This link takes you to a report written by Babine Norlakes Lodge which talks of a 50" steelhead being caught on the fly on the Babine. I can not wait 'till the photos are developed and I can see a picture of that beast!!!!

50" Steelhead

How big? That's huge I want to see the pics!!
Keith

Ive never heard of a steelhead that long. What is the formula for estimating it's weight and is it the same as for chinook salmon? I want one like that!

I know a guy who knows the guy who caught that 32# state record winter out of the East Fork Lewis. I gues that fish was a spawned out 49" buck.

If a 50 incher wasn't spawned out and of normal girth it should weigh well up into the 30's. That's not suprising for that area; especially this year of big fish from better ocean feed.

RPetzold, please keep us posted when the guy gets some pictures. Really like to see them. Thanks. Say is the Babine River up in BC?

I'd think a 50" inch fish would be much more than just "well up into the 30's". I'd say easily into the 40's if it was measured correctly.

While it would likely not be as girthy, the 52" C&R restriction on the Kenai has fish at that length about 65# ...

It was the Babine and yes I will keep you in touch as I can not wait to see the pictures myself!!

A 50" is most likely pushing 40 pounds as there is a story about a legendary steelhead flyfisher by the name of Jerry Wintle. He caught it on the fly out of Skagit, he did not get a girth measurement though. Wintle believed the fish was possibly 40#. Also on the Skagit, a fish checker, years back, checked a 47" steelhead. The fish was described as 'snake' and it weighed only 29 pounds.

By calculation, the 47" steelhead caught out of the Skagit had a 22" girth. Thus, the Babine steelie's girth just needed to be 3 inches more then the Skagit river 47"er to hit 40 pounds. That is a sure thing as it is only November and the fish has yet to lose alot of weight.

And what if that Babine fish had a 28" girth?? 50 pounds!!!...but I think that is pushing it, well, maybe a little bit.

[ 11-26-2001: Message edited by: RPetzold ]

Any additional word or pictures on this fish? I would love to see it.

Taken on a skated dry fly, was the take a sip or bowling ball dropped on the surface inquiring minds need to know.

What that really means is that someone caught a 50" Canadian fish. If we use the current exchange rate, that means it's only a 31 inch American Fish!

Fish on, eh?

On a more serious note, just how long does it take to develop film, anyways. Last time I checked, it was 1 day.

Is that an American day, or a Canadian day eh?

I looked today and I didnt see the reports for Babine Norlakes Lodge.

May rob allen knows whats up and if the picture is avaliable.

Hey gang-

Not only is a 50 pound steelhead possible from the Babine, it is a very real thing. In 1987 there were three outsized giants caught and measured in the weir at the origin of the Babine at Nilkitkwa Lake, each of them fifty pounds or better. Biologists estimate that the upper end for Babine steelhead push sixty pounds. Whew!!!
A fish was caught (and released alive) from a purse seiner at the mouth of the Skeena in August a few years back, it was 54 inches and weighed 58 pounds. Scale samples origined the creature from the Kispiox.


I've seen one of them. It haunts me every day. it could have swallowed a twenty pounder!

Cut it out Bill, you're killing me.

I'm going to get there.......I'm going to get there.......I'm going to get there.......

So what was it you said about eating bolgna sandwiches for a year??

For a 40 or 50 lb. steelhead, I think I'd be happy with bologna sandwiches for a LIFETIME.

The current world record steelhead was a 42lb, 2oz brute out of Alaska. Anything in the 50+lb range would completely shatter that record.