This was a nice surprise. Usually getting fish in the 8-14 in range here. A few brutes up to 15. Lost a few bigger. Well today, I landed one of the big fellas. Had one break me off as well. Started checking my knots after that. Was testing out my 5wt and this 18incher really gave it a workout. This 100% wild rainbow (possible cuttie genetics as cuttbows are common here - but this guy looked more rainbow for sure) reminded me of the perfect and hard fighting big bows up the upper Elwha back in the day. Was hitting a few local lakes for cookie cutter hatchery fish recently and doing well - but this was a great change of pace. Higher elevation, ice cold waters. A few on dries but big ones were liking the streamers and not being shy about it.
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