Recap of a week spent trout fishig in So Dak.

[DonBo]

Thought I'd let you guys in on a post I already have going about a great combo trip, including much trout fishing.

http://www.fishingminnesota.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/2039978/Daily_Account_South_Dakota_dee

[Driftless]

nice brownie.

that thing had some shoulders too.

[Scudly]

What a great bonus for your hunting trip! Beautiful FAT 22" kyped jaw brownie. Bet he fought like hell on Gary's ultralight. Rod dang near bent in half.

What did he catch it on?

[DonBo]

Most were caught on gold/black Panther Martins, a few on small lipless minnow type crankbaits. And yes, they were a great bonus to a great combo hunt.

[Scudly]

Love the black body with yellow spots. Silver or gold blade. Were there other trout photos from your trip? May I ask what pound line? By the reel photo I'd guess 6lb or less?

[DonBo]

Sorry, there won't be any more trout photos. We were both useing 4 lb line.

[Driftless]

i didn't see a net in there.

Did you land that beast by hand?

You didn't look wet so you must have had a good net guy or helper.

[Scudly]

4pm for a 22" is quite amazing. Know of a few that do. I use 10lb min however fish in a lot of hairy spots - tight quarters, log jam areas. I use a

6' pole, IM6 blank, medium-heavy action. Shimano Sidestab. Never buy a closed faced reel again. You really do get what you pay for. Want Stradic reel with crispy St Croix rod for next season.

[Driftless]

that trout deserves another look!!

Didn't know they got that big out there.

[Scudly]

That is one serious bonus to your hunt. Thanks again for the post. I encourage you to post here any time. Nice to see this board all come together and share amongst such a diverse group.

[DonBo]

No nets, all landed by hand, this one in the photo is the only one we even took out of the water. All were unhooked with needlenose plyers while still in the water. All 4 lb line with ultralight rods. We've fished here for years and never saw so many big fish before, next year we may need to beef it up a bit.

[Scudly]

Quote:

No nets, all landed by hand, this one in the photo is the only one we even took out of the water. All were unhooked with needlenose plyers while still in the water. All 4 lb line with ultralight rods. We've fished here for years and never saw so many big fish before, next year we may need to beef it up a bit.

Quite incredible. I'd be stepping it up a bit next year. When I primarily fly fished I always assumed trout were so smart they required the finest line. I'd fish 5x 6x, sometimes 7x. Hung up on a single blade of grass and if I gave it a yank the line would break or the line would stretch.

Now I fish 10lb minimum and have no problems fishing with crawlers, chub tails, spinners, or raps. I DO love braided line. Never go back to mono. Braided casts a mile, does not coil, has very little memory. Some think 10lb is overdoing it. I'll tell you NO! Had a ~32" female brown estimated to be around 11 lbs that broke me off at a spot Len showed me. She is still there. Len and Joe Dirt have hooked her. So far I've had her on the longest... Cannot wait for next summer. Whomever catches her it is going to be huge and a guaranteed fish for the wall.

[DonBo]

Good luck with that beast! The 24" - 26" I saw in that spawn bed was the biggest stream trout I've ever seen.

[deets22]

awesome fish i try to shy away from light line myself to many snags in the streams and tackle can get quite expensive on some trips