I Found a Creek FULL of BIG Brook Trout! (GOLIATH pt. 1)

[@phillippoggi8080]

It’s funny when I show people/friends pics of 12+” brookies I catch, and they say “wow that’s beautiful, but tiny...” lol, they don’t get it! Glad you do!

[@hardmanfishing]

A 12 inch native brookie is a fish of a lifetime!! But to people who have never fished for them it’s hard to communicate how special they are. Thanks for watching

[@frogsnacks]

@@hardmanfishing Honestly location matters too, I'm in Northern Ontario and honestly a 12 inch native is peanuts up here. I mean its a good eating size, but not a trophy. Not to diminish what you do and the fish you catch by any means, I have enjoyed watching you catch trout for a couple years now. but location matters a lot. That said though I love watching youtube videos of people getting excited for whatever size brookies is big to them wherever they are. I just love seeing people excited about trout. Also you should try some bigger flies in that creek, throw out some wooly buggers and muddler minnows, maybe a small mouse or froggy type thing. brookies got big mouths, especially big brookies.

[@brycebeauparlant2019]

I get the same thing too, but not with 12+" natives because I simply haven't caught one yet. But large natives I catch, they say the same thing. They just don't understand how special they are.

[@SilenceDoGood4th]

My biggest brook trout was 14" and I'm so proud of it. I think alot of people confuse splake for Brookies when caught from lakes or estuaries

[@TuffySix]

@@frogsnacks with all respect the southern Appalachian strain of brook trout are a a completely different strain than the northern strain.

[@michaelsmith7193]

What an adventure and what a stream! I’m heartened and delighted that native brook trout waters like this still exist. And, of course, I can’t wait for the next episode!

[@hardmanfishing]

Thank you so much for watching! Glad you enjoyed!

[@codyblouch3829]

Wild brookies are my favorite fish to chase in NH

[@shawnimboden8324]

@@hardmanfishing q22 ⁰

[@oldhunterdan]

The respect shown to all the fish caught in your videos shines brightly. Thank you for showing the world how it should be done....

[@hardmanfishing]

Thanks for the kind words!!

[@jackmartin3790]

@@hardmanfishing yeah but lowkey you be taking a min before getting em back in that one boy was struggling fr.

[@maxgrigsby1746]

these small creek brook trout videos are my absolute favorite! Keep them coming!!

[@hardmanfishing]

I’m glad you enjoy them! Thanks for watching!

[@garysosebee]

Awesome. Takes me back to my childhood in the North Georgia Mountains!

[@brianscheuermann9862]

I love these small creek videos. Small mountain creek are my favorite! Awesome video. When I can't go fishing I watch videos like this one!!!!

[@hardmanfishing]

Thank you!! Glad you enjoyed

[@zumalot]

This is definitely as excited I've been about trout fishing for a long time since I no longer get to wet a hook. Fun content my friend.

[@hardmanfishing]

Thank you!! Glad you're enjoying the videos!

[@NickAndCaroline]

Why can’t you fish anymore?

[@zumalot]

@@NickAndCaroline With advancing years I developed some health issues. However there are many much worse off than I.

[@rogeranderson6668]

Awesome Brook trout fishing can't wait till see the next video.

[@hardmanfishing]

It'll be out Next Tuesday! Thank you for watching!

[@dariend6368]

Beautiful native brookie! The biggest on I've caught was 8" i let the bookies go now, but probably the best eating fresh water fish, in my opinion

[@gerardhaines8119]

Beautiful camera work, scenery, and brook trout. I've spent the past 50 years fishing the brook trout streams of northern WI, NE MN, and the UP -- I've found treks like yours in and out of "inaccessible" streams are best done with my fishing gear stashed in a backpack -- including rod in tube -- and assemble / suit-up once I get down to the stream. Saves so much wear and tear on waders and eliminates possible breakage of my rod (I now fish bamboo, but it pertains to graphite & fiberglass). Keep those excellent videos coming!

[@darrenmackenzie1645]

The bushwhacking spots are the best ones. Definitely worth the work. Not many people are willing to do that.

[@brianmv13]

Can’t wait for part 2! Loved the acoustic and B roll on the day 1 part of the video. Keep up the great work!!

[@hardmanfishing]

Thank you!! Glad you enjoyed.

[@intothewildwego7085]

Awesome video! You make some of the best small stream fishing content on KZbin. Well done!

[@hardmanfishing]

Thank you so much!! That means a lot

[@Allah-tf2wg]

Wild and Wonderful 🎣😎🎣😎

[@TheTroutWarrior]

Been on KZbin consistently watching fishing videos for around 6 years. You’re by far my favorite. So respectful and knowledgeable. We need more anglers like you out there. Been trying to track down some creeks in north Georgia you go to… i think I’m getting close 🤫

[@TheTroutWarrior]

Ps. What rod are you using in this video.

[@garrettbogdan1159]

This dude is sick with skill . That last cast on day 1 was like he was just showing off, lol. Like wow and thanks , definitely holdin it down

[@fly_yaker]

I freakin love your videos! Can’t wait for the continuation of this one.

[@hardmanfishing]

Thank you so much!!

[@natureandfishing24]

Paradise - Beautiful place

[@dariend6368]

I don't fish in that area without my snake boots, love that country, it always feels so untouched and gives me the feeling of stepping back in time. Wish i didn't live so far away!!

[@benstiles5765]

Loved this video so much had to watch it twice in arrow! Cant wait to see more videos like this I absolutely love them. Can’t wait to watch you catch Goliath I’m so excited to see how big he truly is. As always guys your videos and the hard work you put into making such quality videos to share with us is much much appreciated huge ty for that. Honestly nothing fires me up more than a good brook trout creek with an average size of 7 and up , guess I’m saying I’m jealous lol . Ty again guys loved it as always.

[@hardmanfishing]

That’s awesome!!! I’m glad you enjoyed the video. Part 2 is coming soon!

[@outasightgear]

Special creek!! Nice soft approach fishing!

[@lekmichigan]

Love it fly fishing in the creek it is so fun!

[@HalfInsaneOutdoorGuy]

Dude gunna have ticks for days! Love off trail exploring!!

[@davidleimeister5027]

Great stuff Hardman. Your videos are improving 👏 by leaps and bounds. Narration, scenery, flora, fauna and fishing holes make me feel like I'm right beside you on the adventure, experiencing it all. Keep it coming Mr. Professional.

[@hardmanfishing]

Thank you so much for the kind words! Glad you’re enjoying the videos

[@Allah-tf2wg]

Gotta love WV ❤️🎣❤️🎣

[@gloryboundoutdoors974]

Great video! I can not wait to see if you catch that fish! I want to see that beast! Thanks for taking us along on your adventures and God bless.

[@hardmanfishing]

Thank you so much for watching!!

[@nailswood167]

Fantastic Speckled for such skinny water!

[@adventuretimefishinghunting]

Tough break man but hey that's what it's all about! Great video!

[@OnTheFlyPA]

Bless you!

[@WisconsinTroutFishing]

That's what we call a bushwhack in WI. My buddy had a PB 19" this season. I guess we are shooting for WI 20" brookie! Happy fishing!!

[@hardmanfishing]

Good luck out there!! And thanks for watching!

[@WisconsinTroutFishing]

@@hardmanfishing thanks and happy fishing!

[@theminnowmaster7816]

I just started watching you about 2 months ago and I cannot tell you how many tips I picked up from your videos. And I was just in West Virginia last week and I live in PA! We were so close together too!!

[@hardmanfishing]

That's awesome man! Glad you're enjoying the content!!

[@FrugalFlyRodder]

(around 17 minutes into video) Solo filming is HARD; and making great videos like you do (as you know) doesn't stop at filming. Quality is typically under appreciated by people who haven't done it... finding spots and shooting; editing, selecting scenes and adding background music. SUBSCRIBED!

[@hardmanfishing]

Thank you for the sub!! And thanks for the kind words. Glad you enjoyed the video

[@marksheppard6498]

Combing through that brush,all I can think about is TICKS!

[@cartermccully963]

Man that's awesome fishing. Looking forward to seeing you catch him.

[@hardmanfishing]

Thank you! Glad you're enjoying!

[@bjnelson9490]

14" True Native is a good one for sure. I actually caught a 16" over 30 years ago in Southwest Va. Needless to say my PB Native. Good video per the norm. Keep them coming.

[@hardmanfishing]

That’s a mega giant!! I’m not sure I’ve had the pleasure of seeing one that big.

[@bjnelson9490]

@@hardmanfishing Once in a lifetime for me and in a very unlikely spot. Never caught another over 12 inches in that creek. It was never stocked either so it wasn't a cross breed or holdover . Hope u get Goliath, I'll be watching. Good luck.

[@adammidkiff2396]

Are you generous enough to say where in SW VA you found that unicorn?

[@bjnelson9490]

@@adammidkiff2396 won't tell you stream. I'll give you a 3 county radius. Floyd, Carroll or Patrick

[@gregorycarlson6632]

I cut my teeth on native Brook Trout. My relatives in central Wisconsin had a small stream running through their property. As a kid we’d dig red worms and go for it. Yes. we ate them. Not only are they the prettiest of the species, but the most flavorful . Today, I fly fish it. It’s so neat to know those fish are the descendants of the ones I caught 65 years ago! 😊👍

[@HalfInsaneOutdoorGuy]

That rod looks so bendy!

[@noel3422]

In that creek, a 14 inch fish is a goliath, I get that, good fishing vid keep on keeping on bro. Just finished reading some of the comments on your channel, in the area you are fishing the creeks are recovering from acid rain and industry pollution, much work has been done to restore the creeks in your area, back in the 1970's the largest brook trout in the adriondacts was 6 inches because of a mismanaged ecosystem, I also would be stoked to see a 14 inch brook trout in their native habitate.

[@wvfishingadventures1043]

Amazing videos!

[@RickyPantera69]

I’ve been eye balling this monster bowfin in my creek. I haven’t been able to investigate lately bc of the rains. Cheers mate! Tight lines

[@mikeblackford994]

You do the best vids

[@hardmanfishing]

Thank you!

[@MJElling2]

Just found the channel - first impressions; I like it. You’re a great caster in those tight streams. It’s a good mix of action and commentary. Keep it up man!

[@WildBlueDiscovery]

New sub from up in PA. Thx for sharing. Ridiculous the trash people will leave. Tightlines!

[@tnfishing9089]

Awesome freaking video!!

[@hardmanfishing]

Thank you so much!!

[@djisback1622]

What a special stream and beautiful Brookies! My PB is just under 18"

[@bixby9797]

reminds me of the beaver ponds in the northeast, might as well wear shorts and chuck conners cause you are going to be up to your hips. one pond got me a 20in brookie on a worm. Many a small stream including a culvert under RR Tracks yielded a 5in which was a monster for that stream. colors so bright they hurt your eyes

[@hardmanfishing]

I don’t doubt it!! Thanks for watching the video

[@scottnock5241]

Love the brook trout fishing bro! I was in Northern PA last weekend hammered them caught some good big ones to couple 10’s Good luck on that big fish I want to see him!!

[@bdickinson6751]

Last weekend in Northern PA where I was the creeks were blown out from severe thunderstorms. You must have been farther east. Glad you got into them.

[@unclefuddelmer9224]

Hey Scott, where bouts in N. PA were you fishing last weekend? I'm in Sullivan county along the Loyalsock at Elk Crick.

[@scottnock5241]

@@unclefuddelmer9224 I was in potter county blue lining

[@hardmanfishing]

That’s awesome man!! Always a good day when you can get on some 10’s

[@Tcam0720]

I live in western PA and went up north a bit for a camping trip and the tornadoes and thunder kindve screwed over how the trout were usually acting so they weren’t feeding much

[@Sweedurbex]

There’s lots of brook trout in creeks around Tahoe in California and the other day I caught a nice maybe 8 inch brook trout first ever so I decided to keep and eat him great tasting fish

[@Vernbubba]

I fish in northern Minnesota where the DNR has discontinued stocking brook trout in streams so now our streams are all native brookies. 7 inchers are average. Beautiful fish though. Nice video thanks for sharing

[@hardmanfishing]

I wish WV would do something similar! Thanks for watching

[@robovs1]

Haha, the sheet we do to battle and defeat Goliath!

[@XPLRNW]

Loving the fishing vibes brother 🎣👊🏼💯

[@hardmanfishing]

Thank you man!

[@Allah-tf2wg]

West Virginia fishing 🎣 😎👊

[@st421]

nothing more beautiful than a native brook trout man

[@hardmanfishing]

Amen!

[@Nigel_BC]

Excellent video! You just earned yourself a new sub!

[@hardmanfishing]

That's awesome! Thank you for the sub and I'm glad you've enjoyed the video!

[@spg77777]

The quest for fish... Any... Many... Big, to challenging.

[@ryanhunt2619]

Nice work,really enjoyed your skillz...new sub here

[@keithhart3689]

I caught a 21" native brookie in Canoe Creek at Cloe Pa. in 1970

[@rogertycholiz2218]

Keith - That was then, this is now!

[@rocko4520]

Those fish are beautiful creatures😇

[@hardmanfishing]

I couldn't agree more! Thanks for watching!

[@ME-oj5eq]

great video! Great fishhing! I could tell directly that you are a 2000 guy tho hehe :) For sure not a 1970 guy or something like that

[@hardmanfishing]

I have no idea what that means... Like what year I was born?

[@appalachianreconfishing2328]

Great video man

[@hardmanfishing]

Thank you!

[@SVSflyfishing]

Haha how about tackling up when you arrive mate? .... Looks sick tho!

[@kylewalsh9325]

Got two 16 inch ones in my brook 🙂 the big boys love to top feed so much fun

[@mancingmaccail251]

Mantap mas,,

[@mikemcgrath7280]

Good video keep up the good work one other thing I was going to mention is look into the history in that area because those rocks being stacked up is an indication possible homesteading or something unless you already mentioned this

[@hardmanfishing]

No I hadn’t mentioned the rock wall, but that’s mostly because I wasn’t sure how it got there. I mean I’m sure it had something to do with the logging that was done back 70 years ago or so in the area. Or it could’ve been even earlier I’m not sure

[@Handle-q6x]

That fishing, is perfect for Tenkara style equipment. You should check it out. Much easier to move through the heavy brush with and cast.

[@nickjacques8754]

MASSIVE trout, pushing 14” lmfao, well done but buddy. I catch 14+ all the time in north Michigan ;)

[@1968krug]

The access in the first part of your clip didn’t look too bad at all compared to some of the places I’ve seen, here in Oz you can expect to deal with thicker bush, blackberries, leeches, the odd snake… I can’t help but feel the fish are likely to see you a mile away, us gringo’s with our white skin glaring in the sun, I tend to wear a super light long sleeve khaki shirt, dark hat or cap, then waders… something similar in concept might help you spook less fish… great vid, thanks for sharing

[@FirstCastMedia]

You guys are killing it this year! I love it! I broke a rod recently trying to adventure like this haha. Nice!

[@hardmanfishing]

Thank you!

[@williamcourtney8593]

"I think I'm just stuck in the brush forever... RIP" Bro, I've been there lol. Fly fishing outside of floating definitely isn't a sport for the lazy angler. Nice fish!

[@ryanredwood3509]

I literally just had the same experience in one of my local blue line streams a buddy and I started picking it apart and I landed a 16 1/4 inch native it was amazing

[@hardmanfishing]

That’s incredible!!! Thanks for watching the vid!

[@ryanredwood3509]

No problem love watching you guys if you ever find yourself in northeast Pennsylvania let me know, would be glad to take you guys to some of my secret spots for some amazing brookie lines

[@cotwcontantoakescrole6997]

If I catch native brook trout that are 16 inch in a creek smaller than what he’s fishing is that big

[@ryanredwood3509]

Dear god yeah

[@Joelaw99_]

When you get your replacement button, screw drill a small hole in it and run some very small para cord through it for a tether. That way you won’t lose them.

[@justinfisher9639]

Where i live in atlantic canada, its not uncommon to catch them in the 14-18 inch area in some rivers. When the sea run speckled trout come in, they can reach upwards of 7-8 pounds.

[@molipaul]

It’s like you’ve found your very own enchanted forest. 🌈

[@brocmiller7635]

Watched the whole Goliath series. Loved it. When you avenging your pride man? Bc I really can’t wait to see what you pull. I missed one around 10” in a super small mountain stream here in pa and I thought that was devastating so I can only imagine.

[@appleseeD552]

Nice fish and Gorgeous scenery on this vid man...it's hard to believe these fish are in these places 😳👍....I noticed you had to stalk up to some of these holes tho...are these fish like MAJORLY SKETCHY or what?🤔 Great vid man🙂👍, keep em comin. Peace ✌😎

[@hardmanfishing]

Yessir! Some of the fish spook pretty easily so it can be good to keep a low profile, especially in low water!

[@leehjones]

At 10:20 - the wall. Don't you wonder who made it when? You're a million miles from nowhere and somebody carried/moved all those rocks. That wall could be pre-Civil War, right?

[@dougwalton4831]

Need a rod & a metal detector on that hike....

[@hardmanfishing]

It very well could be. I’m not sure how it got there or how old it was, but I know that area has been National forest for 100 years or so. I’d assume it would have to be at least that old. It appeared to be an old house with small well.

[@SoldatnaMan]

Well I live in oregon and I’ve caught some pretty big brooks, so 12 isn’t a bad size, cool spot

[@anonymoususer3465]

Nice video, if you ever wanna change things up from trout fishing I'd recommend checking into micro fishing. There's a ton of little cyprinids & other small critters native to the eastern U.S that give brookies a run for their money in colorations

[@hardmanfishing]

I’ve heard! I’m just not to knowledgeable on them. I may do some research though and see what I can find

[@anonymoususer3465]

@@hardmanfishing definitely. My personal favorite cyprinid genus is Clinostomus due to how salmonide-like the species are (one species in particular gets a really defined hook-jaw, it's also the only species in the carp family ((to my knowledge)) that actively leaps out of the water to snatch terrestrial insects)

[@PetakDanum]

Airnya jernih Manhat akan misi

[@fishing_with_ltm1948]

Great vid, set the hook so hard makes sense it broke lol

[@hardmanfishing]

It would make sense if it broke on the hook set LOL

[@keyzersoze7781]

Big snowbird creek in western nc holds many 12+inch brookies. Largest one i got was 16

[@hardmanfishing]

I've been there before but I didn't see anything close to that size!!

[@brycelarson477]

Michigan you can land much larger Brookies, especially since you use a fly reel!

[@jasonmullins6638]

Very cool. Although, I probably would have assembled the rod on the stream rather than carrying it through the timber. Thanks for letting us tag along. (I subscribed)

[@hardmanfishing]

Thanks for the sub!!

[@baggetja1234]

7:11. The gnats can be brutal. I was getting swarmed, at my brookie stream today. I think it is a good sign of proper buggy-ness for good fishing, something to do with the cold water a lost of shade.

[@hardmanfishing]

Yeah the bugs are a necessity but sometimes they're ridiculous! Thanks for watching

[@molipaul]

Try tucking some dryer sheets in your hat and shirt collar. I don’t recall a time when it didn’t help immensely with the gnats.

[@WisconsinTroutFishing]

Vanilla extract keeps gnats off ya. happy fishing!

That place looks incredible! Great to see someone fishing with a plan! Those were some nice brookies!

[@lilfot]

My grandfather told me years ago I'm 70 now and he said if you doesn't matter how good of a fisherman you are

[@johnnyonthespot1665]

The difficult approach and conditions are the reason why the fish are still there, be grateful!

[@NickAndCaroline]

Dude I love that you caught that other Goliath in the editing process. I learn so much from editing my little vids, about what I’m doing wrong mostly hahaha. You guys were major inspiration for me to pick up a fly rod, thanks for the pain and suffering lol 👊😂

[@hardmanfishing]

Thank you!!!

[@willyg71]

nice brookies for a little creek!!! im sure you know but for other who don't and heard that a huge brookie is 10-14 inches.... I just want to point out brook trout can grow huge!! record Brook Trout can be over 10 lbs and 30 inches!

[@hunters1372]

My first trout I ever caught was here in NC and it was a 12 inch native brookie and I wish I had understood exactly what I caught at the time

[@HalfInsaneOutdoorGuy]

What state is this in?

[@erniewalker5050]

what wait is your pole fella

[@mikerawls9619]

Rambo fishing cool.

[@mikedobbins7124]

Man! Use the 5x Cortland tippet. Much stronger with same Dia. Than Oris or others. They don't break me off anymore.

[@hardmanfishing]

I just got some Cartland tippet the other day!

[@michellerothwell2671]

@@hardmanfishing I just got some Rio Strong and really like it. Fished the Frying Pan in Cplorado and caught several browns in the 12 to 16" range on 6x and never lost one.

[@drummer360]

As a midlife crisis PA fly fisherman, I don't even use "tippet" anymore because of manufacture defects and breakage. I just use various light pound mono or fluorocarbon. I have no faith in tippet corporations and really no faith in corporations in general for obvious reasons and the decline in the world.

[@shawneldridge4465]

🤔 hmmmmm. To be honest here, I did not think streams or creeks still had any trout left in them. I know that they get fished hard and quick. There are way too many trout anglers out there today which is all great. I blame the Pennsylvania fish and game commission to be honest here, they do not stock enough trout today in these Waters like they used to back in the '80s and '90s. Today I think they may only stock at like three times a year and that's it. Anyway this is awesome that you found a creek that still has trout in it yet. Amazing and awesome video

[@unclefuddelmer9224]

Most of us here fly fish or streamer fish for wild and holdover trout sooo, most don't care about stocked trout, only that they live long enough to reproduce. PA Fish & Boat has a great program as they collude with DCNR to clean up and keep clean our beautifully ancient trout waters. We've many miles of Brooky streams that I'd drink directly from And have hundreds of times. Even the West Branch Susquehanna is a thousand times cleaner now since I was a kid. Thanks to the Hippies in the late 60s the state realized how filthy the rivers were and began the cleanup plan that's still going on full force.

[@unclefuddelmer9224]

...Also, we've several private clubs, fishing and hunting, that work on and donate lots of 💲💲to clean out tons upon tons of PLASTICS in and around our watersheds here in PA. By the way I'm Not nor ever have been a government employee So the only thing I've to gain is cleaner trout streams. God Bless is all

[@hardmanfishing]

These are wild trout bud, not stocked trout. I’m sure the stocked trout are very difficult to catch this time of year (assuming they’ve made it this long)

[@michaelomara4981]

@@unclefuddelmer9224 I’m an older guy who lives in CT and has been fly fishing for trout for many yrs and is tired of the crowds on our few trout streams. This yr I decided to look into small PA waters. I made one 3 day trip so far in June to the Pocono area and enjoyed it. When the weather cools I hope to get further west into north central PA and check that area out. Looks like PA has limitless possibilities for blue lining.

[@aid_goz949]

Dude if 14 inches is a goliath you need to come to the swift river in Belchertown Massachusetts. I have caught a 22-inch male brookie and a 19-inch rainbow on the same day. I was just there yesterday and saw a 3-pound rainbow just cruising under my kayak. couldn't even get him to bite on a worm though.

[@soloflyfishing]

Hey Jon,I love your adventures and great job on the videos. I have begun doing more backcountry wild fishing myself. Curious about which editing software you use. Thanks and keep the adventures coming.

[@lancebender9414]

Have you done any fishing in savage river?

[@micheleolson8523]

hello i am tryig to catch more brook trout in ny do yo have any tips for me?