Fresno fisherman lands rare trophy brown trout at Shaver Lake

Byron even took a quick pic of his catch before being all noble

By Yusuf AlamPublished 3 months ago • 5 min read

This guy from Fresno, Byron Stickler | provided by The Fresno bee

Hey buddy, Guess what?! I heard the craziest fishing story, and you won't believe it! So, there's this guy from Fresno, Byron Stickler, who's like a pro at hunting trophy brown trout. I mean, these fish are like unicorns, right? Super rare! But this dude, Byron, he's got the magic touch.

Picture this: freezing cold days in the Sierra Nevada, and there he is, putting in hours of hard work. And what does he get? A whopping 33-inch, 18-pound, 5-ounce brown trout at Shaver Lake on January 14th. Can you imagine reeling in something that massive? I'd probably fall off the boat!

Byron even took a quick pic of his catch before being all noble and releasing the beast back into the water. Talk about a catch-and-release champ.

Now, get this - brown trout are originally from Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia. But they're like the German cousins of the fish world, imported to the U.S. back in 1893. California's got a few sweet spots for these browns, like Shasta, Twin Lakes, Hat Creek, and more. But Shaver Lake? That seems to be the new cool kid in town for trophy browns.

And get this - they've been releasing these special triploid brown trout at Shaver Lake. Triploid what? I have no idea, but they're making a splash. Byron's catch wasn't one of these recent releases, though. It's like an ancient trout, surviving the ups and downs of Shaver Lake life.

Apparently, Byron had wanted his friend Roger George to join him, but they ended up at Shaver instead of Huntington because of some crazy snow situation. But you know what? Byron's hard work paid off big time. Roger was all praises for him, saying he did everything right, and this catch was close to breaking the lake record. How cool is that?

There's this guy, Tim Young, from the Shaver Lake Trophy Trout Project. He's been on the brown trout mission for decades. And according to him and Byron, Shaver Lake is making a comeback for trophy browns. They're like the rockstars of the lake!

Oh, and here's a blast from the past - in the '80s, Terry Beam landed a 20-pound plus brown at Shaver. Tim Young himself caught a 35-inch, 18.75-pound brown back in the day. Seems like these monster browns have some kind of schedule, right?

But you know what's awesome? People are catching these giants, taking pics, and then letting them go. It's like a big game of "Let's Fool the Fish and Let Them Grow Even Bigger." And I'm all for it!

So, Shaver and Huntington lakes seem to be the happening spots for these big browns, thanks to lots of kokanee fish and regular releases of rainbows. It's like the perfect environment for these trout to thrive and surprise us with their massive sizes.

But here's the thing, buddy. Landing one of these true trophy browns? It's no walk in the park. It takes days of solo trolling, keeping meticulous records, and staying optimistic even when success is hard to come by. These fishermen are the real MVPs.

Anyways, can you believe this fishing adventure? Makes you wanna grab a rod and hit the lake, right? Who knows, maybe you'll be the next legend with a story to tell!

Trophy brown trout size

A trophy brown trout is a very rare and impressive catch. According to Trickyfish, any brown trout that measures over 24 inches can be considered a trophy catch. The world record for the biggest brown trout ever caught is 44 pounds 5 ounces and 38.58 inches long. It was caught by Seumas Petrie in New Zealand in 20202. Recently, a California fisherman named Byron Stickler landed a 33-inch, 18-pound, 5-ounce brown trout at Shaver Lake. He released the fish back into the water after taking a photo. That’s a very generous and respectful thing to do.

Trophy brown trout fishing

Trophy brown trout fishing is a cool but challenging sport. These elusive fish can get huge, sometimes over 30 pounds! They hang out in deep, cold waters, munching on smaller fish and bugs. The best times to catch them are dawn and dusk, and they like to hide in spots like rocks and logs.

If you're in the U.S., Oregon is a top spot for trophy brown trout. Lakes like Crescent, East, Lemolo, Miller, Paulina, and Wickiup Reservoir can yield big catches. Each lake has its own deal, so check out this article for tips on each.

Crescent Lake
East Lake
Lemolo Lake
Miller Lake
Paulina Lake
Wickiup Reservoir

Remember the fishing rules – check local limits, consider catch and release to keep the fishery healthy, and use gear that's fish-friendly. Respect these amazing creatures and the places they live.

What is considered a trophy brown trout?

A trophy brown trout is basically a big brown trout, but what's considered "trophy size" varies by where you're fishing. Some places say anything over 20 inches is trophy-worthy, while in other spots, it's about weight – like over 10 pounds. It's all about location rules.

What makes a trout a trophy is influenced by things like how much food there is, water temperature, how many people are fishing, and the quality of their habitat. These factors decide how big a brown trout can get and if it's a "trophy" or not. So, it's a bit like a local bragging rights thing – the big ones depend on where you're casting your line!

Why are some brown trout silver?

Brown trout are usually recognized by their brown color, but interestingly, some can look silver. The Wild Trout Trust says this happens because they make guanine crystals on their scales, which reflect and bend light, making them appear silver. It's like a natural bling effect!

When brown trout live in the sea, they also sport a silver hue with a dark back. So, whether they're doing a silver shimmer in freshwater or rocking a dark back in the sea, these trout know how to switch up their looks!