30 + lb steelhead

[tlbradford]

I don't blame him for keeping it either.  If you have caught enough fish you know the ones that are most likely going to die, and it sounds like he has.  Why have that trophy floating belly up downstream?

[lazydrifter]

Even though this fish will most likely be recognized as a record for at least line wt. it really is a shame as there have been many more that have been much larger caught that were respectively released.  I have fished the Hoh for many years and even have one native hanging on the wall at Swains in PA.  I kept it in 1993 and it was the last native I've kept.  I don't know exactly where on the lower Hoh this fish was caught but there is always the chance that if it had been released it would have ended up in a tribal gillnet anyway.  I guess you could compare it to what if the new world record elk stepped out in front of you.  Do you shoot it or let it go to continue passing his genes around.  I guess alot of people can't say what they would really do because they've never been in this situation. 

[Intruder]

Personally, I think it is ridiculous that it is legal to kill any wild steelhead in this state, or any state for that matter!  I don't necessarily agree with his decision to keep it but I don't hold it against him either.

Awesome fish regardless!

[WDFW-SUX]

I dont think I'd want to eat that fish

[jackelope]

I dont think I'd want to eat that fish

that fish won't get eaten...

[SeaRun1]

If you guys read his post where he said it was hooked deep and bleeding pretty good. I have a buddy that talked with the fish checker and he said the fish would have died.Please don't pass judgement on hear say.I find it hard to believe that all you guys would have released a world record fish.

That is if you choose to believe what he said right?  I have been told that the fly was not taken deeply and it was in the snout.  I wasn't there so really can't say with 100% certainty.

But...  When was the last time you hooked a fish on a fly and it was taken deeply enough to catch in the rakers or gullet?  I guided in AK and we fished beads everyday for crying out loud and I rarely saw that.  This guy was swinging a fly and it took too deeply to release?  Please...

Look the fish is dead and I'm not spending time worrying about what was done.  It's dead and dead is final.  The guy didn't break any laws and won't be in trouble for what he did.  End of story.

Still doesn't make his decision right and if he truly did bonk the fish and it wasn't bleeding (until he ripped a gill out or ) or damaged then his conscience will be his to deal with.

And by the way I have held a 30+ pound steelhead and released it (off the back of a seiner...)  If I caught one on the Hoh or Bogy would I do the same?  Absolutely... 

The real culprit is the WDFW IMO.

SeaRun1

[Hohriverrunner]

The Hoh Is always good in April, but in the past March 31 is the last day..Some years April 15...Should be catch and release only!!

[whacker1]

Hell of a fish, and I would have kept it. 

[TeacherMan]

I'm thinking that I will be able to make it up there a day or two over spring break, the last couple days of March and or the first couple days of April. Its been a long time since I've fished it and never from shore.

[groundhog]

It is what it is. I have to agree Searun. I have made a living guiding Fly fisherman full time in Alaska for over thirty years now. Not saying this is what happened here but I have heard the old excuse "It was hooked deep and bleeding so I kept it" more times than I care to remember. Funny how it is always the big fish that get hooked deep.......
I have hooked Steelhead deep before on flies but usually when free floating (nymphing) egg patterns. Not many get hooked deep when you are swingin. Regardless, it was legal for him to bash its head in.

By the way, not all bleeders die. I have caught fish with a gill raker ripped out and flapin along side the gill plate and I have also caught trout that were bleeding and released them and gone back to check on them and they lived. So even if they are bleeding you should give them a chance. Our native Steelhead need to be protected I can't believe the state still allows natives to be killed. Once they are gone they are gone forever!

[GoldTip]

Wow, I truly am shocked at the words and responses that have been posted here decrying the mans actions which were entirely legal.  Him keeping this fish is absolutely no different than any one of us killing the next world record antlered animal and probably this fish is not nearly as rare as the next world record Mule deer or Bull elk.  I don't see any one of us holding a legal tag for said animal walking past the next world record and letting him go on and continue to spread his genes.  Very, very surprising to me how everyone has responded.

[jackelope]

there's a reason it's illegal to even take native steelhead out of the water for a picture in most of the rivers in washington, goldtip.
the comparison between them and elk/mule deer is apples and oranges. mule deer and elk are not teetering on the border of extinction.
i would respond exactly the same way if this fish was 8 pounds or 30 pounds. doesn't matter at all...native steelhead should be released by law on all washington rivers...if not all rivers everywhere, period.
i feel the same way about the state record golden trout and westslope cutt's in the other thread.
this is just my opinion, i wish everyone agreed with me, but they don't have to.

[GoldTip]

there's a reason it's illegal to even take native steelhead out of the water for a picture in most of the rivers in washington, goldtip.
the comparison between them and elk/mule deer is apples and oranges. mule deer and elk are not teetering on the border of extinction.
i would respond exactly the same way if this fish was 8 pounds or 30 pounds. doesn't matter at all...native steelhead should be released by law on all washington rivers...if not all rivers everywhere, period.
i feel the same way about the state record golden trout and westslope cutt's in the other thread.
this is just my opinion, i wish everyone agreed with me, but they don't have to.

Be upset with the law then, not the fisherman.   

[jackelope]

fair enough.

[hogsniper]

This is a toughy... I would have to say i would keep it. Thats just me. Whats funny about the story is, is that you can clearly see the fly in the fishes nose. So the hooked deep part is kinda weird. But all in all if I landed that bruit I would keep it....Just my opinion...Justin