I was in too big of a hurry to get it back in the water so I didn't get a measurement. The opening of that net from the front to where the handle begins is exactly 18" so it's a pretty big fish as it hangs over both ends by a ways. Funny side story though. I was dressed in my work clothes which are semi formal. I was expecting to just catch smaller trout and swing them up to me, unhook, and release. I couldn't reach the water's edge because of all the tall sage brush and other bushes. It was about a 3.5 to 4 foot high brush wall between me and the water. I couldn't reach the water with my net either. So when I got this trout in close and saw how big he was, I didn't have many options. I did what any crazy trout fisherman would do. I jumped over the brush wall straight into the water. It was nasty swamp water and I smelled like nasty swamp and cow crap for the rest of the evening...but I did net the fish and didn't lose it. I figured clothes can always be washed as well as my shoes. If you look closely at the middle left right above my hand you can see how my shoes fared. When not soaked they are light gray...
Worth it...that is a once in a lifetime trout for 99% of fisherman
It is a minimum of 5 years old and could be as old as 7 years. The older fish have only been in this particular place for 5 to 7 years.
... but somehow land near you!
congrats!
Yeah, perhaps it's time for the HT crowd to invest in a body cam for you to wear during your fishing adventures.
I'm sure it would have been entertaining, but probably would have required quite a bit of bleeping words out.
