Wow that is a pig. Nice fish dude!

I catch one like that .... I'll throw my rod in the river and quit fishing with a smile on my face because it's not ever gonna get better.

Yep, Parker & I were right. Talked about it on the boat today that by the time we got in from fishing today that this would be a thread headed downhill.

Come on fellas

Nice fishey fellas!! Glad that one swam away unlike the Q fish.

Actually know of one larger than both caught this year ... but I ain't saying any more than that

Darn nice fishy in my book! I wouldn't let anyone get you down on this one. That fish is a pig no matter how you look at it. You guys are just jelous, I know I am. When we gonna see a 40lber? I remember an old story that Herzog was telling me on time. He was fishing the Babine and hooked into a monster, long story short he broke the spoon off on the fish after it darn near had him worn out from the battle. Anyways 3 or 4 days later the hatchery picked up a 45-48lb buck steelhead with a spoon that looked awfully familiar to Bill. You be the judge, they're out there!

Harbor-Hog

Yes they are out there, but in WA??? Could be like that freak of nature HOGZILLA from Georgia...

John, there's not much doubt after seeing the 3rd pic.. That fish is low to mid 30's and a gorgeous fish for sure.

I'll say it again, I'm Jealous!! But, I still disagree to the Jigs vs. Eggs in low clear water. If you want me to make a beleiver out of you again, I can!!

Keith

Now that's Ike! This is why fishing Feb-April is so special around these parts.....your next cast could be that guy. I fished that river on Monday......to think I could have bumped into that brute makes my knees knock.

Think he'll mount him? The WA state record is 35 lb. 1 oz. (Snake River). I would say the margin of error goes up slightly with the results of the formula with a fish of that girth. But there is no way John "grew" the fish any. Even if you shave a 1/2 inch of length and girth the fish is still way over 30. Do you have a better formula for us B-Run?

Harbor Hog - Herzog told that same story to millions of people in an STS article...and the fish was 50+......


Ike

The WA State record is 32.12 caught on the EF of the Lewis at Lucia falls and the fish was spawned out already, It was taken by Gene Maygra on April 4, 1980...

There's no doubt the record has been broke, but not being able to retain them monsters has left it to pictures and stories...

The largest Summer fish is the 35.1lber you are talking about..

Keith

Keith, I am aware that the Snake River fish was a summer run on it's journey up the Clearwater. In fact, it's mate was caught either the same day or the next day and became the ID State Record. Encredibly, they were both 2 salt fish, if I remember correctly.

And 35.1 makes it the WA State Record for Steelhead, does it not?

Ike

Ikiss: I have told you a million times not to exaggerate! Slightly less than 1 million peopl;e read STS.

After his second triple mocha, one Feb. A.M. Bill told me, in a quiet and subdued voice, that fish was well over 60 pounds.

Of course Bill isn't as old as I am. We used to routinely catch them that weighed more than 70 pounds, but that was before cameras, so I can't proove it. But I'm a fisherman so you can beleive me.

Yes but there are no Summer fish in the rivers right now to top the 35.1lb record...

Yes, it's true that the Idaho fish was caught the same day and I beleive it was 30lbs from the Clearwater river.. Both were taken on plugs in 1973 right?

Keith

All kidding aside. The biggest steelhead I ever saw was in a photo shown to me by Ira Yeager, Washington's first licensed guide. The fish was a buck he caught and killed on the Thompson River in the 30s.

Ira couldn't remember how big it was, but it was simply amazing. The wrist was gargantuan. No way to know how big it was. I would have guessed between 35 and 40 lbs. But who knows. I suspect several fish in the size class were killed and eaten every year in the old days..

Ooops, I stand corrected looks as if the Washington record winter fish is 32lbs 12oz on April 14th 1980 and the summer fish is 35.06 from the Snake River.

I don't know about anyone else, but I'd take either fish..

Keith

Wow, i thought this was a fishing board and boy was i wrong. all i did was to ask what did you catch that big beautiful steelhead on and all you guys can do is cry about the exact weigh it is. is that all that is important to you guys ?

I been lookin at a couple other fishin boards and i thought that you guys were different. i beginin to think that you guys are only worried about catchin the biggest and the best instead of teaching us how to fish. are all members this same way ? does no one have the time to teach us new guys how to fish anymore ?

Show Me. Only one poster, the guy who caught it knows for sure what he used. I guess he isn't telling.

Try asking a specific question of the board in general and I bet you get lots of answers.

Typilcally the big hogs are caught on plugs, and spoons, but almost any other accepted lure or bait can work.

Ask away. We are waiting.

showmemore-
You must be kidding right? As mentioned by many its a beautiful fish and many would love to have the opportunity at such a beast...

As for learning, you do it two ways. Read and practice and to me practicing new things is what still keeps me going. If I stopped trying new things today I wouldn't be any better tomorrow. Self gratifycation for me comes from learning things on my own, I may hear a tip or a how-to but I always want to make it better or try and perfect it. Perhaps its the fact that I have a bit of a competetive heart, that I don't know....

Again, I will say I'm as Envious as any seeing that fish taken..

Keith

That fish is so incredibly THICK that even that last pic barely does it justice. And just look how that thickness carries into the wrist. Holy smokes... look at that wrist! If that wrist belonged to a chinook, it would weigh 45-50 plus! Fantastic catch, fellas. Glad to see that one lived to perpetuate its obvious genetic fitness.

Hey guys all the big STEELHEAD areon the HOH Skagit fish are running small this year.


t.i.c.

I agree with FNP entirely. For example if someone said those two pictures were of different fish, I might guess the fish Johnny is holding is at least 5-8 pounds bigger. But its still the same dam fish.
Either way, if a guides excited enough to have a fish posted on this board its prob bigger then most ppl will see in thier lifetime.

25-30-35lbs, It does not really matter, the fish is a whopper and it really nice shape. Way to go!

Seeing the water dripping from it's ventral fins tells me it wasn't in his hands very long either. Well done guys. Some day.........