I started Fly Fishing back in June last year, and have caught several fish now up to 5lb.
On Wednesday I fished at Coltsford Mill in Oxted, and before setting out was told of a BIG Brown Trout on their "Windmill" Lake. I spent the afternoon on this lake, and had quite a bit of success with a small tailed Bloodworm Buzzer.
One of the takes was from a fish that felt heavy, but swam around quite slowly, with the odd turn away from me into the centre of the lake. The fish didn't really fuss much, with no splashing and no proper runs, just a powerfull swim and no real change in its depth. My soul aim was to get the fish to the surface so I could see what I was dealing with, but after about 5 minutes, the fish turned away again and the hook "pinged" back at me.

I'm not familiar with the behaviour of bigger hooked Trout, and so am still in the dark as to what I might have been into. The fishery manager said it sounded like the behaviour of a Carp, but couldn't swear to it.

Has anyone had this kind of experience? Is it the normal behaviour of a big Trout?

In my experience bigger fish tend to act as you said. They are strong and not given to mad bursts of energy, simply a dogged pull often unstopable. They may want a barny when they get near the net though. Carp are like that, big Trout, Barbel sometimes and Pike usually. No need for them to dash around, just use their weight/power.

Also the power of your rod plays a big part in all of this. For example a 2lb trout on a skinny brook rod is going to be a handfull.

If you feel a big fish on the other end be gentle...it may take some time but be gentle. Try to tire him out long before the net is picked up else it will be gloves off when he sees you. That usually results in a loss!

A notable exception is Salmon who want a barny from the off. Same plan though, try not to get to involved in a war if poss.

Good luck

Thanks.

I would like to think it was a Carp. The thought of losing a huge Trout would be gutting, although I guess its all part of the process.
I didn't exactly bully it, but may have been a bit too anxious to get it to the surface for a look.

Sounds like a big old trout to me
every time I get that feeling on the end of the line (less often than id like) I remeber my granddad saying over and over take your time dont rush to see it keep it out there in the deep water turning it when you can.

Not easy though you just want to get it up see it and net it

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Allan
Only dead fish go with the flow.

In my experience big stockies have no real darting about, leaping energy, just their weight and a build up of lactic acid which finishes them off fairly quickly.
Now proper fish are different.

could be anything, from carp to big trout to a 1 and half pounder hooked up the ar$e! Pointless dwelling over it.

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Chris

Gott weiss ich will kein Engel sein

He never said the BIG BROWNIE was a stockie. He was only asking for some good honest advice.
Whats a "proper fish"?

Brian

Was probably a decent brown. I had a nice big brown from a private rarely stocked lake, and it behaved like that.

John

Your experience seems to be limited you should try fishing The New Howwood the big stockies there aren’t like your description they pull

Tam

Big browns often fight in a dogged and unspectacular way, could have been one or again it might have been a carp.

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“There is no more lovely country than Monmouthshire in early spring. Nowhere do the larks sing quite so passionately, as if somehow inspired by the Welsh themselves. There is a blackbird on every thorn and a cock chaffinch, a twink as they call him there, on every bush...... It moved me profoundly. I had been spared to see another spring, and I thank God for it.”

Oliver Kite
“A Spring Day on the Usk”
A Fisherman’s Diary