oh i didnt see the cuaght in the net part

yes, scale samples were taken.

Shibby... Thats a real knee shaker

What a pig!!! Great idea having it mounted.

Bardo, you seem to be around these Quinault bruisers regularly. Doesn't it make you nervous knowing that your next hook-up could be a steelhead this big or bigger? Look at the size of that tail! Crikey!

Ron

Hey Bardo,
What a fish to add to your museum. My dad lives at Mason Lake and I was wondering if sometime when I'm up there visiting him we could give you a call and drive over and see your collection. If that would be ok send me a private message with your phone number.
If you have a plack made when you have it mounted don't forget the silent u in Quinault.
Man what a fish, Thanks for sharing.

That monster doesn't look gutted. Why didn't you list a weight? I use a system to figure out the weight of a native based on length and overall fatness (so I can release them quickly). At 44 inches that fish would be about 35-36 pounds on my "scale". I find the weight equations usually overestimate the weight of a steelhead.

Bardo sent me another photo, same fish I think, that was 35.8# as scribbled on the picture.

Is this the same fish?

http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Rapids/3765/fishrepr.html

Has anyone been catching on the lower Quinault other than in nets? I was supposed to be going on Monday, but the guide said the river visibility is still very poor and he suggested I try later in the year.

the fish house scale said 35 lbs 8 oz. i weighed it on a cretified scale and it weighed 36 lbs. 9 oz.

Geez, I don't even catch steelhead that big in my dreams. I don't know what I'd do if I saw that thing on the end of my line.

You think there's anything to how that hatchery is run? Na, I guess all those 25+ pound hatchery steelhead are just a matter of luck.

I'm not a mount collector, but I'd sure love to meet up with a steelie that size..... I'm obsessing.

Way to go.