25″ female on a worm. A new personal best. Got a 24 male this spring and a 24 female last summer (on my wall) but this one beats both.
My buddy Kirk was there to witness and photograph. It took two of us to pin this fish down long enough to get a good measurement.
Is a resident coaster one that lives in the stream year round? Assume rare and otherwise best chance of a Lake Superior coaster would be fall when they spawn? Lots of green in the photo which looks more like late summer perhaps. Quite a deep river.
Thanks for sharing the photos. Those a beautiful slab brook trout!
I have heard about God’s River. Big brookies for sure. Was that fish caught on an actual river or God’s Lake? Brook trout in a stream that big is just mind boggling but I know they grow big in Canada.
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My personal best near Grand Marias is 16″. Although, I have a friend who caught one 18″ from the same spot. It’s a spot best fished with a canoe/belly boat and the brookies are mixed in with smallmouth and walleyes.
That is impressive. Big water shared with smallies and walleye. I have measured water temp of 70 degrees on two different brook trout stream. They are more resilient than people think. I have yet to break the 15″ mark for a brookie.
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Subp. 3. Winter trout stream season. These waters are open to angling during a winter trout season from January 1 through March 31. Except as provided in subparts 36 and 37, the following restrictions apply to the winter season. While on or fishing in these waters, angling for trout is limited to catch and release only, whereby any trout caught must be immediately returned to the water. It is unlawful for anyone to have in possession, regardless of where taken, any trout while on or fishing in these waters. All legal methods of taking trout are allowed, except that barbed hooks are prohibited. A hook from which the barb has been removed by crimping or filing is allowed.
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/rules/?id=6264.0400
In fact MN DNR winter trout page used to say “live bait allowed” but was removed to prevent confusion. If I was fishing an AO stream I cannot use bait any time of year. The stream I fished does not have an AO regulation.
Hi KWP the top one was 12.” All were caught on chunks of crawlers and a tiny split or no split at all. I imagine brook trout water rare in your area too. My personal best in Grand Marais area is 13.” What is the fish you are holding in your display photo?
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I wonder how many personal best fish of any spieces have been caught on a Panther Martin? I can’t claim a pb on a Panther Martin, but there is no game fish from trout to gills to pike and everythng in between that I haven’t taken on one. Rates right along with the Lazy Ike as a all time classic fish getter!!
Lyons I think you are right. Those spinners catch all kinds of fish. I understand they were first started out as a pike lure and then trout guys figured out they work quite well.
Hey thanks guys. Walking out there I took off my flashlight headset because there was enough light to see where I was walking. Yet I wondered if I hooked a big trout the flashlight headset would come in handy. Should have kept it on my head. It was still pretty dark trying to net this fish and she ran all over the place. I was just guessing where to swoop the net most of the time. My glasses were fogging up from morning dew coming off the grass and the creek itself. I really could not see what I was doing and where the fish was at. Just lucky to have landed this one!
Ozzyky good to see you on the board and congrats on the big catches. Oh and both of those look like males too. Even more rare.
Big trout love big spinners and worms. I only use #9PMs for spinners these days. #6 is too small. I was a #6 guy more in previous years. When I first started out I was using #00 (1/32 oz) if you can believe that. 3/8 oz. Heck I even got some #15 (1/2 oz) but I think they are generally too big for inland stream trout. Maybe not too big for lake run browns or salmon though.
Send me a PM sometime. I make it western WI too, maybe we could go troutin’ sometime.
Mark
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There is no Black Creek or Smith Creek Either
I am terrible with being the secret stream guy this season. Yet at the same time I think I share a lot of basic information. Several have already followed closely and picked up the bread crumbs.
You guys send me PMs if you want to pick my brain but I’ll tell you this spot was shared to me by a new friend just this spring and we pledged to keep it secret. Truly there are no secret streams. When I was out there I was just thinking how I would feel if one day there were several cars parked at this prized spot.
What I have learned in various forums is a good fishing spot is incredibly valuable and I don’t care what species. Some guys like me are trout nuts. Others are roughies or “Life Listers” or eye chasers, or Esox anglers, or flathead sturgeon chasers. You name it, everybody has their strengths. My niche is big browns. I’ve landed 18 over 20″ since fall of 2008. Persistence pays off. These ARE the Good Old Days. Trout fishing has never been better in the Driftless Area.
Thanks guys. Been sticking to 10 lb. I like braided Power Pro. I’ve used 10 lb braided green in Spider Wire too. I just think Power Pro frays less easily. It is the best and worth a little extra.
I always thought trout needed thin lines too. Well if that was the case I would not stand a chance landing these big browns. Honestly the casting, presentation, and approach far more important.
This time around I just gutted, brined, and cooked. Before eating I tear off head and give to the dogs. Tearing out the gill plates I did that on last batch and only did that because I found some gill lice and that grossed me out.
Thanks for your kind words Buddy Tony and I hit it last night. I was all out of PM gold 3/8 oz and of course the mailman was late and of course they showed up after we headed for the stream. I am blaming the mailman for no 20″+ on this trip. That said, the trip was a success.
First I got this 18″ brown on a worm. It is an eyeball estimate. Tony’s fish was next, another lip hooked worm and we did measure it out to be a perfectly fat T16.” Tony and I were thrilled. With both fish I jumped into the crick and got out my big [censored] Frabil net to land these nice fish. Mine actually wrapped around a log in an undercut bank and was stuck. I reached under wand unwound the line, next the fish shot between my legs and amazingly Tony was there to sweep the fish in the net. Nicely done!
Likewise, Tony’s fish was also a blast to catch. Jumping into the crick right away because it is just such tight quarters and so many things for a fish to get hung up on. The fish ran around all over but we luckily got the fish on shore. High fives. Two beers each out on the stream, bluebird skies and the vibrant green grass.
Later in the evening was a fantastic sunset to cap the night. A handful of other smaller fish were caught however a quality 16″ and a quality 18″ for each of us was more than worth our while.
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he has a 100% better survival chance than if he were in the fry pan!
Was c&r season so legally no other choice. Fish got the benefit of the doubt as you mention. Big trout are meant to be caught again not eaten.
spindoctor never seen a bunch of baby foxes. Wonderful shot! Your underwater photos are also fantastic!
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Nice Fish, I had same back surgery in Febuary take care of that back. After a day of setting the hook I feel it
How long did it take to recover? My buddy is not doing well. Unbearable leg pain. Says if he does not get better in a couple of months he is going to take his own life. He is doing a MRI today. Hopefully the doctors figure out what is wrong because the surgery has yet to relieve the pain.
Spindoctor that top photo of the brown underwater fish looks really chunky. Nice job! What kind of camera do you have?
Helpful link. One to bookmark
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/areas/fisheries/crystalsprings_hatchery/stream_cond.html
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Pretty fish. I really hope that big brown survives. That’s a lot of blood.
Thanks. Thought the same thing. I hooked not in gills but just above gills. He did lose blood but what can you do? I kept fish in net and pumped him back and forth to revive. Then when fish was ready, he took off. I put on my flashlight head set, and waded back and forth looking for any sign of the fish and he could not be found.
Delayed report but here goes. Opener was a tad cold at first and icing on the guides but really not too much to worry about. Braided line was even OK to fish with and was glad too because my other reel loaded with mono I started out with got stiff on my right off the bat.
Western WI, an obscure brook trout stream in Pierce County. Lots of nice brookies. Landed a 16″ brown and buddy Matt got an odd ball 14″ brookie with a big head and skinny body. We did well with gold PMs.
Also missed a solid 18″+ humpback brownie that jumped and next thing you know he was off. Knot failure! Brushy little stream and lots of logs, guess I should have checked my knots more often because buddy Matt said he was hooked solid, had the PM right in his mouth.
Yep bull sign still there. To my knowledge no bull remains, just local humor. If you have not been to Hay in years you should check it out. Over 5000 feet of habitat improvement. Tons of plunge pools, lunkers, tapered banks. Bridge downstream of 325th has a fisherman’s parking lot. Charming little stream.
Neat story. You should call the DNR, have them trap those beavers so your stream don’t get ruined. That is what my TU buds tell me.
Hi Zoanar!
Yeah sent me a PM anyone who wants advice, locations. The way I see it my trout stamp pays for these catchable rainbows, might as well eat them. Holdover is minimal so either I eat them or birds eat them.
Gonna smoke a big batch tomorrow. Hands down best way to eat trout. Have a good recipe (from Len Harris) if anybody wants it.
I kept trout. Guess I didn’t mention it. That big beautiful brookie actually swallowed the treble hook on the spinner pretty good. Sometimes a prize fish like that I’ll say I let it go to avoid confrontation by C&R zealots. I kept another brookie and a handful of rainbows too. I’m gonna smoke a whole bunch this weekend.
Devil Track General Store right before you turn into the resort, correct? We stopped in there 4th of July because the local firemen were showing off their truck and my four year old son wanted to check I out. Older fat guy with long gray beard was working there, forget his name. He was bartender at the bar in Devil Track Resort last summer. He your uncle?
Yep some brookies. Not as many caught as last summer but then again I never caught a plump 13″ brookie so that makes up for it. I think the population fluctuates based on water temps. Strong spring snow melt will wipe out an entire year class of trout too.
Flipping rocks I saw caddis casings. Under bridges I saw dried up giant stoneflies size 8-10. So there are hatches including mayflies. Rainbows early am were slurping stuff on top.
You can go higher than 4lb, especially braided. I use 10 but likely overkill. I don’t like losing lures to trees, logs. Make sure your reel winds fast enough. Mine is 6:1. Some small reels the crank ratio too slow. Always fish upstream.
Fish MN or WI? If MN google Minnesota trout stream and you will find maps. Easement in gray. WI has a separate easement database. PM me I will give you spots. Ask friends for spots. Or google “GIS map + county name” to get GIS maps. ID owner, find number in whitepages. Call in advance, ask permission.
Spinners and worms a good place to start. For spinners you will have best luck 5:15 am – 7:15 am or maybe later. Pick a cloudy dreary day. Even light rain helps. Worms best early morning or late evening, or all day it just depends. Right now worms have been red hot. Use #6-8 hook, split a foot up to cast the distance. Think where the trout is gonna be. Cast three free or more above trout. Keep a low profile. If tall banks stay in the water.
Technically if you access at a public bridge and keep your feet wet surrounding private property you are legal. Ask permission though, landowners appreciate this.
This is a rare tiger trout. Tiger trout is a result of a female brown trout x male brook trout. Fishing water that has both brook trout and brown trout, your odds of catching one are 1:100,000 or so I am told.
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Here’s my other beginners luck, my PB so far 17 on the nuts without a pinch.
Another guy HOOKED on trout fishing 
Nice one. Many more to come…
Congratulations. Decent sized tiger. Got any more photos? I have been trout fishing hard for 15 years and NO tiger for me yet!
I have dabbled with circle hooks this summer. They work a little better and are not perfect. If one is deep hooked I do my best to carefully remove the hook. No yanking. It is surgery. If the fish is bleeding good and legal I will keep it. With circle gut hook rate is still 15% or more. Yet I often fish to eat so very little waste.
I also believe unless you buy some really crummy hooks today’s hooks do not rust out. If the hook is really burried I cut the line at the mouth, again keep if I can do so legally.
Hey thanks guys. From what I can tell the majority of streams in Dunn County are brook trout only. My favorite is catching big browns however eater brookies in the 10-12″ range are fun too. Interesting if you worm you will either catch a chub or a brookie but no browns!
Here is the tip I found that took me to my spot. Read the info on Dunn County.
http://dnr.wi.gov/fish/reports/fishingreport/fishreport2010_web.pdf#WCR
My camera is a Panisonic Lumix DMC-TS1. It is shockproof and waterproof. I’m pretty happy with the shots.
My best underwater shot to date is on the Rush River April 1. Incredible river bottom.
Here are a few more underwater shots:
Hard to not stir up the water and you have to take a lot of shots because you cannot look at the preview screen so just take a bunch of photos. Most don’t turn out. Once in a while you get a good one.
