Mighty V 9-3-09

Woke up this morning around 5:00 and decided to go fishing for a couple hours before school. Hit the gas station in my full camo and troutin vest and picked up a Rockstar and Powerbar and then it was off to a couple honeyholes on the V. As I was fumbling for my favorite Rapala in the dark, a noise scared the crap out a me in the woods behind me. I looked over to see a nice buck running from me. “Cool start to the day” I thought. I made my first cast into the rapids flowing into the pool and caught a nice 16.5″er. I was already happy with my decision to give up valuable sleep for a chance to go fishing. I retied as the fish tangled me into my net and noticed the sun just peeking above the woods over the pool. I made a cast into the opposite slack water over the rapids and jerked through said rapids. As my line slacked from the erratic tugs I was putting on my Rapala I saw it tighten very fast and I set the hook. ‘Boom’ ‘Boom’, I felt two big head shakes. Then my line took off a good 50 ft up into the rapids. Then all of a sudden the fish turned around and started screaming down the rapids at an awesome rate. And then he catapulted a good 4ft out of the water and I saw the sweet golden brown I had been looking for, then I knew it was a nice trout. Finally won the battle and netted this nice 23.5″x13.5″ FAT male Brown in full spawn colors. Biggest male I’ve caught outta the V to date. Didn’t catch another trout out of two other holes but, was more than happy enough.

Beautiful fish

Gorgeous fish. Between the spawning colors and that kype that’s one awesome looking fish.

The battle between sleep and fishing… seems fishing wins everytime

You lucky devil. I’d give up sleep any day for that fish! Amazed to see such brilliant spawning colors already. What a brute. What time did he hit? Like your giant net. You came prepared for a monster!

Congrats! Great looking Fish. Who needs sleep anyways?

FDR

Also cool that he jumped. The bigger ones often don’t do that. Lucky he did not shake the hook.

Bet you cannot wait to get back. Sunlight just peaking over the tree line. Cool. Trout bite before sunrise but starting to believe first hour of light when fish can SEE your lure seems ideal.

here’s question I would love to have an answer to. Where could a guy get to some of the public access points to fish the vermillion? I have talked about it with my brother, as we both spent a good number of years in colorado fly fishing, but neither of us have ever actually done it.
where do I start? Pretty much strictly catch and release guy so all fish will go back.

Easements marked in gray. Most is C&R however live bait allowed. MN trout map # 15

Nice fish

Thank You for posting the map Mark. As to what time, it was about 6:20 when I hooked him. Actually second cast I made the first was the smaller one in the net that you pointed out. Funny story about that net. I used to have one of those trout net dealies. you know the wood handled things. well, I learned when my first ‘big’ trout barely fit then broke through it that I’m probably going to need a bigger net and this one was the retired walleye net as you may see the areas that I had to make repairs to. Maybe time to buy a new one but I don’t like to through things out. And on that note where does one procure a new treble hook for a rapala. My go to got its front treble dismembered buy a pike and know is a single hook instead of a treble

Sorry throw, not through. Too much school no sleep.

Jon I have been thinking about your fish. Roger Kerr wrote to be yesterday. He was saying a true healthy wild brown will spawn in mid-November. I think that male is not on the right track for successful maiting. Never seen a prronounced kyped jaw so early in the season.

Either way, one beautiful fish. Your other fish ain’t even worth a photo in comparison. Mid to late Sept I see the rust color crisp dark chocolate spots. Your fish is about two months ahead of schedule with that jaw.