I feel that the State Record "Steelhead" Will be caught this Year!!

[turbociv922001]

got last winter, maybe late summer fish? never caught one that big or dark. but he def is a heavy fish.
smoked me on 8lb ande.and slammed a tiny salad shrimp with just a split shot.  released with no probs,saw him in the same hole a week later.

[tomy salami]

got last winter, maybe late summer fish? never caught one that big or dark. but he def is a heavy fish.
smoked me on 8lb ande.and slammed a tiny salad shrimp with just a split shot.  released with no probs,saw him in the same hole a week later.

Who cares how dark they are when they get that big.

10# dark steely? I could care less.

20# dark steely......much more forgiving in judging the quality of the trophy.

Git him mounted.

[turbociv922001]

ha, you do have a point.

you know anyone good to do mount? idea on price? thnx

[Goldeneye]

Not trying to start anything.  Did you catch him in an area that it's legal to keep a native?  That fish looks like it has a intact adipose fin.  I know you didn't keep him this time but you should be sure he can be kept if your thinking of doing a skin on mount.

[tomy salami]

That guy outta Gig Harbor...........Blackwater Trading if I remember right, is the among the best reproductions I have ever seen. Way better than skin mounts.

Got a waiting list bout a year, last time I checked.

Bet a fish that size will be under $1600. Spensive, but you will have that bad dog on the wall for a LONG time. NEVER go cheap on fish reproductions......seen brohunskies do it...........disgusting.


 bowhunter........ I call guys who do fish reproductions just for fun. You know, so I can sound like I have seen a fish or three.

[turbociv922001]

couldnt keep him, so cant get skin mount i guess. so what do i do?

[tomy salami]

Do not need to keep..............ever.

Just bring the dimensions and all the pictures you have of the fish.

He takes a mold of a fish the same size and adds fins, scales, eyes, teeth..........on and on.

Final product will outlast a skin mount any day. They look much better to boot.

Seriously.

He will do it all to your specs (background, if you like) with just length x girth, and all the color photos you have. The chap can make the texture of scales and airbrushes the whole gig to perfection.

[Goldeneye]

Since you have the measurements and a picture, Blackwater Trading company can do a fiberglass reproduction.  Does real nice work.  Not the cheapest though.  So you need to be willing to drop the coin.  He's in Olympia, phone number is 253-851-2551.  E-mail address blackwatertrading@earthlink.net.  Web address:  www.blackwatertrading.com .  This info came off a business card he gave me last year.

http://www.blackwatertrading.com/site/home.html

[turbociv922001]

thanks alot for the info

[jackelope]

i think bucklucky on here is doing repro mounts now, and maybe michelle nelson too.

[turbociv922001]

thanks, ill check em out

[tmike]

Yes get it done. I'd love to see a 35 inch steely with a 25 inch girth. That was one fatty!

[turbociv922001]

can u tell me a price?

[Hangfire]

The story of super large steelhead being recycled by the hatcheries and coming back again normally with any number of lures hanging from their mouth come up every year.

They are just that stories.

Large fish return to most hatcheries at one time or another but not the size and frequency that these stories would have you believe.

[tomy salami]

Those hatchery stories do have a way of gettin passed around like the clap.
Every guy who has ever had dreams of monsterbeast steelhead has heard that famous Cowlitz story.

Not nearly as much BS being slung, when the subject of toad steelies from tribal nets, though.

You do not even want to know the truth..........same goes for salmon

Stories get legs faster in more densely populated areas. We could not even conceive how many large steelhead breath their last in a net, in the middle of nowhere.