I caught this UGLY Beast, as I worked the Kvichak River with a pale-colored Flesh Fly on July 7, 2008. I was using a Homebuilt 9 FT 6 WT Scott Fly Rod. My Father was right beside me when I hooked this Fish and shared in the magical moment.
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Many Fishermen come to Alaska with the dream of landing a 30 Inch Rainbow Trout. The Lodge Brochures and Advertisements are adorned with HUGE Fish that make it seem like a no-miss. To some, a trip to Alaska without a Trophy Rainbow Trout (30 Inches+) is a disappointment.
Unfortunately, this is the exception, and not the rule. Even in Alaska, Rainbow Trout of that size are rare. Often, this leads many a Guide to have a "short" tape - who knows the difference after the fish is released! The Client is happy, and the Guide usually gets a great tip. I have seen lots of 25 Inch "30 Inch" Rainbow Trout in my years in Alaska. The truth be known, there are only a handful of rivers in the World that host Rainbow Trout that exceed 30 Inches. We are fortunate in Alaska to have most of them available to us. However, I am quite confident that these rivers number less than a Dozen. In any case, this page is dedicated to the truly remarkable Rainbow Trout that I have been fortunate to meet over the past few years fishing the waters of Bristol Bay. Only those Fish that were accurately measured, and met the 30 Inch mark are shown on this page. I have fished for many years, and spent hundreds of days on both the Naknek and Kvichak Rivers (actually quite a few on the Kenai, too - but, you won't find any Kenai Trophys on this page - I just can't find the Heroes there). This page represents ALL of the Rainbow Trout that I have caught that met the magical number. As can be seen, not many. A 30 Inch Rainbow Trout is a Rare Jewel, and I treasured each of these remarkable Fish. |
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My FIRST 30 Inch Rainbow Trout! I had caught several fish in the 25 - 29 Inch range on the Kvichak River over the past six to eight years. I had hooked a few that I thought might be giants, but never had landed them.
I caught this UGLY Beast, as I worked the Kvichak River with a pale-colored Flesh Fly on July 7, 2008. I was using a Homebuilt 9 FT 6 WT Scott Fly Rod. My Father was right beside me when I hooked this Fish and shared in the magical moment. |
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On the last evening of the Open Season of the Spring Rainbow Fishery on the Naknek River of 2010, I had a night that I may never top. The temperature had warmed up, raising the water temperature, and the Rainbow Trout responded. In the period of about two hours, I caught two 25 Inch, two 27 Inch, one 28 Inch, two 29 Inch, and one 30 Inch Rainbow Trout on a Black Articulating Leech.
This lovely lady was my first 30 Inch Rainbow Trout on the Naknek River. She was beautiful! She was caught using a Homebuilt 10 FT 7 WT Rainshadow Fly Rod. |
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There actually is quite a bit of fishable water upstream from the Boundary (Trefon's Cabin) on the Naknek River during the closure. During the months of April and May I have had some very good days fishing this short stretch.
On May 22, 2010, I had lost several very nice Fish (including what I believe is the largest Rainbow Trout I have ever hooked). Rainbow Trout were slapping the water all around me as they swirled on schools of Sockeye Smolt. I was about to quit when my Fly stopped on what I believed to be a snag. Well, that snag turned out to be a 31 Inch Hook-Jawed Male Rainbow Trout. My first Rainbow to attain 31 Inches. Smolt Pattern using Homebuilt 10 FT 7 WT Rainshadow Fly Rod. |
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In a story too long to tell here, I ended up swimming after my Boat as I launched it on May 25, 2010 (just a couple of days after the 31 Inch Leviaton). I was about to call it quits, but I stripped down and shook out my Polar Fleece and toughed it out.
It turned out to be a GREAT evening of fishing. I caught several fish that night. One of which was 29 Inches, then this beautiful Buck which measured 30 Inches. Again, Smolt Pattern using Homebuilt 10 FT 7 WT Rainshadow Fly Rod. |
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Rainbow Trout spend the Summer and Fall feeding on protein products of the Sockeye Salmon Life-Cycle in much of Bristol Bay (Smolt, Eggs, Flesh). After a Season of gluttony, these Fish can increase in weight by 20% or more.
On Oct 26, 2010, I was fishing with Mike James when I landed this 30 Inch Rainbow Trout on the Naknek River. This fish was burdened with the weight gain of the previous few months. He was, by far, the heaviest Rainbow Trout I have ever caught. I estimate about 18 LBS. This fish slammed a Black Articulated Leech using the Homebuilt 10 FT 7 WT Rainshadow Fly Rod. |
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Though I was no longer living there, I returned to King Salmon in the Spring of 2011 to fish the last week prior to the Spring Closure. The weather was terrible, but I had a great week and found several nice fish scattered throughout the Naknek River.
On the second to the last day (April 8, 2011), this 31 Inch BRUISER hammered a Pink Articulated Leech and then tore off backing as he raced upstream. I believe he represents the largest Rainbow Trout I have caught to date. Again, he was caught on a Homebuilt 10 FT 7 WT Rainshadow Fly Rod. |
| Benjamin K. Baker | Copyright ©: 1999, Far North Management Corp. |
| (907) 347-9630 | Revised -- 31 May 2012 |
| PO Box 424 King Salmon AK 99613 | URL: http://www.alaska.net/~bakerb |
| bakerb@acsalaska.net |