I fricken did it!

Biggest brook trout for me! And some others !

I’ve spent countless weeks and hours trying to find a big brook trout and a stream that could hold one.

Most of these streams are small and most wouldn’t even think there are fish greater than 2 inches in them. Let alone any.

The stream I went to was somewhat remote, and took a lot of walking. It was very rocky and dangerous, and there were hardly any trails around it. And well, it started off pretty good. I had a chubby chernobyl dry fly and a frenchie nymph. The chubby was for an indicator rather than the purpose of a fly as much, as it represented a terrestial, which isn’t the time of year for them.

There were a few areas with miniature “waterfalls” that has decent pools. I caught a few normal sized ones 4-5 inches. That was until one pool.

I slid my way down a vertical slope on the edge of a slippery drop off. I crouched down and bow and arrowed my fly out. Nothing, after 3 casts. Then I decided to make a further cast out into a small whirlpool of foam. I hardly see my fly, as the white yarn blended in. Then… BOOM! A huge wild brookie leaped out of the air and smacked the dry fly of all things.

My fly flung backwards as he had simply smacked it so hard and didn’t get it in its mouth. My fly was hung I stood and quietly untangled as to not spook it. I then made another cast in the same spot. Once again… BOOM! Smacked it and landed it in his mouth. This fish genuinely fought on a 5wt. I pulled it in and scooped it with my net. This was no small fish. I didn’t even yell or holler, I didn’t say anything.

This was a huge female, 12-12.5 inch brook trout. I brung the net barely out of the water and spammed my photo button. The barbless hook flung out, then I simply dipped my net upside down and watched the fish bolt away. I measured this fish based off my net from pictures.

Not only that, I caught my second biggest brookie which was 8-9 inches. A beautiful male.

Today was amazing and worth the effort for sure. I have never seen such a big wild brookie trout in NJ. The scenery and adventure was wonderful, and the weather added onto that. Each fish was barely touched, if not at all, and held out of the water for no more than 5 seconds.