Went to the lake with my son to fish for stockers.....the stockers usually take the same....small pull and they are there.....so....casually as I wait for a second....watching the rod tip bounce just slightly....I stand up from my chair and WHAM!......the tip of my 6 foot rod goes down and line starts to peel.....grabbing the rod I pull up and I can feel that this is no 12 inch stocker........as I feel and feel, I feel like I am gaining nothing.......more and more I pull and reel..... Some small gains but yet ...no surface....nothing to clue me in. I tell my son that I can't believe what I feel on the line.....anxiously we await......as I see the line coming in about 10 feet from me, into the shallows, I see the monster I have on the line. I gasped in excitement and a huge grin on my face.....I think..."oh man...please stay on.....please...." I have hooked my share of steelhead and salmon....but this had to be the biggest rainbow I've ever caught. As I bring it to shore....passing the rod to my son I tremble with excitement. I toss the fish ashore and grab it and he still fights as I pin him to the ground.....Strong he still was......fighting me even on the sand! I was so surprised and excited my son laughed and laughed as I did a lil victory dance to show my joy!!!! 6 pounds....25 inches.

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