asking for help and reports from Henry's. Had a fun trip with the wife and the kid on his first trip to the lake and thought I'd report back.
Second attachment is the same fish without the arm extenstion. I'm 6'3 to give you a little reference.
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That is a beautiful fish, and a nice family picture to boot! A lot of us on here appreciate your report. Glad you and your family had a good time.
I really could care less about the exact weight. The fish is a trophy catch in my book. I've never caught a brookie that big, and I have been fishing for at least twice as long as you. Then again I don't fish Henry's....Hate the crowds, but maybe I will have to give it a shot.
Nice that you gave him a chance to live and maybe to give someone else a thrill.
To some of the negative posters.... what does it matter? Let's be appreciative of reports and don't rain on someone's parade. If you are trying to educate people on fish handling, a new post on that is always timely.
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[quote Dgallen]
2.)[#ff0000] It was a in a C&R net that whole time in the water[/#ff0000], it was out for the pictures and that was it. [/quote]
Cpeirce,
I don't believe anyone is trying to "rain on his parade". I also agree it is a lovely fish and cool pictures. What a great time with the family, fishing, being in the outdoors, etc.
To me, it is about credibility. If it was truely C&R and "[#ff0000]It was a in a C&R net that whole time in the water[/#ff0000], it was out for the pictures and that was it", then why is he standing on land? Why is there grass stuck to the fish? Why is the skin, especially the tail fin, dried out?
I personally think it's an awesome catch, great pictures, and a nice story. It just isn't credible and his pictures don't match his story. That's all I'm saying.
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The only thing that bothers me about this whole thing is the fact that the OP is holding by fish by the gills and then throws it back. That is not something anyone should ever do when they plan on releasing a fish. Plus the fact that the fish in the pictures is clearly not near the water and then is released shows no respect for the fish.
If the fish was that beat up from all the line and what not, why not snap a photo in the net and let it go?
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Ur right i was out of line n im sorry.
Like i said great fish wished i got one like that. Good pix looks like a lot of fun. Doesn't matter if its 2lbs or 20! Thats a great BROOKIE! Thanks for sharing n again sorry for my 1st post.[shocked]
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If it didn't go belly up and die after he released it what is the big deal here guys? I am sure if it did he probably would have kept it. Man too many harsh critiques on here. It might not be the perfect way to handle it but I have turned many loose the way he did and not had problems when I am in a hurry. Fish are more likely to die during really hot weather in July and August if not totally handled 100% properly.
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You are certainly free to think what you want whether or not something is credible to you. Even if something isn't, why call them on it? A post is whatever the person wants to say.
You don't have to believe it. None of us have to believe it. There are a lot of things on the Internet that I don't believe, but I don't bother comment on them. In my opinion (and you are welcome to differ), it just causes unnecessary negativity and conflict.
My vibes are good so I am going fishing! (Hope my vibes can find me some nice ones, but I am not holding my breath!) Have a good one everyone!! [cool]
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You are probably right.
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Thanks for the pics and report. I appreciate you taking the time to share! [fishin]
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[quote lone_wolf
]If it didn't go belly up and die after he released it what is the big deal here guys? I am sure if it did he probably would have kept it. Man too many harsh critiques on here. It might not be the perfect way to handle it but I have turned many loose the way he did and not had problems when I am in a hurry. Fish are more likely to die during really hot weather in July and August if not totally handled 100% properly.[/quote]
No big deal, but 9 times out of 10 it takes awhile for them to go belly up and float to the surface. I am 99% sure this one did.
I too am drooling over the wonderful Brookie! Spectacular. A 20" is NOT going to weigh 5lbs, in fact 4 lbs is questionable and those of us that fish Henry's regularly know just how thick they are.
But, weight doesn't really matter anyway. The VISUAL is what matters in this case.
And that is a BIG brookie.
Easy to get caught up when you just caught the BIGGEST fish of your life (or species). Got to have the bragging rights for sure.
People just need to decide if they want to actually want to C&R. If one does, then learn to do it correct. No harm in keeping though.[
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great looking fish! sounds like a great trip. I've been up a few times and caught similar sized fish- only difference is I've been catching mostly hybrids. We're out in the middle- tossing lures, trolling rapalas and stripping leeches.
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