Okay guys and gals

Take a gander at this gorgeous hen chromer caught on a coastal stream Jan 22.




Is this a late fall/winter fish or a real early springer?

Late Winter, She is full of eggs, (Mature Eggs)

With that vent poking out I would have to say
late Fall/Winter fish but to be sure I would have to see the fish in person. We got into some late kings over the holidays that were chrome also!! And buy the looks of the river it makes me think F/W.

That's just another winter Chinook. Look at that belly on that sucker. No springer is gonna have a belly like that this time of the year.

Late '03 fish, not early '04 fish.
I voted wrong on the poll. Oops.

Its a late fall/winter chinook. I fish the river it was caught on alot In fact I was there the day that fish was caught.

Alot of the Coastal rivers here have chinook return clear into Febuary. There are not a lot of them but every year people catch them. Retention for chinook cloeses on 12/31 on almost all the rivers on the coast, If you could keep them after 12/31 I bet you would see alot more caught because people would target them.

Coastal springers start showing up in April. May and June are the months when most coastal streams see the most fish returning.

In January a very few spring Chinnok show in the Columbia system, Febuary see's more and March and April are the months they really turn on.

I cant see why people are making such a big deal about springers this early in the season. We still have 2 months until its worth making the effort for them. But what do I know? Maybe evryone should hit the rivers in search of springer. I will just stick to steelhead until May when the springers come to me........

I know exactly where that is,I have caught a few of them myself, It is a late fall or winter king, that system is famous for them if you fish it alot and are tuned in you will know this. Me and a friend had a hey day there at the beginning of January when it was 4 degrees out, we were the only ones on the river that day. Beautiful fish, I love em !!!!
Peace
Superfly

Sounds like everyone who posted a reply to this topic knows exactly what features to look for in differentiating a mature fall fish from a fresh springer that is months away from spawning... but yikes... check out the poll results, and you'll see the results are neck and neck.

Just because you vot in a poll, Doesn't mean you know your Stuff . Its definately a winter chinook.

Winter nook' No question about it.

~steelymann~

THATS A EASY ONE...


easy guys, just kidding!

WATCH THE INDIANS NET IT, BONK IT, AND THEN CUT IT OPEN AND JUST KEEP THE EGGS

The people that voted springer could just be using their wishful thinking for a great year, which could happen...

Superfly, get a grip. I don't think that you have even ever fished the river that that fish was caught on.

I'm surprised she isn't drooling eggs...nothing "Spring" about her.