Not sure were it is legal to retain wild steelies in Jan, but this one sure got a little extra rubbing for a pic. Found this on a guided ebay listing . Apperently this guide needs some ideas on the proper way to release wild metalheads. I wonder if all the wild fish he catches get the same treatment once they cross over the gunnel of this crackers boat!



Later.....

Man, it is sad to see such a mint looking nate with that shallow eye look.

nice looking nate! hope he lives to spawn.

Damn Shame

The same release tech used for wild chinook should be applied to wild steelhead!!!

Yeah the fish in that pic is not lookinng too ready to live.

That's as pretty a buck as they get.

Dang, look at his eye. That buck is really struggling. Cool looking pic though, almost guaranteed he hit the bottom of the boat and flopped around before the release. Its hard to hang on to a steelie that size usually.

When the fish are that big it is hard to get your hand around the wrist of the tail period, let alone hold it. I would not know anything about that since I have never held a fish that big, but I heard about it once.

Looks like a beautifull first steelhead. WTF any how, you guys need to go get some of your own.

matt

Nice chrome buck.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

Nice fish, hope it lived to make more!

I agree gilly

Lets get real here guys. I dont agree either, but look at the smile on the kids face. Looks like he and dad with first big steelie. I am sure they will remember it forever.

Nothing elite about caring about a rapidly diminishing resource. Just ,y himble opinion. The kid should be getting a lesson in proper fish handling and respect. Nice fish though,treat it as the jewell it is.

The " kid " probably bonked it on the head and said to his dad " The big wild Fishee is tamed now Daddy!"

How do we know that the guides fish was not captured in a C&R net? Looks like a steep banked and deep river, does Sparkeys law apply to the river and fish in question? this witch hunt bs is getting old, no need for it.

Matt

ditto....half of you finger pointing sons a bitc%es couldn't wipe your ass with both hands

Come on guys, you can all get all pissed off about it, but it's a father taking his young son out on a trip that neither of them will forget for a while. I bet the fish was released, and as gilly mentioned, it looks like a steep bank so they couldn't pull up to shore to land it. I don't think they bonked it, the dad is holding it properly (better then the boga grip pic) and the kid who probably has no idea about how your supposed to handle wild steelhead is rubbing his fingertips on the fish.

I would assume it was captured in a C&R net , but why hold it up in this fashion? I guess its understandable Gilly after your avatar looks like a nate well out of the water.

Funny my kid wants to take pics and bonk EVERY fish we get , he doesn't know wild from hatchery jack from adult. Thats my job to teach him , respect and restraint. He is 4 and I will be damned if he is goiong to sway my judgment. Smiling or not.

Besides once again I am sure we all have probably taking a little to long getting a picture off, but to use it as an advertisement photo. Thats just fuking dumb! Picture that kids face when he has kids and can come back to that stretch of water and get his kids first "big one". and so on and so on. Thats whats it is really about. His dads story wont be forgotten and besides the fish can always get bigger as the years go on without a pic to keep the "fish tales" in check.

Just my .02