How big do you think the rainbow you lost was? Good luck John on the surgery. I hope all goes well and you will be pain free next year.
Well we were catching them close to 6 pounds and 24" in the spring and this one was lucky enough not to get caught, so I'm thinking it was 7 something at least.
I caught one 2 or 3 years ago, day after Season ended, it was 27" or 28" if I remember correct, we did not weigh it, just tossed it back quickly. It was caught with a night crawler while Bass fishing in Bass waters. We never caught a big Bow again until this spring when 4 and 5 pounders were common, not a clue why unless they ate all the 3"
Salmon that were stocked..
A few reported 6 and 7 pound Bows this spring, but the reports are suspect, many fish are caught, never weighed and end up to be 6 and 7 pounders.
We weigh most big fish so when we give a weight, you know it's pretty accurate, if we don't weigh it we will state it's an estimate. I wish more would do the same and I realize some say it is not good for the fish to be weighed, but we harvest most big ones as they are at or past their peak and most likely will deteriorate and eat allot of smelt while doung so.