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Author Topic: First Steelhead, keeper anyways  (Read 4497 times)

Offline lokidog

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First Steelhead, keeper anyways
« on: June 20, 2018, 11:19:24 AM »
Caught this 30 1/4", 10 pound fish this morning after only about a half hour of fishing. He took a jig below a crappie bobber.

I lost one my last time out a couple weeks ago when it straightened my hook. Even with the drag a lot lighter, this one still jumped almost five feet out of the water several times and bent the hook a tiny bit.

So, I did catch one plunking for pinks down in Snohomish back in about 1991 but had to release it, it was quite small as well. I've only returned to trying for Steel this last winter since the fishing is so close to our new place, 12 or so minute drive....

Offline WapitiTalk1

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Re: First Steelhead, keeper anyways
« Reply #1 on: June 20, 2018, 11:21:15 AM »
Beauty!  Congrats.  Have you tried the cedar plank method on the grill with your steelhead/salmon before?  Very good. 
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Offline quadrafire

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Re: First Steelhead, keeper anyways
« Reply #2 on: June 20, 2018, 11:21:29 AM »
Nice
You move off the island?

Offline 762Armo

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Re: First Steelhead, keeper anyways
« Reply #3 on: June 20, 2018, 11:30:04 AM »
Nice job!
I was there on Sunday, but I wasn't so lucky! :)

Offline gaddy

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Re: First Steelhead, keeper anyways
« Reply #4 on: June 20, 2018, 11:59:30 AM »
Nice looking fish and fillet job. Is that a belly strip I see ?

Offline lokidog

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Re: First Steelhead, keeper anyways
« Reply #5 on: June 20, 2018, 12:05:16 PM »
Nice
You move off the island?

sort of,

I am bilocational now. :o  My wife and son are in Sultan for her work and school, but I am still mostly on the island. It is nice having a base on the mainland.

Offline bobcat

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Re: First Steelhead, keeper anyways
« Reply #6 on: June 20, 2018, 12:11:15 PM »
Very nice looking fish. Congrats! 

Offline lokidog

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Re: First Steelhead, keeper anyways
« Reply #7 on: June 20, 2018, 12:12:33 PM »
Upon closer inspection, it could be a female with absolutely no sign of eggs.  What I thought was milt is strings of fat.

Offline 2MANY

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Re: First Steelhead, keeper anyways
« Reply #8 on: June 20, 2018, 12:23:11 PM »
It's a hen summer run.
Eggs are very under developed in summer fish.

Offline Boss .300 winmag

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Re: First Steelhead, keeper anyways
« Reply #9 on: June 20, 2018, 12:25:04 PM »
Yum yum.  :cue:
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Offline WSU

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Re: First Steelhead, keeper anyways
« Reply #10 on: June 20, 2018, 12:25:34 PM »
It's a girl for sure.  Nice and fresh with little egg development.  Summers are tasty fish!

Offline LongBomb

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Re: First Steelhead, keeper anyways
« Reply #11 on: June 20, 2018, 12:30:10 PM »
Well done!

Offline lokidog

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Re: First Steelhead, keeper anyways
« Reply #12 on: June 20, 2018, 12:45:35 PM »
It's a girl for sure.  Nice and fresh with little egg development.  Summers are tasty fish!

How long do these fish stay in the "coastal" rivers for their egg development?  It's got to be a crazy long time.

Offline WSU

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Re: First Steelhead, keeper anyways
« Reply #13 on: June 20, 2018, 12:47:32 PM »
It's a girl for sure.  Nice and fresh with little egg development.  Summers are tasty fish!

How long do these fish stay in the "coastal" rivers for their egg development?  It's got to be a crazy long time.

Many months.  She'll spawn this (or would have) this winter or early spring.  That's why they are so fat and tasty.

Offline boneaddict

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Re: First Steelhead, keeper anyways
« Reply #14 on: June 20, 2018, 12:58:33 PM »
Used to always hear the old timers say you had to fish for a 100 hours to catch your first.   Did you make the time?

Nice Hen!

Offline lokidog

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Re: First Steelhead, keeper anyways
« Reply #15 on: June 20, 2018, 01:16:19 PM »
Used to always hear the old timers say you had to fish for a 100 hours to catch your first.   Did you make the time?

Nice Hen!

Well, I did fish a bunch this winter with only one bite to show for it....   :rolleyes:

Offline johnnyaustin44

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Re: First Steelhead, keeper anyways
« Reply #16 on: June 20, 2018, 01:48:23 PM »
Used to always hear the old timers say you had to fish for a 100 hours to catch your first.   Did you make the time?

Nice Hen!
I believe that to be a true statement. Sure seems close enough.

Offline Jake Dogfish

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Re: First Steelhead, keeper anyways
« Reply #17 on: June 20, 2018, 01:58:21 PM »
I’ve put in my time and never caught a nice hatchery fish like that.  Well done!  :tup:
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Offline onmygame

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Re: First Steelhead, keeper anyways
« Reply #18 on: June 20, 2018, 07:00:13 PM »
I've followed your posts the last year or better, maybe closer to two.
Have always been impressed with not only your catch, but pics and reports - lings, blue lings, cabs, salmon, etc.
This chromie is no exception.
Good on ya - you deserve a taste of the finest fish out there.
That fish is a gem!

Offline SeaRun1

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Re: First Steelhead, keeper anyways
« Reply #19 on: June 20, 2018, 07:03:57 PM »
Congrats Loki!  The first one always needlessly takes the longest to catch.  Then they flow from there.  They used to anyway...

Well done and enjoy the glow.  Steelhead are a worthy foe.

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Offline gaddy

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Re: First Steelhead, keeper anyways
« Reply #20 on: June 20, 2018, 07:22:17 PM »
Wait a minute, a 100 hr's for your first ? I always heard it took a 100 hr's per fish, after your first  :o I must be doing something wrong. :chuckle:

Offline Timberstalker

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Re: First Steelhead, keeper anyways
« Reply #21 on: June 20, 2018, 07:26:53 PM »
Beautiful fish Loki. Thanks for sharing.
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Offline bowhunterforever

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Re: First Steelhead, keeper anyways
« Reply #22 on: June 20, 2018, 07:51:43 PM »
Nice :tup:
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Offline teanawayslayer

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Re: First Steelhead, keeper anyways
« Reply #23 on: June 20, 2018, 08:15:31 PM »
Nice looking fish. I like fishing for steelhead way better than salmon. What a hardy fish!
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Offline Alpine Mojo

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Re: First Steelhead, keeper anyways
« Reply #24 on: June 22, 2018, 04:46:53 PM »
Used to always hear the old timers say you had to fish for a 100 hours to catch your first.   Did you make the time?

That used to be true, but then the internet happened.

My first probably took 200 hours.
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Offline Gobble Doc

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Re: First Steelhead, keeper anyways
« Reply #25 on: June 25, 2018, 11:59:16 PM »
Congrats


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Offline Cap.Silver

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Re: First Steelhead, keeper anyways
« Reply #26 on: June 26, 2018, 11:19:00 AM »
Good job Ed, nice looking fish .
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Offline lokidog

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Re: First Steelhead, keeper anyways
« Reply #27 on: July 01, 2018, 11:10:44 PM »
I've followed your posts the last year or better, maybe closer to two.
Have always been impressed with not only your catch, but pics and reports - lings, blue lings, cabs, salmon, etc.
This chromie is no exception.
Good on ya - you deserve a taste of the finest fish out there.
That fish is a gem!

Thanks.  And thanks everyone else as well. I was getting pretty discouraged after fishing for the winter runs... standing next to people reeling in fish "left and right".  As frustrating as losing one near the bank was earlier this spring, it gave me hope to get back out there, and this was the result.

Look up "hope" in the dictionary, you'll see a photo of a fisherman.   :chuckle:

 


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