One for the frying pan

[Scudly]

I hiked in along a cornfield for about fifteen minutes until I came to a pasture section. At one deep wide bend I decided to cross so I could cast from my right to the upstream pool. This pool had a nice big downed oak tree hanging in the water. Looks like a good place to hide. Yet as I crossed, it was like quick sand, I kept sinking in about two feet each time I made a step. I kept thinking this does not look ideal for trout.

Fishing crawlers I would catch one 3-5” chub after another on a #8 hook. I kept a few and chopped their heads. I threw on a weighted bobber set four feet down with a tiny split and a #2 hook connected to a 3” chub tail right below the dorsal fin.

My first cast upstream into the pool, to the left of the downed oak tree. My bobber is motionless. Not expecting much, I decide to drink some iced tea. All of a sudden out of the corner of my eye I see a small wake coming towards my bobber. My bobber does some light twitches then goes under. I count to four and do a light hook set tug to my right side. Fish on! She was pulling pretty nice. I could tell nothing huge but all of a sudden I see a silver and long figure. My first glimpse I though I had a northern pike. Interesting. Yet as I reeled her in and hoisted into the weeds I realized I had a chunky rainbow trout. Nice!

This sized rainbow HAS to be a holdover. That or it grew really fast since the hatchery truck dropped her off at the beginning of the season.

Chunky and 14," she is one for the frying pan.

[Bug Ugly]

Iowa???

[Scudly]

I'm getting better with those chub tails too. I actually lip hooked this fish.

I have never fished Iowa. Anyone here fished IA? Do they have lots of holdover rainbows? I want to fish Waterloo Creek. Bee is too small on the MN side.

[S.D. Ice Angular]

Very Nice!!

How big was it.

[blackdog1101]

Just a friendly reminder, the season is C&R on all SEMN streams from Sept 15 - the end of the season. Check page 20 of the regulations booklet.

[Big Hit]

Is it even legal to catch creek chubs and then use them for bait? There are other rough fish that the regs. specifically say you can not use as bait, but not chubs. I was under the assumption it was illegal to catch and use fish as bait.

I also hope scudly was in WI.

[blackdog1101]

Is it even legal to catch creek chubs and then use them for bait?

[Big Hit]

I did not know that.

[Bug Ugly]

Just a friendly reminder, the season is C&R on all SEMN streams from Sept 15 - the end of the season. Check page 20 of the regulations booklet.

Exactly why I posted the Iowa question. Not out there poaching I hope?

[Nate McVey]

Maybe the 4 second time period before the hookset left the fish gut hooked and it would have been Wanton Waste if he threw it back?

[Driftless]

Originally Posted By: Big Hit

Is it even legal to catch creek chubs and then use them for bait?

Yes it is legal.

Originally Posted By: Big Hit

I also hope scudly was in WI.

WI is C&R only for stream trout from Sept 1 to Sept 31.

Wisconsin southern streams are NOT c/r only in sept.

Our season in wisconsin closes the last day of sep

That is the 30th of sep...Guess over across the

mississippi they added an extra day to sep.

[Dave Anderson]

Iowa is a put and take fishery, so if you're looking for holdover rainbows, yes, they are there and are routinely stocked. It's a 365/24/7 season and harvest is wide open.

So where was the fish in the picture caught and harvested if it was recent and WI and MN are in no-kill seasons and you've never fished Iowa?

[Driftless]

directly out of Wisconsin Fishing Regulations

Seasons and Possession Limits

• The regular open season for all waters, including lakes, is

May 2 at 5:00 a.m. through September 30 except as listed

in the specific waters listed by county.

• While on the water, bank, or shore you

[Driftless]

i don't fish hold over water typically.

The hold over bow are dumber than stumps.

[blackdog1101]

directly out of Wisconsin Fishing Regulations

Seasons and Possession Limits

• The regular open season for all waters, including lakes, is

May 2 at 5:00 a.m. through September 30 except as listed

in the specific waters listed by county.

I stand corrected. I would have sworn on a stack of Bibles that the "catch & keep" season ended on Spet 1 in WI, but I am obviously wrong. Thanks for the correct information.

[Scudly]

Quote:

I stand corrected. I would have sworn on a stack of Bibles that the "catch & keep" season ended on Spet 1 in WI, but I am obviously wrong.

Thanks Warren. With BugUgly, DA, and Big Hit also calling me a poacher I had to double check the WI regs again myself. Harvest through 12:59 pm September 30.

Get out and fish before the clock runs out!!! Believe it or not, I'm going fly fishing Sunday from 9:30 -12:30. Hopper dropper combo.

[tharreld]

i don't fish hold over water typically.

The hold over bow are dumber than stumps.

That's the way I like em. Big and dumb.

[so haaad]

That's the way I like em. Big and dumb.

We still talkin' about trout here?!?

[march brown]

that explains alot, Tom.