My non-AOTY Rainbow...duh!

So I takes me bride out for her first fishing trip today. We head through the gorge to a tiny lake that's just been planted with some large fishies. I cleverly picked up a two rod endorsement yesterday so I'm thinking we're heading for lunkerville. The weather is spectacular, 42 degrees, bright sunny sky, no wind, perfect!

We get a late start since I'm just happy to see her getting on the water with a fishing rod and we're fishing by about 1:30. On my first rod I'm trolling a power worm/nightcrawler combo (creative, eh!?) and casting a rooster tail with the other. Suddenly the trolling rig is wiggling. Then the circus comes to town.

I fumble for the rod, somehow this suicidal trout is still on the line and I start reeling him in. I'm using the little ultralight spin/cast setup I'd bought for my grandson last Thursday. I get the fish up to the boat and then miss on my first try netting him. My wife's really getting into it and I'm tangling up in my own line (them dang fish leashes, right Spot?) so I decide it would be fun to let her net it since she's never done that. She gets it in the net, I untangle the line from around my head, VHF and several other trendy items on my PFD and proceed to measure the Rainbow. She's like, ow, don't hurt him, so I release him unharmed, PETA would be so proud.

Bottom line, it's a nice little 15 incher worth 112.5 AOTY points...then I realize that by engaging the bride I've DQ'd my trout. Here's the photo anyway, I'm happy to have landed one so early in the year.

Photos...double duh...

Nice fish.  Sounds like you had a great time and that's what its about. 

Awesome fish.  Its great to see you hooked up so early in the year.

Nice job Hoppa!! I'm really looking forward to seeing how your year in AOTY goes. I get the feeling you're going to do very well. Nice work getting the lady out too.