Keeping busy until Bass season opens....with Browns

Baron49 · May 26, 2011, 10:05:09 AM

With the opener of Bass Season still a month away here in Northern NY decided to go for some Brown trout. The picture shows the smaller one that is about average for the area. Browns running 5 to 8 lbs are pretty much average. The big one at 13 lbs is a decent lunker and one of the bigger ones I have caught.

Was trolling spoons in 8 to 12 feet of water along the eastern shore of Lake Ontario. Was a little windy and a bit of a chop on the water that allowed me to fish shallow most of the day. Was using 7 1/2 cranking sticks with 12 lb test mono as the main line and 8 lb test Trilene XL as the leader.

Creel Limit Zero · May 26, 2011, 10:42:18 AM

Dang that's a nice fish.

DavidBailey · May 26, 2011, 10:42:54 AM

Man that is HUGE!! I fish for speckled sea trout on the flats here in Florida, and when they get that big we call them "Gator Trout". I have never caught on that big though. Congrats.

Donald Garner · May 26, 2011, 11:37:34 AM

Congrats on the big catch

Thanks for sharing the pictures with us too.

jocko · May 26, 2011, 02:26:43 PM

Dang nice! Congrats!

Bundled up in that coat....... I'll cross 1000 islands off my list of spots to live (maybe snow bird or visit).

Baron49 · May 27, 2011, 07:19:49 AM

Quote from: jocko on May 26, 2011, 02:26:43 PM
Dang nice! Congrats!

Bundled up in that coat....... I'll cross 1000 islands off my list of spots to live (maybe snow bird or visit).

I started the day with a short sleeve shirt, shorts, and a hooded sweatshirt, but with the water temps running in the low 50's and the wind at 20 mph blowing across that cold water it cooled off in a hurry. Just threw my rain gear on to break the wind and it was very comfortable.

Baron49 · May 27, 2011, 07:23:05 AM

Just wanted to add.....I fileted the little brown for dinner last night. Breaded and baked it, made up some fried potatos and onions and a big mess of garden veggies. Have to say nothing like fresh fish out of cold water to make a very tasty dinner.

Mike Cork · May 27, 2011, 11:24:07 AM

That sounds awesome and looks like a great trip

All the different species of trout/salmon... to me the look pretty much the same. I caught a Coho in lake michigan once and it looked a lot like that? Not that big though....

vicrider66 · May 27, 2011, 02:22:41 PM

Great catch. Having spent years on Lake Superior and Lake Michigan I really miss the trout and salmon fishing. I chartered on the big lake for several years and caught many fine fish but a brown like you have is a true trophy. There have been many bigger caught in the Apostle Island area of Lake Superior but not by me. Congrats.

Baron49 · May 28, 2011, 08:56:35 AM

Quote from: Mike Cork on May 27, 2011, 11:24:07 AM
That sounds awesome and looks like a great trip All the different species of trout/salmon... to me the look pretty much the same. I caught a Coho in lake michigan once and it looked a lot like that? Not that big though....

In Lake Ontario we have King or Chinook, Coho, and Atlantic Salmon inaddition to Steelhead, Lake Trout, and Brown trout. Some may look the same but there are subtle differences. The big brown I thought was an Atlantic Salmon until I got it in the boat and saw the markings.....is was indeed a lunker Brown.

The things we have to do in New York while waiting for Bass season to open.....

nybass · May 28, 2011, 07:57:49 PM

nice fish im from ny to. That big one looks like an atlantic salmon aka landlock salmon either way nice fish

Baron49 · May 29, 2011, 08:00:11 AM

Quote from: nybass on May 28, 2011, 07:57:49 PM
nice fish im from ny to. That big one looks like an atlantic salmon aka landlock salmon either way nice fish

Intersting you bring that up as I thought initially it was an Atlantic as well until I got it in the boat and checked it closer. Atlantic's spots look like X's, Brown's spots are not. You can clearly see that they are not little X's in the photo. Plus there was a guide that checked it out for me and confirmed it was a Brown.