As a matter of fact....In May 1988, I got a 20.5 lb (41" long) hatchery fish out of EF Lewis that I had mounted. I have gotten bigger natives but always photo/release them.
In July 1985, with 2 casts, I got an 18 and a 21 lber. This was before EF went to fin-clips but I could tell both were hatchery fish. I was just a kid and had no money to mount the big one.
This year I got a 17.5 lber out of Washougal, another around 17 out of Columbia and yet another 17 out of NF Lewis. All around 37-38"s.
Very, very recently, I got a 16 and then an 18 hatchery fish out of EF same day. If I'm going to weigh a fish it gets weighed on a freinds certified daily scales or a Safeways or Fred Meyers meat dept. For awhile I was chasin' line class records.
I got spooled yesterday by a fish that I could only see the big white belly flashing around before it headed out. Peck, peck, set the hook, fish flashes around under about 6ft of water, then it just sizzled away. Nice guys in a D-boat pulls up from the head of the hole to help me give chase. By the time I get in and we're going, I've got just a couple wraps left on my Shimano 200. All the normal turning techniques (Slack line, rod tip in water, etc) wouldn't work with this bad boy. I tightened and got a couple kicks, then the hook pulls out! AAAAUUUGGH! I want a rematch. Why is it the ones we lose are the ones we remember the most? Now I'm back at "Work" (Used loosely) but can't get my mind off that fish. Before I was done yesterday, I did get a nice 8lb winter hen and lost a third fish not as dramatic.
So far this winter season we are (and should for summer 2001) seeing excellent #s of 3-salts returning based on great ocean conditions.
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