Fishing for Native Steelhead

[_TONY_]

Thank you!

Maybe one of these days I'll share some more of my photos with the board...

[duchunter]

In this day and age it just seems killing a WILD STEELHEAD is a crazy thing to do. Legal or not a couple of pictures and send the fish on its way seems a much better thing to do!!
 

[PolarBear]

Holding the fish out of water for pictures increases mortality rates.  As I said before, if you are truly concerned with wild steelhead stocks, you should not be fishing those waters otherwise you are a hypocrite!  By the way, I haven't bonked a native since they made the restriction.

[Shane54]

Great fish! Don't agree with keeping it, butt I am not going to put you down as it is to late to do anything about it. Anyways good job on the hook up.

[kenzmad]

Ok, i think the biggest question that these guys are beating around the bush about is....... Are you going to have Michelle Nelson do the mount?















Sorry, just had to.

[deerlick]

What a shame

[wafisherman]

Holding the fish out of water for pictures increases mortality rates.  As I said before, if you are truly concerned with wild steelhead stocks, you should not be fishing those waters otherwise you are a hypocrite!  By the way, I haven't bonked a native since they made the restriction.

if you know how to fight a fish quickly, remove the fly or lure hook from the corner of the jaw, gently revive while your buddy snaps a few pics... The fish is never fully removed from the water and quickly returns to finish its journey.

I have even taken a few pics myself (nobody with me), and didn't gave to remove the fish from the water - but a friend helping is a huge advantage.

[mallard79]

Great fish! Congrats! 

Ethics, legality, and right or wrong aside. Polar bear hit the nail on the head. Why fish for them at all if you are worried about their survival. Maybe you all do it for the exact same reason he bonked this one.....BECAUSE YOU CAN! Just because you released it and it swam off doesn't mean a damn thing. My guess is that most of you would be up in arms if hey shut the catch and release fisheries down all together.

[PolarBear]

There is talk about shutting the Clearwater (WA) down to all non tribal fisherman.  That is an all native river.  The tribes net the living crap out of it.

[PolarBear]

Holding the fish out of water for pictures increases mortality rates.  As I said before, if you are truly concerned with wild steelhead stocks, you should not be fishing those waters otherwise you are a hypocrite!  By the way, I haven't bonked a native since they made the restriction.

if you know how to fight a fish quickly, remove the fly or lure hook from the corner of the jaw, gently revive while your buddy snaps a few pics... The fish is never fully removed from the water and quickly returns to finish its journey.

I have even taken a few pics myself (nobody with me), and didn't gave to remove the fish from the water - but a friend helping is a huge advantage.

According to most studies, you are killing fish wether you realize it or not, no matter how "gently" you think you are handling it which makes you no better than the guy who bonks one.

[_TONY_]

There is talk about shutting the Clearwater (WA) down to all non tribal fisherman.  That is an all native river.  The tribes net the living crap out of it.

Please share where you got this? The Clearwater runs straight out of the park, and through DNR land mostly... The mouth is really the only section on the Quin Rez

[PolarBear]

I got that form a WDFW officer in Forks. 

[_TONY_]

Officer Fairbanks?

[PolarBear]

No idea what his name was I don't spend much time that far North on the Oly Pen.  It was about 2 years ago.

[Smossy]

Im not saying it wasnt. But this fish was 19lb steelhead gutted and clearly much larger.. did you weigh it?