Gator trout like Merkins too !

[siestafred 0]

 

 

I've been having lots of action lately in the Sarasota Bay area on Reds with my Merkin patterns, but yesterday this huge Trout slammed it and took it to a whole new level. I've certainly gotten my share of Trout on Merkins, but mostly I target Reds in shallow water.

Anyway, it was a long battle so I only took time for a couple of quick photos so I could get it back in the water. I didn't try to measure or weigh it, but my kayak is 28" wide at that point so this beauty was at least 30", and maybe 8 pounds or so. Can't say I really care about being exact, because I've never even seen a Trout this size before !

BTW, that's a full size Boga Grip there, not the smaller one.....

 

Fred

 

:D

[lykos33 0]

Wicked!!!

[agn54 0]

absolute beauty of a trout, Fred. I think you may be being a little conservative with 8 lbs. I've gotten a few 30+ inchers on plugs but never anything even close to the size of your monster on a fly before. Must have been an incredible fight, especially in this cooler water when they tend to fight a lot better.

[Panama Red 0]

Jeezo Fred....You are the Speckled Trout King!

 

Great fish, thanks for the report....dave

[siestafred 0]

Thanks guys ! It was a fine fight, 15 minutes maybe. At first I couldn't figure out what I had. It didn't feel like a Red, although it peeled off line like one. It rolled a couple of times like a Trout, but when I saw how big it was from a distance I thought it was a Snook. I NEVER for one minute thought "Trout" because it was way too big.

Anyway, most fun a guy could have standing up....er, sitting down !

Here's a pic of the fly, which has been awesome for Reds....

 

[pawleysi 0]

that is a nice one. once they get shoulders its a different animal.

[agn54 0]

Great looking merkinf Fred. Are the claw feathers tied flatwing style?

[Kirk Dietrich 0]

That is one beautiful trout!

 

Kirk

[siestafred 0]

Are the claw feathers tied flatwing style?

 

Just one feather on each side of the bend concave side out. Sometimes I don't even bother with them and I can't say I've noticed a difference in the catch rate.

 

[Peterjay 0]

Great fish Fred. Nice tie as well.