That rare fish in that one watershed…

Have any of you had the experience of fishing and getting to know an area like the back of your hand, and then the fish you had not expected or dreamed of being there popped up out of nowhere? Or maybe a place really close to you, or in the back of your yard that a fish you never expected would come out of? This has to be one of the most awesome feelings. Especially with wild trout.

This fish came up today, not far from my house. It’s the first wild brown in this section of river I’ve gotten this year. Smallest one I’ve caught by far, but I don’t catch these often here close to me, and I value them. Strangely, most of the wild browns I have caught were 19-22 inches. Only one was 13 before this guy came along today, beating the smallest.

The first time I had this experience occur, it turned out to be a 22-24 (messy measurement) inch brown. Bright orange belly, kyped jaw, etc. And at the time, I’d never thought there were ANY brown trout. (And no, I don’t have the picture because I didn’t even own a phone and I was by myself 🤦)

Other parts of the river have more wilds, but weirdly, there aren’t a whole lot of wild browns. Even though it’s perfect habitat, has great forage, clean water, spring tribs, etc., it still doesn’t hold many at all. I’d guarantee the stocked fish have to do a lot with that but even then, I know places with more wild brown trout mixed in. Maybe quality over quantity? Seriously, most wild browns are big in this river.

I just wanted to ask this and hear stories. I’ve talked to locals and it seems like no one can relate lol.

(The other pictures after the first one are all the other wild browns I’ve caught in the past. One that I caught almost 2 years or so ago also didn’t get a picture. I didn’t measure but it was easily 20. Ya’ll can only trust me on that too lol.)

Also, sorry for the paragraphs of letters lol.