It's a very impressive fish, but I'm not sure this one (or the previous record from the same lake) should really count. Both are part of a generation of "triploid" fish farm escapees, which are genetically modified to put all their energy into growth and never spawn. It seems those fish should have their own category.
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist
Trtklr on Sep 15, 2009September 15th, 2009, 4:25 am EDT
we know the rainbow was a triploid and that is what matters. wether it gets reported on much or not. a tree falling in the forest may not be heard but there is still the evidence.
I have seen nothing more beautiful than the sunrise on a cold stream.
Jmd123 on Sep 15, 2009September 15th, 2009, 8:54 am EDT
I have actually heard that the very largest Chinook salmon ever caught were naturally occuring triploids, and I wouldn't doubt this might be true for other species as well. It happens, not just in hatcheries. Perhaps we should be taking DNA samples from future outsized fish (SMALL samples so these giants can be released to grow even bigger) of any salmonid species? I for one would be curious to find out...
Jonathon
No matter how big the one you just caught is, there's always a bigger one out there somewhere...
Oldredbarn on Sep 22, 2009September 22nd, 2009, 5:08 am EDT
Hey fellas...The thing that went unreported in regards to this story is that I had hooked this same fish the day before on a Trico spinner, but my 7X tippet didn't hold...Don't ya believe me?
Spence
"Even when my best efforts fail it's a satisfying challenge, and that, after all, is the essence of fly fishing." -Chauncy Lively
"Envy not the man who lives beside the river, but the man the river flows through." Joseph T Heywood