A TRM inmate asked me on Sunday “What are the chances of actually landing a trophy trout?”

In fisho talk that means over the magic 10 pounds mark.

Five minutes later Stuart Nicol, about 78 years young (I think?), pulled up outside TRM reception looking rather pleased.

As you can see above his Rainbow Jack from Lake Otamangakau (Lake “O”) easily exceeded the 10 pound barrier.

Stu booked in for about three weeks for his usual summer fix – he also has a late season and early season addiction to Lake O.

In the last week or so Stu has caught and released many in the 7-8 pound range and today he finally cracked the magic ten pound barrier.  His patience is legendary.  Few other anglers could persevere so long.  Such is his confidence in Lake O.

He has had severe competition.  During the last few days Neil Hawes’ team (Neil is a Fish & Game councillor for Rotorua doing some sneaky research on our Taupo fishing) from Rotorua were poaching on our trophy lake at the end of the day after everyone else was enjoying happy hour.  They consistently landed about 20 each night but still could not crack the ten pound mark.

The TRM freezer was bulging with their trout in the 7-8 pound range.  But a ten pounder is really something special.

Using TRM’s waterstrider Stu patiently drifts around the lake some days in the channel, other days along edge in the shallows, sometimes close to the boat ramp, constantly changing his rig and style, adjusting to the conditions, always trying something new.  Today in steaming hot temperatures it was particularly testing so we were delighted to see him succeed.

Congratulations Stu..   Following TRM slide show indicates Stu’s recipe for success at Lake O…