DOWNSVILLE – After years of whispered rumors, blurry photos, and plenty of "one that got away" stories, the legendary two-headed trout of the East Branch of the Delaware River has finally been caught—though not where most anglers expected.
For decades, local fishermen believed the mythical fish lurked in Junction Pool in Roscoe, a spot famous for its prime fishing and frequent tall tales. But on Monday morning, as the 2025 trout season got underway, the elusive creature met its match near the Downsville Covered Bridge, where it was hooked on a Phoebe lure—not by a fly fisherman, but by a spin caster.
“It hit the lure like a freight train,” said Jack Sinker, the Downsville angler who landed the bizarre catch. “At first, I thought I snagged a log, but then it started thrashing. When I got it close, I couldn’t believe my eyes—it had two heads! I mean, I’ve heard the stories, but I never thought I’d be the guy to reel it in.”
The two-headed trout has long been the subject of angler folklore in Delaware County, with sightings passed down through generations. Some speculated that it was a result of environmental mutations, while others insisted it was merely a case of mistaken identity.
Many fly fishermen had spent years trying to lure the creature from the depths with carefully tied Royal Wulffs and Hendricksons, convinced that only a perfect drift could tempt such an anomaly. But in the end, it was a gold Phoebe spoon, a classic spin-casting lure, that finally sealed its fate.
“I guess it wasn’t as fancy as people thought,” Sinker said with a chuckle. “It just liked shiny things.”
The fish, measuring 22 inches from tail to tail… or rather, from one mouth to the other, was briefly displayed for photos before being released back into the river—though not before a local bait shop owner offered to mount it for free.
Sinker declined.
“Some things are better left in the water,” he said. “Besides, with my luck, I’ll catch it again next year.”
Fly fishermen, meanwhile, are rethinking their approach, with some already stocking up on Phoebe lures—just in case.
Happy April Fools’ Day, anglers!
