What a crazy day... Today I fished the same creek I always do. This creek is one of Benbrook Lake’s feeder creeks. I grew up with it in my backyard, fished it often and have never seen anything other than bass, sunfish varieties, carp and some cats — the usual North Texas assortment. Today my wife and I went down to the creek to try to get on some bass and carp and were quite surprised when I hooked into this fish. I wasn’t sure what it was when it hit my carp fly, but it sure was acting like a trout. Sure enough, it was — and a good one at that. It went 18 and a 1/2 inches long. It’s impossible to say exactly where it came from, how long it has been in this creek, and how it got to its size. To make it even better, I was using my 3 weight and this fish gave me a run for it. And on top of that, my wife grabbed my net and bagged the fish for me. I am still shocked, a little confused but super pumped about this fish. My guess is as good as any on how a rainbow ended up in this small branch of the creek. I have thought through every possibility. The nearest TPWD stocking is on the Trinity in Fort Worth, and this was ten miles from that location. What do y'all think?

That’s crazy!! We’re you over at Bear Creek? I can’t even begin to wonder how a trout got in there.

Yeah, towards Cresson.

Wow.

No idea but man that's a nice trout!

Totally Awesome! There are several places on the Guadalupe River below the Canyon Lake Trail Race that hold Rainbow Trout year around! The trout are even reproducing on their own! Friends of mine have caught them all throughout the summer months. I plan on making a few summer trout trips myself this year. Again super post and an AWESOME fish.

very nice sir

Are the trout stocked in the Clear Fork of the Trinity put in above or below Benbrook Lake? I live in Oklahoma so don't know the area. If put into the Clear Fork above the lake, the trout might migrate downstream into the lake as the water warms in the spring. It could then migrate up your feeder creek following some cooling rains. Other than somebody putting the fish in your creek, that is the only explanation I can see for how the fish got there. At any rate, you had a great surprise. Very nice trout.

Larry

they are not reproducing if they are stocker trout.

Say what??? Maybe confusing trout with hybrids? Trout have been reproducing in the Guad for many years.

This is true. The Guad has "holdover" trout that are reproducing.

Below Benbrook Lake in Fort Worth is where they stock. Under Bryant Irvin Rd. It's not impossible that this fish came from there, but pretty amazing if it did. I talked to TPWD Regional Biologist today on the phone and this is one of his theories.

100 Percent True! !

nice catch on a 3wt!

That is a beautiful fish. I am familiar with that area, and it would be very difficult for a fish to come upstream past the Benbrook dam. Because of the size of the fish, my guess is that it came from a private stocking somewhere upstream of the lake. If you got a certified weight, or enough documentation for a catch and release waterbody record, that might stay on the books forever lol.