That's one the cuttiest looking bow or the rainbowiest looking harvesters I've seen in a while. It looks very similar to a fish a buddy caught on the Cedar many years back. Thinking it was a steelhead, it wasn't till much later that we determined it was a cutthrout, and that was confirmed only by the presence of "tongue teeth" or hypoloid teeth, as I think they are called. We all thought that the fish looked odd and everyone on the river that day who saw it, and there were plenty, had a hard time agreeing on it's pedigree until after the teeth were discovered. This fish went somewhere around 6-8, I believe. Big Cutty, for sure. I think I may have a picture of it still and I am sure MJ is still around to confirm the actual weight. He felt concerned enough about taking it at the time that he had it mounted. The mount never quite looked the same as the original though because of it's very unusual shape to begin with and because the taxi' didn't know whether to make him look like a rainbow or a cutthroat. It really fooled him too. Anyway I'll try to find the picture to post later.
Just when you think you've seen it all, eh?

Just a comment, not necessarily related to the fish in question. Curt Kraemer feels that steelhead/sea-run cutthroat hybrids occur with some regularity in the Stillaguamish system. Among the big "cutthroat" identified by anglers there seems to be a break at about twenty inches and then a small number of fish from about twenty-four to twenty-six inches which he feels are hybrids. These larger fish apparently exhibit at least some cutthroat characteristics such as hyoid (basibranchial) teeth, though sometimes not very prominently. Normally coastal cutthroat are less likely to hybridize with rainbows than other cutthroat subspecies are, but an ongoing study at Forks Creek on the lower Willapa indicates that it probably occurs more often than has been previously thought.

I've caught many fish that look like that on the upper reaches of a particular OP stream over the years, all in early-mid winter. All about that size and overall ripeness. All bucks. Definately steelhead. That one has more and smaller spots though.

Either a very spotty steelie or the above mentioned cross.

There is a little Hood Canal stream that has a run of dinky winter steelhead than look just like that, heavy spots and all. A couple years ago in January I caught a hen that would have mated nicely with that one, just barely 22 inches and 3.8 pounds using the formula. Fought like a fish 3 times her size I'd rather C&R one of those than any cookie cutter factory fish, way to go Rich

Here is a pic for ya'. I caught it on the Cow couple months ago, fought like a Steelie! Definate SeaRun Cutt!

http://groups.msn.com/PedoHedo/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=120

Peter ><>

I say steelie also...

There is a thanksgiving run of fish that hit the Skagit, not saying where they're going but they look a lot like that. We call em tube fish, usually 4 to 8 pounds. You should see them on the way back out!

As for the cut/bow on the Stilly system... I've been fishing that system for the past 20+ years and over the years have taken many large cuts in the 20 to 28 inch range. I honestly can't recall anything different about the big ones from the small ones (like 20" is small). There were times my brother and I got into 20 fish days each with fish all in the 20 to 26 inch range. I can clearly remember deep redish/orange gashes in the throat, and the yellowish colored belly.

Sorry Rich that is definately a steelie. You have caught plenty of them to no the difference. Oh Peter that fish that you are holding up is a Steelie as well. Doesn't have the markings of a cutthroat. But does have a missing adipose fin just like a hatchery jack does.

after reading all of the posts, i am going to have to stick with my first intuition, a very nice cutty, doesn't sound like anyone really knows

You're still insisting cutty? Why?

I'm insisting cutty still too. Hard to see throat slashes from that angle. Tough call but I think its a cut. Rich, do you recall if there were throat slashes or if you even checked. Regardless, its a beautiful fish and I just love the fact that fish can fool even the most knowledgeable. My opinion is strictly coming from my limited experience but I have caught fish in upper river stretches near my home in the 20+ inch range that are colored identical to this one that are cutties. Great post Rich, love the opinionated responses.

chromeslayer

I agree w/ PG that Peter's fish is a steelhead jack. I have caught many of those cutts returning to Blue Creek and a few Cow steelie jacks as well. IMO that is def a jack...

Pat and Hohwian,
Check out how far the upper jaw extends past the eye on Pete's fish. Just like like a Cutthroat? hmmmm...

Rich's fish is of the rainbow variety, whether it be resident or steelhead... only the fish will know. Most likely a steelhead.

You dont see to many resident rainbows down here, not like you do up north anyway... not sure why that is?

Rich,
You, out of all people...........
That's a steelie Richy. Plain and simple. I've caught some on the skookumchuck that look very similar. But then again, considering your luck this winter maybe you forgot what a steelhead looks like
Justin

It's a fish

If it took drag it's a good fish. :p

Looks like our steelie jacks that we see after they have spent some time in the river. Most of ours are right around that 3-4 pound mark with darks psots and nice "river" colors to them. Usually at the tail end of the season. My vote (worth a half cup of cold coffee) is a jack steelie that never was told by his buddies, to spend another year in the salt. FRIENDS DON'T LET FRIENDS SPAWN PREMATURELY.

Both fish - steelies. Call 'em jacks if you like.
When I was fishing the steelhead runs in S.E. Alaska real heavy - we caught multiple fish each day in that/those size ranges. Along with many many SRC's. I remember the SRC's having rounder, shorter noses, as well as the "yellow bellies" - and cutts on the gills that would show themselves and give away the species id right away.
Great fish, both of 'em.
I am sure anyone that has fished Prince of Wales, Admiralty, Chichagof, and Baranof Islands streams caught plenty of fish that looked just like those above.

They are just small steelhead.


And there aint nuthin wrong with being small.

If I was tall I'd probably be stupid.....

Rich,
I've caught a few like this, mostly on the upper west side of OP, and only in the upper reaches. IMO its one of the best color stages a steelhead has!!! Well... next to snow white belliies, chrome sides, and mad as heck!!!
Yeah, steelhead for sure!!

Definately a Smallmouth Bass

Steelthroat? Cutthead? Residualized steelie with Cuttie Grandpa? Willing to try anything, those kinky trout!

Still confused about this fish:

http://www.robelam.com/fishing/02images/winter/leopard_bow.jpg

The spots are larger and more irregular than the spots on a steelhead. I am willing to bet that fish had teeth on its tongue too.

my answer is non of the above. I am going to sat a hybrid cross between cutthroat and rainbow cutbow.

I have caught quite a few in a local lake with a great cutthroat run.