9:55 A.M.
At the hour of 9:46 A.M. , to be exact , as one should in these matters , I had cast three times above the known lair of this fish . Then I cast a fourth time , more from habit than hope ; and the fight was on . I put it here with the grim brevity of a communique . Despite stout resistance , the objective was gained at 9:55 A.M. And the Big Trout would weigh a good two and one half -- say three or three and one quarter -- pounds . These are the bare facts . Verily it was a moment to live over ; and to myself now I was more discursive . I vanquished the giant trout again and again , altering details of the contest at will -- as when I waded into icy water to the waist in a last moment of panic .