Undisclosed River in TN
 

On Sunday I was on this river and witnessed a single person net three brown trout over 30 inches. One was probably around 10lbs. Unfortunately, this individual kept two of the three. He was with two others so I expected the thought it was OK. Heartbreaking for me to see a huge fish of a lifetime like that snatched from the river. I can see keeping one but two?!?!?! Invariably these are the individuals that pee and moan about how the next year there are no big fish.

I ended up catching (76). I caught (2) 18" browns and probably 15 bows and browns over 15inches. The slot is working.

I did see some other bruisers sharking about but still if you catch a giant, get a replica made and put her back. It's like hunting for bigfoot for your entire life then shooting it. Let the big hairy bastard go. Without him life is less interesting.

I am making fresh popped corn for munching while reading the responses. :)

I'd say undisclosed river is doing pretty well from the sounds of it. Not bad for a fish that has only had a minimum length limit on it since just 2004.

Agreed
 

The river is doing amazingly well. If all would follow the rules it might become one of the best in the nation. Where ever it may be....

I can't believe the Harpeth is holding trout over so well these days. 😄

Glad to here you are tearing it up on the river. Been months since I been up there.

Andy


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You can also tell by his signature pic that he does well on Marrowbone Lake too. But I wasn't going to point that out. :rolleyes:

The problem with the replicas is they don't taste near as good as the actual trout. I've tried it and it was really dry and tasted like plaster.

To your first point - I've noticed that the same people in favor of over the top minimum length such as those on Brown Trout and Smallmouth Bass are the ones to get the most upset over someone harvesting a keeper. I mean, literally, you asked for it....

I have no real issue with people keeping the overs. It opens up a niche that was held by a previous big fish for another to come along. The problem I see is the same guy caught and kept (2) fish over.

That river has good population of those "trophy" fish and the truth is most will never catch or know how to catch them.

[QUOTE=TroutFiend;71375]I can't believe the Harpeth is holding trout over so well these days. ��

That's funny right there.:p

I'm no trout fisherman and I'm to lazy to look up the regs. So did this guy break the law or something?

Hopefully the only netting was done after a long fight on rod and reel and not cast netting them like those people at nice mill a few years ago

Yeah (Brown Trout 1-per day over 24")

Possibly. He may have netted a fish for his buddy as well as one he caught and harvested 2 fish between 2 people. The law states you can harvest 1 Brown over 24 inches. Not to call Lupan a liar at all, but I seriously doubt one person caught 3 Browns over 30 inches in a day. Some of the best Caney guys in the state are lucky to catch 3 over 30" in their lifetime. That guy may have caught 3 huge Browns, but not 30+ inchers.

Nobody in the world would complain about 2 guys catching 60 Crappie between the two of them even if one guy got 45 and one guy got 15. The limit is 30 a piece and if two friends go out Crappie fishing, the goal is to harvest 60 however it splits up and they'll split the fish 30/30 if they get that many.

Trout really get people's jimmies rustled for reasons I will never understand so there is an unbelievable double standard when it comes to these sorts of topics.

should have used them for rockfish bait.

Uh netting at the nice mill dam??? that place is like the M'boro landfill isn't it? On the way there I'm like seeing all sorts of debris alongside the road.... I think the fish would be thankful to be netted outta of that hole... :-)

Some states (Indiana, for one)requires separate livewells/stringers/buckets, whatever fish are being kept in, for each angler onboard.
Theoretically you have to stop fishing when you get YOUR limit and cannot add to you partner (s) catch.

Might wanna check you regulations again there Jimmy.

Caney Fork regulation on Brown Trout is absolutely 1 over 24 inches. As for the Crappie, that does vary by lake. I said 30 per person because that's the limit on JPP.

Over
 

I agree it is legal
I just hate to see it
Such a beauty
Rainbows 10-14 keep all day
Saw two more this weekend
Keep your limit
Let some go

Follow UP, 04/08, 04/09, 04/10
 

04/08 Friday
Spectacular day on "undiclosed" river in TN. Trout out the ying yang. Caught a ton of 14-17 inch fish. Caught one 20 incher. More than I deserve to be sure. It sleeted on us in the morning, covering the boat in ice. surreal. After that it was a stampeed of fish. We found them in a location I had never fish seriously. Piled like cord wood.

04/09 Saturday
Normandy Dam
Caught 12 trout, 7 of them were 14 inches or more bows. Tons of fun. Took a while to find but worth it. Lots of red eyes too. Only fished for 2 hours but a blast.

04/10 Sunday
Undisclosed river part 2. I didn't think we could top Friday but the gods were smiling on us. We tried the tried and true spot first with very poor results. Many stockers- they stocked on Friday- but few quality. Then we returned to our hidden treasure spot. Nothing. then the water dropped another foot. Nothing. Then another foot.... pandemonium! We caught around 40 fish, (2) over 18 and lost two which were monsters. I can not count how many 14-16 inchers we caught and all were bloated to the point of popping. Then as quickly as it started, it stopped. A light switch. For three hours it was furious. I can't imagine every having a day as good at Sunday again in my lifetime. I surely will try but the Lord was smiling on us that day and I am truly grateful for every tight line (some snapped) and mangled trout magnet hook.

Be safe out there and fish that dream.