Many thanks to reader Joshua C. who sent us this picture of a cutthroat he caught during a trip the Black Canyon of the Yellowstone in late July. Here is the story in his own words:
I didn’t realize its size at first. It didn’t seem to know it was hooked. Then I felt its first head shake, which felt like a moose’s must feel should you hook one on a back cast. I had to boulder-hop down river about 50 yards before I could get him in. He (she?) simply refused to be landed. It was caught on some dark-bodied-parachute-stimulator looking fly (sorry I don’t remember the names of most of my 7 boxes of flies….), about size 10.
Please ignore the crack-head grin on my face, and the mosquito biting me on the forehead.
And despite how it looks, I did not put any fingers in its gills. Although a few of its teeth cut me pretty deep while taking the picture. I should have held it out in front of me so that it looked 6 feet long, but oh well. It was promptly released in good shape.
With a fish like that, the crack-head grin is not only acceptable, but expected. Beautiful fish Joshua, you won’t be forgetting this one any time soon.
Tags: Pic of the Day
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Damned nice fish Joshua.
Thanks, Mark. It was 23 inches. I told Jake in a previous email that I’m fairly sure that that fish will be the biggest cutthroat I’ll land in my lifetime. Especially on a dry.
Shoot, I’d have never even noticed the mosquito chewing on your forehead unless you had mentioned it. You’ll get a bigger fish next time you’re out here……
What frickin mosquiter?