Well cabin fever finally got the best of me today and headed out to find some open water. Checked all of my favorite lakes and ponds and they were frozen. Despite the ice storm and all of the rain we had yesterday I headed to a new spot on a creek in my area. Glad that I did. Not only did I get my first fish for 2008 but it was a new first for me too. I got my first trout ever. Caught it on my regular go to bait the Magic Stik in green pumpkin gold. I didn't stay for too long because it was cold and I did not catch the smallmouth that I was after but it still was great to be out. I hope you guys got the chance to get out and wet a line too.

nice job. congrats!!

Nice looking fish.  I am going to Lewisburg PA this spring and will be going trout fishing with my father-in-law.  It will be my first time trout fishing.

very nice trout.  congratulations.  

Nice brownie Mrs. M.

FYI they are really great tasting...be careful of the bones.

You weren't afraid of getting that crisp white jacket all messed up?

I hate people who fish neat!!  >

Maybe I need to get the flyrods out and get rid of this cabin fever too.  Nice fish.  

Nice Fish, Congrats

very nice pic congrats!!!!

 Nice fish!

Thanks guys it was great to get out, and no avid I was not afraid of getting that coat messed up. It was real muddy everywhere yesterday because of the ice and rain storm we had the day before. I fell a few times before the day was over.  ;D

Maybe I will head back out today and catch the smallmouth that eluded me yesterday.

Nice Brownie Mrs. M!!! Here I am in PA, complaining about cabin fever, and she's out fishing. : If I was man woman enough to get out there, I would be throwing suspending jerkbaits for those Smallies. Good luck!

So did we learn not to lip a trout?    

She's a purdy one.  I was also hoping to wet a line for a rainbow or 2 before Feb 1 but that's when our season closes.  From Feb 1 till opening day (2nd sat in April)

Mrs. Matstone where in the poconos do you live? I might be able to get you on good water. Zel also might be able to help you we both have experience around that area.

good luck with the smallies.

Gotta tell ya though, I really miss using the flyrod for trout.

I used to go to Roscoe and fish all those world class Catskill trout streams.

A real fun trip would be me and my buddy would gas up the 4WD, get some topo maps and just drive into nowhere looking for out of the streams. They would be loaded with native brookies.  Little things, but way fun to catch on terrestrials.

Love them smallies too.  Never found anything better for river smallies than a round jig head tipped with a twister tail.

Have fun and good luck.

Oh, and be careful out there.  

So did we learn not to lip a trout?    

She's a purdy one.  I was also hoping to wet a line for a rainbow or 2 before Feb 1 but that's when our season closes.  From Feb 1 till opening day (2nd sat in April)

;D ;D That was my first lesson for the day. My hubby was telling me to hold on a minute so he could get a pic and I was hollering at him "Hurry up, this thing has teeth" Needless to say he was laughing at me a little.

I did head out in search of some smallies yesterday but they eluded me again.  >

Nice brown!

8-)

Nice trout!Good luck on the smalies.

Beautifull brownie, congrats !!!

I used to catch cold water smallies with these:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?id=0000502112374a&navCount=2&podId=0000502&parentId=cat410020&masterpathid=&navAction=push&cmCat=MainCatcat20166-cat410020&catalogCode=2UG&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat410020&hasJS=true

Try the most natural looking color (smoke shiner,goldfish or crawdad) in slow, deep pools. Good luck !

Very nice for your first trout. Congrats!