Big Skagit king

[floatinghat]

Awesome fish.  It's a shame to see it killed.  I won't kill any king over 30.  I'd rather they spawn and make more big kings.

Agreed.  It's a shame to see big walleye killed.  I won't kill any walleye over 10.  I'd rather they spawn and make more walleye.

Only thing it's my understanding Walleye aren't native and eat native fish. 

[gotcha]

Amen to not killing anything bigger than 30. Have more fun watching them swim away. Friends hate it but oh well. In my boat they swim.

[_TONY_]

Amen to not killing anything bigger than 30. Have more fun watching them swim away. Friends hate it but oh well. In my boat they swim.

 

[huntnphool]

 Some of the largest salmon used to come from the Elwa system many years ago. They are hoping to revive this fishery but have not heard how the dam removal strategy is going.

[_TONY_]

Some of the largest salmon used to come from the Elwa system many years ago. They are hoping to revive this fishery but have not heard how the dam removal strategy is going.

The dam is gone and the river is free flowing... I doubt that those 100+ pound genetics are still swimming around in the Elwa like they used to.

[singleshot12]

Those big wild genetics are gone and gone forever in all the rivers I can think of.

[wildmanoutdoors]

Some of the largest salmon used to come from the Elwa system many years ago. They are hoping to revive this fishery but have not heard how the dam removal strategy is going.

The dam is gone and the river is free flowing... I doubt that those 100+ pound genetics are still swimming around in the Elwa like they used to.

They have those genetics froze at he hatchery still to this day. They will try to get a strain going using the massive native genetics. Its all part of the plan.

There are stories of the mosquito fleet trading with the Klallam tribe for 100 pound plus Kings.
One of only 3 or 4 rivers in history to ever have that big of King Salmon.

[wildmanoutdoors]

Those big wild genetics are gone and gone forever in all the rivers I can think of.

The Skeena still produces Kings to 80ish, and Im sure there are a few bigger ones in the mix.

Whats funny is the little Kispiox still produces many in the 50 ish class in June. Coarse Ive seen 40 pound Steelies there so it dosent surprise me.

[WSU]

Another hard part about big fish keeping them alive in the ocean for 5 or 6 years without getting netted, troll caught, or sport caught in Alaska and BC.  That's a long time to survive all the fishing pressure.

[wildmanoutdoors]

Another hard part about big fish keeping them alive in the ocean for 5 or 6 years without getting netted, troll caught, or sport caught in Alaska and BC.  That's a long time to survive all the fishing pressure.

For sure. And these gigantic Kings go 8 years in the ocean even.

[WSU]

Another hard part about big fish keeping them alive in the ocean for 5 or 6 years without getting netted, troll caught, or sport caught in Alaska and BC.  That's a long time to survive all the fishing pressure.

For sure. And these gigantic Kings go 8 years in the ocean even.

For the real big ones.  I'm referring to just normal real big ones!

[singleshot12]

Another hard part about big fish keeping them alive in the ocean for 5 or 6 years without getting netted, troll caught, or sport caught in Alaska and BC.  That's a long time to survive all the fishing pressure.

For sure. And these gigantic Kings go 8 years in the ocean even.

8 years wow!

I would some day like to see triploid kings. Could you imagine? But then again they too would subccumb to the ocean nets before reaching their 200+ lb. potential.

[Dhoey07]

Another hard part about big fish keeping them alive in the ocean for 5 or 6 years without getting netted, troll caught, or sport caught in Alaska and BC.  That's a long time to survive all the fishing pressure.

For sure. And these gigantic Kings go 8 years in the ocean even.

8 years wow!

I would some day like to see triploid kings. Could you imagine? But then again they too would subccumb to the ocean nets before reaching their 200+ lb. potential.

I heard that there are sterile kings in lake coeur d'alene

[Skillet]

Unless something has changed, they're not sterile.  They fish for them in front of my uncle's cabin there all the  time.  In fact, a number of years ago the Idaho fish and game was searching out their redds on the Coeur D'Alene St. Joe river and destroying them.

http://m.spokesman.com/stories/1997/aug/14/derby-spokesman-laments-poor-fishing-debate/

[Dhoey07]

Unless something has changed, they're not sterile.  They fish for them in front of my uncle's cabin there all the  time.  In fact, a number of years ago the Idaho fish and game was searching out their redds on the Coeur D'Alene St. Joe river and destroying them.

http://m.spokesman.com/stories/1997/aug/14/derby-spokesman-laments-poor-fishing-debate/

IDFG heat shocked some of the eggs they collected to make the fish sterile.  Not sure when they started this or if they still do but here is a report from IDFG in 1995.  Page 21

https://collaboration.idfg.idaho.gov/FisheriesTechnicalReports/Mgt95-39Maiolie1996%20Regional%20Fisheries%20Management%20Investigations%20Panhandle%20Region.pdf