Nick Stockman caught this 18.4-pound, 31-inch brown trout from shore at Hammond Marina in mid-February.
Stockman, 26, who grew up in the south suburbs and now lives in Crown Point, Ind., caught it on a black and silver Jointed Rapala on his fourth cast with a slow steady retrieve.
FOTW, the celebration of big fish and good stories, runs Wednesdays on the Sun-Times outdoors page. The story part or fishing of the moment, such as this one, matters as much as the big fish part, generally.
Send nominations by Facebook (Dale Bowman), Twitter (@BowmanOutside) or email (straycasts@sbcglobal.net).
