40 inch Round Mouth Brown

[TopH2O]

I was at Starvation the last three days. Camped at the State Park in the lower loop and beached my boat down the hill from our trailer. The weather was typical Starvation with showers, WIND and some nice clear and sunny days.

Fishing was generally slow and I caught a few small walleye, a few 10 inch perch and one feisty RBT that took my tube jig tipped with a crawler.

The surprise of the trip however was when a huge Round Mouth Brown decided it wanted what it thought was a crayfish carrying a nightcrawler. As soon as I set the hook I knew this wasn't your normal smallmouth, brown trout or walleye. I hooked it in about five feet of water and it immediately headed toward the middle of the bay. I was just about spooled on my Shimano Stradic 1000 with 6# line. I could see I had about ten wraps of line left so I fired up the Minn Kota and chased the monster around the lake for about 15 minutes. I had a hard time getting the fish into my net and then I had to use two hands to bring the brownie onboard.

I measured it right at 40 inches and took a few pictures before releasing him or her to the pond. I would estimate the fish weighed about 35 pounds or a little better. I've caught lots of 30 to 35 pound salmon and this fish was as heavy as those fish.

When I left the park today it was raining hard and everyone was sitting it out. The ten inch perch were a nice surprise. It might be an interesting ice season this winter with all the small eyes and quite a few perch. I did also catch about 15 SMB using crankbaits along the rocky shorelines. None of them were over 14 inches.

Mike
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[RonPaulFan]

Right, a round mouth brown trout.

Reminds me of a fishing joke:

Two fishermen were boasting about their best catches. One got a huge fish way past any record size. The other said he reeled in a Coleman lantern and it was still lit. The first said that's impossible, you're making that up. The lantern guy said I'll blow out my lantern, if you take a foot off that fish you said you caught!

Carp.
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[wiperhunter2]

Congratulations Mike, you just caught are released the new state record carp.
https://wildlife.utah.gov/record-fish.html

Good to read you are getting out and catching some good fish, thanks for the report and pics.
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[RBL]

What a hog! Must have been fun carp or not.
Where are those when I am bow fishing!?
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[TopH2O]

It occurred to me that this carp could be a new C & R record but I didn't have any way to weigh the fish and I didn't want to kill it just for the record. I tried to measure the girth but it was so big and slimy I couldn't get a good measurement.

The fight was worth the effort and I got a couple of photos, so I'm good. I've added another photo of the carp in my net, it just barely fit inside. I also found a spawned out Koke that was about 16". We might see some decent size Kokes at Starvy next summer and I can get them closer to home than the 'Berry.

Mike
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[wiperhunter2]

Current C & R record:
CARP 6/9/17 37 1/2" Travis Mold Flaming Gorge Reservoir

You would know better that me Mike but it does not appear you need the girth measurement or weight and you don't need to kill it for the record but I do think you need someone to see you with the fish and maybe a pic of the length measurement for proof.
We caught one there a few years back that was 36", near the bridge that gave us a great fight and it too took a while to get in on light tackle.
Good to hear the kokes are getting that big already, hope they do well.
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[TopH2O]

"I cudda been a contender". It was like a Chinese fire drill in the boat with that pig flopping around. I tried to get a photo of the measuring board with the fish but it kept jumping off. My board is 38 inches long and the tail hung over at least two inches.

Coulda, woulda, shoulda! Such is life in the West.
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[fsh4fun05]

I was with my 13 year old drop shotting some deep smallies in July and one of those big boys came swimming along. Truly one of the bigger carp I've ever seen and she still talks about it. Got a 26" wally in the boat about an hour later and she doesn't even remember it, just the carp. Go figure. They sure are fun to catch though.
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[dubob]

[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000][size 3]Mike, congratulations on that beautiful Brown. Wish I'd been there to help. Next year for sure. And I'm already thinking about meeting up with you on the hard deck.
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[r2u2]

Mike, What a beautiful fish. Do you realize the amount of catfish bait you released?

It's fun when you hear the drag of your reel start screaming. It stimulates the heart.

Richard J
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[joshomaru]

Dear Mike,
I'm probably one of the few people on this forum that had a fluttering of the heart when they saw your pics if that magic schoolbus.
Good job on the fight and getting some good pics.
Josh
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]Great looking fish. The guy holding it...not so much.

Glad to hear there are still some decent perch. Would you believe I have not hit Starvy even once YET this year. Got some poor excuses. But it is next on my dance card...once Mama Nature gets back on her meds.
[/#0000FF]
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[PBH]

I'm so disappointed. I figured you'd have caught it on topwater. Maybe even trolling. But bait fishing? Mike.....


[pirate]
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[wiperhunter2]

LOL, I hear you, as records go that one is likely not everyone would want but it's still good to know that you did indeed have a record fish in your net and that alone is note worthy. Good times for sure my friend, thanks for sharing it with us.
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[hookngrinin]

Thanks for the report and great fish story, Mike. Sounds like you had a fun few days. I'm glad you got into some good sized perch.
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[TopH2O]

When in Rome......., what can I say. Sometimes you have to reduce yourself to the level of the tasty fillets.

Mike
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[TopH2O]

Pat,

I plan to fish Starvation more this fall. Let me know when your dance card is open and we'll plan a day on the water (not in the water, as in float tube). The Lund chariot awaits your presence.

Mike
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[rahmaster]

Now that is a very nice Carp. I would have put that one on the wall !!!!
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]Since I have 7 day weekends, I have a lot of flexibility in when or where I can go. (My physical flexibility is shot) We have had some good trips together and I look forward to teaming up again whenever we can work it. If you let me know when you have a trip planned I can try to work my nap schedule around it.

Those "rubber-lipped gators" in Starvy are downright bodacious. There have been a few times when I have been moving along...backwards...and notice that two or more of those ugly buggers has moved in behind me and are following me. Not sure whether it is curiosity or predatory. But I can swear I have received carp telepathy messages such as "OK guys...on three we pull him under."

What an inglorious way to go. When they recover your drowned body they find it covered with carp hickeys.
[/#0000FF]
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[TopH2O]

Pat,
Sounds like a plan in the making. Figure two weeks or so. The weather should calm down and the cooler water temps should assist the fish participation. I'll keep you posted.

Mike
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