We set out across the lake to my gramps favorite spot and within minutes of anchoring up gadwalls rod doubles over. He sets the hook with the speed and ferocity of 1000 tigers. The fight is on!!! The trout dodges this way and that. Drag singing like a scene from a river runs through it. The giant rainbow tires and gadwall yells boot get the net. I look at him and say, "what net"... "It's a fucking trout"! Next thing I know he's in a life and death battle with the rainbow at the side of the boat! I shoot Spoonies and I are laughing at the intensity of the fight between gadwall and this trophy sized trout.
Then it happens... The splashing stops and gadwalls head slowly rocks back as if he's cursing the gods. He stands with his lip quivering and a single tear running down his cheek and says "fuck". "That thing was huge"!!! "Possibly a North American record rainbow". I look at him and say "are you mad!" He gives me a look and says, "why don't you have a net?" I replied because its fucking trout, who cares!
Gadwall stomps his foot in anger, I shoot Spoonies bust into laughter at his tantrum and I say, "your seriously mad aren't you!" "Kinda" he responds. Still pouting like a small child who just watched his puppy get run over by a garbage truck.
And that's the story of how gadwall lost the world record rainbow caught on orange power bait.
