MONSTER Steelhead!!

[BigGoonTuna]

that pic is a few years old...it was impressive until the rest of the photo set was revealed, of the guy dropping it on the rocks several times.  the fish was probably out of the water several minutes, not just a little bit for a quick photo.

[buckhorn2]

Why do you pack a scale when the fish packs lots of them.

[Bigshooter]

Big and UGLY if you ask me.

It is pretty dark but I think its beautiful simply for a fish that size surviving! Now if it was the color of the 24# my boy got (see pic in "1st Solo Steelhead" thread, then it would be even more amazing.

I'm not taking anything away from the fish.  I would love to catch one that size.  I just do not find it beautiful.  A beautiful steelhead to me is one that is so bright that it looks more white than chrome.

 

C'mon man.. us drysiders love the stripers! That's all we see. Any steelhead is beautiful! Fished the Nestucca this last weekend. So strange to hear about "too dark a fish - if it was legal we wouldn't keep it"... "fish are stinking up the banks"... Garsh.. I wish we had that problem. You Wetside dudes have all the fun

I've caught one chromer in my life.. and holy smokes was it hot. I'll give you that.

When I see that stripe on a steelhead.  There are two things that go through my head.  1.  It was most likely caught on the eastside.  2. I might keep him to through in the smoker.  I've been invited to the east side to fish steelhead a couple time.  I just say no thanks.  I don't have the heart to tell them that I don't want to fish for half dead fish.  There is nothing like catching a 6 - 8 pound hen steelhead with sea lice still on her.  That is a fight you will never forget.

[mdbuck5x5]

  Lol half dead you're killing me! Hook into one of our 15-20 #'ers and I guarantee you'll never forget about it! Neither will your arms!

[trippledigitss]

I've only fished for steelhead on the eastside once a couple years ago. I was fishing below the dam up on the Snake I think? Ice Road dam, or Icicle dam or something like that outside of Pasco by some DNR campground. But I only got one small "steelhead", actually no matter what it was a large rainbow since it was under 20", and it was chrome, chrome bright. So I dont think it made the trip to salt & back yet, too small, or if it even ever would but it was so silver it sticks in my mind to this day. But I dont think they are really "half dead" over there simply because the color are they?  I'm mean its not like salmon where they come up, spawn & die. They turn around and make the trip back out to salt & then back again, so there must be alot of life still left in them. But everyone has their druthers and if you like chrome and dont want to make the trip over the hump for them, well, that's certainly your right! 

[Bigshooter]

Lol half dead you're killing me! Hook into one of our 15-20 #'ers and I guarantee you'll never forget about it! Neither will your arms!

I have caught some 12 - 15 pound old summer run on this side before.  And if you like reeling in a rock.  Then yeah its fun and you'll never forget it.  That's for sure.  My guess is you have never caught right out of the ocean chrome before.  There is a huge difference.

[mdbuck5x5]

Yeah if that's what you think that's cool!

[Bigshooter]

I work with a guy that grew up fishing the snake.  He kept talking about how great it was.  Then he caught some chromers over here.  Now the only thing that he has to say about the snake is the fish over there are bigger on average.

[mdbuck5x5]

 

[Button Nubbs]

6-8 lb chrome steelhead is something I could easily forget. No need for a pic even. I have caught booted up summers on this side that have fought better than any little chrome cookie cutter runt. 

[Ironhead]

6 to 8 lb chromers are midget fish. They don't count till they reach the teens.

[Bigshooter]

They might only way 6-8 pounds but atleast they fight the whole time.    Instead of 2 or 3 runs, then you reel in dead weight. 

I will be truthful and tell you that I have caught maybe a dozen in the teens with the biggest being 17lbs.  But I don't really remember fighting any of them.  Where I can remember catching tons of those cookie cutters that did nothing but dance on the water.

[3nails]

that pic is a few years old...it was impressive until the rest of the photo set was revealed, of the guy dropping it on the rocks several times.  the fish was probably out of the water several minutes, not just a little bit for a quick photo.

When they're going into the cooler who cares?

[Ironhead]

I will be truthful and tell you that I have caught maybe a dozen in the teens with the biggest being 17lbs.  But I don't really remember fighting any of them.  Where I can remember catching tons of those cookie cutters that did nothing but dance on the water.

You catch a big, wild native, linebacker of a steelhead  and you won't ever forget.

[Button Nubbs]