Kudakid,

That 12 pound hen you caught with no eggs, but with very small developing skeins, was likely a spawned out winter run. The hens, particularly, re-chrome as they head downstream. They also have the beginnings of the egg skeins that would mature the following year. If that was a winter run fish, it seems like it was a late winter run fish, which are usually wild steelhead. Was this fish fin-clipped? You indicate that it had no eggs, which suggests you kept and cleaned it, and I thought all wild steelhead are to be released. I ask because I don't want to incorrectly infer that you retained a fish that isn't allowed in the regs.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.