Nice catch and a beautiful fish. That will improve any wall it hangs on.

Check out Daniel Blackstone in Florida. He did a rainbow replica for me last year and it is fantastic in my opinion. It took a while and wasn't cheap but I think you get what you pay for and you want an artist to recreate that fish of a lifetime.

Thanks Guy's I appreciate it!

FlyGuy66 Thank You for your input but the fish was actually caught by the furthest south outlet just north of the rebar hole since your from there I think you would understand where that is! As well as you should know who I fish with Chuck Gries Ever heard of him? I seen alot of snagging while I was up there it does happen but those folks have to deal with the consequences of that! I for 1 casted and drifted to this fish for well over a hr just trying to get him to bite and finally he did and once landed the hook fell out of his jaw and was almost straightened completely out I would say this fish was caught by lots of patience and a little luck with the way that hook straightened out!

The stairs next to Rebar is exactly where I described you were. The stream runs W to E there, and generally flows SE to NE (bigger picture). So moving downstream you are moving northward and eastward, not southward. Yes, I've known Chuck Gries for about 15 years. Haven't seen or talked to him in quite some time. That effluent run-off entering the main flow right there by Rebar is the last effluent stream coming from the hatchery.

It was a great catch, man! I wasn't questioning how YOU caught that fish. Chuck won't allow anyone he's guiding to snag fish. I was merely describing what folks will often SEE there this time of year due to the faux spawning run concentrating the big Browns up there. Big fish like that make people lose their religion. Didn't mean to rain on your "I love me" fest or imply that you were NOT...in fact...the Great White Fisherman.

Just because you spent 3 months fishing and couldn't catch anything and wrote a book about it don't be bashing on my parade! Randy Galloway writes about sports but he never was able to play! I'm not gonna fight with you I just want you to understand you might be able to pull the wool over some guys eyes but you won't do it to me!!

Moby Dick oh wait that was the great white whale. Not trying to look at the negatives as most here will know what they will see. There are unethical anglers all over I have seen guys trying to snag bass off beds. The question is do you have any input on where to find a taxidermist that is qualified to do a trout replica of a fish of a life time. In where this angler gets it back and says that's my fish yet it is still swimming for me to get another replica when it hits 20#. Beyond the op question it is great to get the back story on fly selection reliving the battle that he will remember for a lifetime. Hope you had your smokes under your hat as you went down after your fish. Such a great movie hard to see brad alive in other films lol. I can see you running after it hoping the rig holds out orange fly.