While helping fisheries biologists conduct their annual spring gill netting at Jordanelle, Schelble helped land and release the biggest brown trout he has ever seen. The 21-pound, 33-inch trout sported a 23-inch girth.
Schelble recalled trying to pull up a net on the east shore with fellow volunteer Paul Ruth and DWR biologist Richard Hepworth.
"Richard came up and helped us get it unstuck and then went back to control the boat. After Paul and I pulled the net in a little way, I could see this humongous white belly slowly coming up with the net," Schelble said.
At first he thought it was walleye, but when the net turned, he realized it was a brown.
"It took a few seconds to realize it was by far the biggest brown I had ever seen," he said. "We had seen a few nice-sized browns that morning and a beautiful smallmouth, but nothing even close to this."
Large fish are not usually landed in the small mesh nets used in gill netting, but the teeth of this behemoth had become tangled in the netting. And it was still alive.
The trio untangled the creature's teeth and placed it in a water holding tub on the boat.
"The brown was bigger than the equipment the biologists had on hand, but another volunteer was on hand with a tape measure and scale that would handle it," Schelble said. "After taking a few pictures and letting the fish rejuvenate a bit, Richard gently released it. After taking a couple of wrong turns toward shore, it finally got its bearings and gracefully headed for deep water. We know there is at least one monster brown in Jordanelle, and it makes you wonder how many more like that there might be."
Schelble said several other browns in the 2- to 10-pound range were landed, along with a trophy smallmouth and other large bass. Rainbow trout and perch were also pulled from the nets.
Strawberry opens
Anglers on Strawberry last week were fishing the ice edges as they pulled away from shore when the winds changed direction. Before long, the reservoir was nearly cleared of ice.
"It started Thursday afternoon. The wind changed from east to north and cleared it off," said Byron Gunderson of Fish Tech Outfitters.
Gunderson said fishing has been best in areas where the water goes from shallow to deep in a hurry.
"They are cruising the edges in water just deep enough that you can't see them and eating crawfish. Anglers walking the shoreline are doing well," he said.
Black or red marabou jigs and Krystal Killers have been effective. Night crawlers are a good choice for bait anglers.
Colby cruises
Former Salt Lake pro bass angler Ron Colby placed second last weekend at an EverStart Series Western Division tournament on the California Delta. Colby, who fished in the 2002 Bassmaster Classic and now lives in Page, Ariz., finished with 30 pounds and 15 ounces, more than 5 pounds less than Steve Sapp.
Salt Lake angler Roy Hawk finished 25th.
brettp@sltrib.com
DWR biologist Richard Hepworth hoists a 21-pound brown trout that was pulled in last week during the annual spring gill netting at Jordanelle Reservoir.
