Hunting Washington Forum

Other Activities => Fishing => Topic started by: Hyde on January 24, 2011, 10:56:55 PM

Title: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: Hyde on January 24, 2011, 10:56:55 PM: Ok, I'll start. Caught this guy in the Thompson in November 1996. This guy is 25+. We didn't weigh or measure him. (one quick pic, then back in he went) I landed a 22 pound hatchery fish in the Willamette a few years ago that was weighed, this fish dwarfed that one. Once in a lifetime fish.
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: Kyle84 on January 24, 2011, 10:58:34 PM: OMG! so jealous, I've been trying all season in the vedder and chehalis river here in LML BC. No luck yet.
Sick picture!
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: PolarBear on January 24, 2011, 11:40:38 PM: I'll have to see if my Dad still has pics of my 26 pound Humptulips steelie.
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: FC on January 25, 2011, 01:17:45 AM: The only steelhead I ever caught that was that big I immediately unhooked and released without removing her from the water, a roughly 25lb native hen that I first thought was a king until I got a look at her!
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: Kyle84 on January 25, 2011, 01:21:10 AM: Dude 25lbs is still pretty damn sweet. Mind reposting your pics and story please.
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: wildmanoutdoors on January 25, 2011, 06:38:19 AM: Ill have to scan some pics from my Kispiox journeys. ;)
Got one that taped 44 x 23.5. You do the math. Got a hen the next cast that taped to 27 pounds.
Lol
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: wsucowboy on January 25, 2011, 10:07:44 AM: very nice steel head. My dad caught a 22 pound steel head back in the 90s. If I can find a picture I will put it up here
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: time2hunt on January 25, 2011, 11:41:29 AM: 3 pounds short of twenty :'( but the clearwater will be heating up any day know :IBCOOL:
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: Button Nubbs on January 25, 2011, 02:20:56 PM: I've hooked one I know for sure was well over 20. It violated me so bad I found myself on the bank in the fetal position with wet shorts. Lol The next cast I caught one of the prettiest wild hens I have ever seen. She taped at 16lbs and the bruiser I hooked before her dwarfed her. Ill be on the coast thursday and friday so hopefully ill have a pic to post when I get back.
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: JimmyHoffa on January 25, 2011, 02:33:27 PM: I've seen a few big steelies that I had to convince myself they were steel and not early springers. I find a lot of the big ones just hanging out in the shade. Last year I came upon one in the Sol Duc that was letting me walk right up to it....wish I had an underwater camera.
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: Dmanmastertracker on January 25, 2011, 03:07:01 PM: I think I was 14 when I caught this one at Blue Creek. We guesstimated it at 17lbs, based on 36" length, but most calculator's today, with average girth of 18" would put it between 18 and 19lbs. The trout I caught at Harts lake, same weekend.
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: Old Mule on January 25, 2011, 06:02:28 PM: I started Fishing Stealhead when I was 5 years old and now I'm 51 and have yet to catch a verifiable 20lb Fish. Just Fishing the wrong River, I grew up on the Green in King County and for that River if it's not 40 inches long it's not 20lbs, I'm headed out to the Peninsula in Feb with some use or loose vacation time, never been there so I'll work my way up the Coast, Hopefully the Fish Gods smile.
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: ribka on January 25, 2011, 07:38:00 PM: Caught a few years ago on a fly rod. Was close around 38 inches and 19 girth. Puts it close to 20 based on charts
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: Goldeneye on January 25, 2011, 07:46:46 PM: Here's a big hen I caught some years ago. I picked her up for the picture and then let her go. We estimated her at 24#'s. I've caught a couple other 20+ fish over the years. If I run across the pic's I'll post them.
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: boneaddict on January 25, 2011, 07:48:08 PM: THANKS for releasing her. AWESOME fish.
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: Dmanmastertracker on January 25, 2011, 08:06:11 PM: Quote from: boneaddict on January 25, 2011, 07:48:08 PM
THANKS for releasing her. AWESOME fish.

Yes, truly. I've only kept two in my life and that was one of them. I applaud anyone who does on a regular basis, especially a trophy like that.
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: ribka on January 25, 2011, 08:13:14 PM: Any native is released. Don't care how big. I keep the hatchery fish
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: Button Nubbs on January 25, 2011, 08:22:06 PM: :yeah:
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: SkookumHntr on January 25, 2011, 08:22:45 PM: -Ive caught a 20 pound Nate on the River behind my house. Caught a 18pound Buck on the Cowlitz on 6lb test with my 1141 in the boat, Awesome fight, I'll try to scan pics of Both those fish.
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: JimmyHoffa on January 25, 2011, 08:28:31 PM: Quote from: ribka on January 25, 2011, 08:13:14 PM
Any native is released. Don't care how big. I keep the hatchery fish
That's kind of how I roll now too. And after the hatchery run is pretty much done I won't fish for steel anymore. They get a break from me until the springers show up. I've read too much about how the stress of catching them causes them to not spawn, so I figured I'd leave them alone. But I'll bonk those hatchery things all day long.
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: Rainstorm Hunter on January 25, 2011, 08:31:27 PM: I lost one about 5 years ago that was just monsterous I would have to guess 25+ at least. And about 4 years ago I caught one that was about 23-25 pounds but I wanted to get him back in the river quick so I did not take pics.
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: Dmanmastertracker on January 25, 2011, 08:46:49 PM: Quote from: JimmyHoffa on January 25, 2011, 08:28:31 PM
Quote from: ribka on January 25, 2011, 08:13:14 PM
Any native is released. Don't care how big. I keep the hatchery fish
That's kind of how I roll now too. And after the hatchery run is pretty much done I won't fish for steel anymore. They get a break from me until the springers show up. I've read too much about how the stress of catching them causes them to not spawn, so I figured I'd leave them alone. But I'll bonk those hatchery things all day long.

At least the State clips now, so you can tell the difference, that's a big help. :) BC still doesn't clip.
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: ribka on January 25, 2011, 08:58:46 PM: Quote from: Dmanmastertracker on January 25, 2011, 08:46:49 PM
Quote from: JimmyHoffa on January 25, 2011, 08:28:31 PM
Quote from: ribka on January 25, 2011, 08:13:14 PM
Any native is released. Don't care how big. I keep the hatchery fish
That's kind of how I roll now too. And after the hatchery run is pretty much done I won't fish for steel anymore. They get a break from me until the springers show up. I've read too much about how the stress of catching them causes them to not spawn, so I figured I'd leave them alone. But I'll bonk those hatchery things all day long.

At least the State clips now, so you can tell the difference, that's a big help. :) BC still doesn't clip.

that's true.

A BC steelhead trip is a dream of mine.

Those hatcheries do smoke up nice :drool:
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: Dmanmastertracker on January 26, 2011, 09:19:39 AM: I found this old clipping from 1984, they used to measure the dorsal fin for wild/ vs. hatchery then on many Wa. river's.
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=W4RfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3jAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2330,2028141&dq=history+of+hatchery+steelhead+in+washington&hl=en (http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=W4RfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3jAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2330,2028141&dq=history+of+hatchery+steelhead+in+washington&hl=en)
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: hogsniper on January 27, 2011, 10:58:02 PM: Heres mine...22lbs by the measurements.....Its actually mounted on the wall thanks to bucklucky!
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: Goldeneye on January 27, 2011, 11:04:22 PM: That's a beauty there hogsniper!
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: steeleywhopper on January 27, 2011, 11:07:21 PM: Nice one! that is about as bright as they come.
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: ridgefire on January 29, 2011, 06:14:21 PM: my biggest is a buck that was 41 inches long with a 22 inch girth. caught it in the pilchuck river a few years ago not sure how to post a pic but it was a beauty. figured it would be somewhere around 23 lbs or so but couldnt weigh it because it was only out of the water for a couple pics. one of these years im going to head up to the kispioux
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: ridgefire on January 29, 2011, 06:17:30 PM: somehow i posted before i was done typing but was saying i am hopefully going to be heading up to the kispioux (sp) and get a crack at some of the big ones up there.
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: dscubame on January 29, 2011, 07:24:44 PM: :cue: :cue: :cue:
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: ribka on January 29, 2011, 11:04:17 PM: Hogsniper that is a pig!!!

Another caught on a 7 wt on the Anchor River in Alaska 2009. TApe and measurements puts close to 20 lbs
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: tmike on January 29, 2011, 11:35:28 PM: Justin that's a true 20. I saw it at Charlies and it is real nice. I used to think I had 3 or 4 right at 20 and then hooked one on the Queets that was a class above that. I huge buck that we tried to tail several times before it came loose. We could have netted it several times but decided not to. The formula is deceiving. One other indicator is the tail wrist. A 20 will be heavy shouldered all the through to the tail. A 20 pound hen is really exceptional. Here's a Satsop hen from a long ways back that came close. The mount is curved to make it look like it is swimming. 18-19 is more realistic.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi238.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fff110%2Ftkswhanson%2FDSCN1292.jpg&hash=bae3356deba71ad1a94ab198117e37eada9ebfdb)
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: lazydrifter on January 30, 2011, 07:05:05 AM: Here is a Hoh River fish back from 1993. Just shy of 22 lbs.
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: lazydrifter on January 30, 2011, 07:22:30 AM: Here is one on the wall. This one hung at Swains in Port Angeles for about 6 years
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: throttlejocky20 on January 30, 2011, 08:27:46 AM: I have not got a 20 yet but hees a couple that were upper teens.mine from the nooch, then Jarreds from the nooch, and my brothers from the nooch.
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: Ironhead on January 30, 2011, 05:48:21 PM: Lazydrifter, that Hoh fish is a pig. Hogsniper, yours looks to be a Skagit Hawg and a beauty at that.

I will post up a bunch of fish just because I love steelhead.

The 23lb buck I am holding up was 15 years ago and I am not proud of how I handled the situation, I have since learned the proper technique of picture taking and release.

These are all North Sound fish. Skykomish,Skagit or Sultan Rivers. Only 1 is a true 20# plus the rest are mid and upper teens. They were alll caught out of my boat except the one with my wife, that was caught in my back yard.
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: hogsniper on January 30, 2011, 06:11:33 PM: Thanks for all the compliments guys! Those are all some very nice fish! Dang Ironhead you have caught some dandy's!!! I got some more pics of some nice fish from the last couple years...ill post em in a bit
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: MuleySniper on January 30, 2011, 06:19:30 PM: My best caught on the Callawa prob 5 or six years ago. I know it was long ago enough I had like a 2.0 mp Sony digital camera. I know this because my moron buddy couldn't figure out how to take a pic of me with it so I got the privilege of taking his pic with my fish :bash: I really wish I had some better pictures. I'll have Luke do me a repro of him one of these days when I have more wall space. Fished that river from an 11' Lavro :yike:
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: hogsniper on January 30, 2011, 06:34:52 PM: Heres another pic of my fish and my cousins big hatchery buck...
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: Hyde on January 30, 2011, 08:20:32 PM: Some real beauties being posted up!
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: bwhntr350 on January 30, 2011, 08:49:59 PM: Dang. My pic's are all in storage. In '91 on March 31st, I caught a 17 pound female and a 20.4 pound female on consecutive casts at the Salmon river hole on the Queets River.
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: MuleySniper on January 30, 2011, 10:11:24 PM: I need to bust out my scanner... Ive been real fortunate catching quite a few nates in the high teens when I used to make it to the Pen a few times a year. My dads still trying to get into the twenty club. He's had a few chances hooking some beasts. Just has to have better luck keeping them on and not straightening out treble hooks! Lots of nice fish guys!
MS
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: carpsniperg2 on January 30, 2011, 10:25:54 PM: I have not made it yet :'( Here is my personal best so far. It was from this last year right around 15-16lbs. Right at 33" long, the fiberglass blank is 34"
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: bullchaser on January 31, 2011, 05:37:25 PM: (https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi298.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fmm275%2Fmattandmelody%2Fmatts205.jpg&hash=a41840c05aa9d643d5bd07e1f50992490e60a187)
This didnt go 20 but it was getting their (jig on the Queets)
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: RightPlace-RightTime on February 01, 2011, 04:45:28 AM: I like to flyfish for my steelhead, Here is one of my better ones. I'll post more as this years season is only going to get better. I lost two last week.
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: Hyde on February 01, 2011, 08:51:48 PM: Quote from: RightPlace-RightTime on February 01, 2011, 04:45:28 AM
I like to flyfish for my steelhead...

I played that game for 25 years. They say a steelhead is a fish of a thousand casts. If that's true, why haven't I caught a couple thousand? :chuckle:

I love to fly fish for SUMMER steelhead... but I see snow on the bank there. No more of that for this kid. For those who can catch winter fish on a flyrod... I hereby ---> :bow: I'm getting back to my roots and learning the drift / float game all over.
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: RightPlace-RightTime on February 01, 2011, 10:02:05 PM: Ya, flyfishing for steelhead is a passion for me. I tie all my own flys. I just love the take on a swing. My method is the swing. They hit so hard. There may be a time to switch to gear but for now i like the saying. Your hands dont smell like fish unless you catch one.:-)
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: Hyde on February 01, 2011, 10:13:36 PM: Quote from: bullchaser on January 31, 2011, 05:37:25 PM
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi298.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fmm275%2Fmattandmelody%2Fmatts205.jpg&hash=a41840c05aa9d643d5bd07e1f50992490e60a187)
This didnt go 20 but it was getting their (jig on the Queets)

That's a beautiful buck. Nice boat there! What brand is that boat?
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: bullchaser on February 03, 2011, 09:06:11 PM: Thanks that was my friends boat I dont know what kind. My old wooldrige drift boat was landed behind me.
Title: Re: 20+ pound steelhead club. Post 'em
Post by: huntergreg on February 04, 2011, 09:52:08 PM: Here is one my buddy caught at Drano last year. not sure what it ended up weighing.