There are few fish that I would take a larger than normal speciemen from the water to keep. Trout, get put back, same with anything I'm not going to eat, except maybe for carp, no one seems to care about them and they will return an investment in my garden. Wiper, perch, and crappies of large sizes will hit the table though.

Yes. Take pics, measurements,weight, and release.
The "fakes" are just as good as "real" mounts these days and the fish gets to pass on it genes for future generations to enjoy.
Nice fish, still not as big as some I've seen near where I deer hunt. NO I'm NOT telling where.(A man's got to have at least ONE "honey hole" (LOL).

Take it home and eat it of course. I fish to eat not starve, besides a fish that size has probably already spread his genes on already.
Would you let a mature monster buck walk so you could kill a smaller immature buck, I think not.

Figured I’d chip in too. . .

I think it’s a tough call. I’m a hunter and I like ???’s analogy. That said, I probably also would shoot as many photos as possible, get detailed measurements, release the fish, and get a replica mount. I am certainly not poo-pooing the angler for keeping the fish (that’s his choice and I respect it), but I think that something in my gut wouldn’t sit right with me if I bonked the fish.

A few years ago, my dad hooked a 16-inch cutthroat, a 33-inch bull trout ate it, and we landed both. We had no choice but to release the bull (it’s the law) and the cuttie survived as well, but it was easy to get a replica mount made. It’s unbelievably realistic and has a replica cutthroat in its mouth to go along with the story. . .

Breathtaking. Looks like one powerful bugger. I just catch and release unless I am out specifically out for dinner. I do not fault him for keeping the fish. I presume he has the legal right to do so. This trout has spread his genes for a long time. Big trout do not live forever.

I would have it mounted. Like Leifjohn says how much life does he have left in him? Probably not much.

that fish is insanely large.
It has planted its seed for over a decade now.
A skin mount is in order for the monster.
Get a good taxidermist and have him skin it on
the drop off and eat the fish on the grill that night.

I agree with congratulating the fisherman. Wow,talk about a fish of a lifetime! If I caught it, I'd probably take a bunch of pics, and eat it. Then get a plaster mount.

Snap a few pics then get a painting made for the wall. A nice one, framed. But I'm not sure they make watercolor paper that big!

When I was 12, everything legal that came out of the water went to the fry pan, and the bigger the better. Nowadays I let almost everything go...I respect both schools of thought. I grew up on the other side of the divide from the Big Hole- it is a fun river to fish, and it still boggles my mind that fish that big come out of there... congrats on the catch!

That fish is insane. I'd let him go but would not blame anyone for wanting to hang it on the wall.

I wouldn't end up eating him, so I'd have to let him go. Man I love big browns- We have huge rainbows, buit no browns.. I grew up in north georgia, where the browns are king, so I love them. It's all about Hazel creek in the fall when they run out of lake fontana...

The fact is a fish of that age stopped spawning years ago and is nothing more than a trout eating machine. It is probably a benefit to the overall fishery to have it out of there. I am all about the catch and release but in this case I think it is justified and benficial. Catch of a lifetime for sure. You guys bitchin about it are probably the same guys that will go to great lengths to shoot every mature six point bull elk in the mountains with no thought to genetice or the well being of the herd.....just a thought.