After viewing Wingman13's dandy steelhead it got me to thinking, if I could pick 1 or the other, what would it be? (I still haven't made up my mind) what would you pick? to make things interesting, the king can come from anywhere but the Kenai.

Can anyone here honestly say they've accomplished both of these without fishing the Kenai?

That's a tough one but I would have to go with the 50lb king. A 25lb steelhead would be nice but bigger is better in my book.

Looks like I am the minority here. Have hit the 50lb mark a few times. I would rather have the steelhead. My goal is to beat the 20lb mark. First one gets a 360 degree mount. Sorry to say it, but probally going to bonk. I like the skin mount. Just being honest.

I've caught kings in the 50+ range. I haven't hit a steelhead over 25 that I've landed, but have landed a few just a pound under that. I would have to say the steelhead anyday. But for myself, I like the way a steelhead will play. A big king is powerful, but usually like pulling on a log IMHO. You feel the head shake, and a few strips of the reel, but that's it. I've had a couple 23# steelhead tail walk and make me work for my money keeping the slack out. So count me in the minority too.

Drifter, I hope you never get the opportunity at a 25lb steelie. Just being honest

I'll take one of both please... I haven't done neither yet.....

DB

ya me to please make them both hens please oh ya hatchery fish .

I would take the 50lb king . And I would rather catch a 25lb silver over the steelhead.

I have taken a couple of Kings over the 50 mark and 1 Steelhead that was 26. Given the chance again, I would take another monster Steelhead.

I opened up the window to vote and I couldn't!! What a choice - either would be great - both might finish out my time on earth!!!

I'll take the King also. I've caught an 18lb Sol Duc nate,and wasn't all that impressed. A 25 would have to be pretty spectacular to sway my vote.

My boat landed two 50s last august @ rivers inlet. The first my cousin landed in about 10 minutes, no long runs or anything. The hog I landed took an hour and a half. I have never landed a steelie above 12, but I think it matters on the fish. I know that August cant come fast enough!!!

robyns

My boat landed two 50s last august @ rivers inlet. The first my cousin landed in about 10 minutes, no long runs or anything. The hog I landed took an hour and a half. I have never landed a steelie above 12, but I think it matters on the fish. I know that August cant come fast enough!!!

robyns

That is a tough one, but I'd have to go with the 50lb king. It would get mounted too if it was a hatchery fish!

Well, since I've already got a 27 pound steelhead, I'd really go for the 50 pound king. Closest I've come is a 42 pound Kasilof King.

Actually, my Ultimate goal would be a 30 pound steelie and a 75 pound king.

The 30/75 Club would be a very elite club....one that I really want to join.

The big steelie fought like crap, and was caught on 12 main and 10 leader. The 42 pound king was caught on beefy salmon gear and tried to kick my butt! I'd take a big fiesty king any day! They just tear you up!

Drifter - Email me if you want to go big fish hunting next year. Good luck and good fishing up in AK this spring!

You really gotta watch that Drifter dude. He cheats a bit on those big kings - by catching them in all of my old haunts!
No one really has to worry about him with that 25 lb. steely - he had a black candle burned on him at some point and cant even land a nate, let alone a 25 pounder.

I am in the 60/30 club - released the 30 on a Puget Sound crick - and bonked the king off of Coronation Island in S.E. AK.

Each of them have their own virtues. There aint nuthin like mooching up a big old king, especially when the weather is nice, and you are shaking 30's trying to get a big one. - except maybe setting the hook on a chromer of any size!

I would go for the King - only because that's where I concentrate most of my fishing. I've caught 2 +50 and netted one for my favorite partner. All up in the Queen Charlottes drift mooching. I do feel like I've found the Holy Grail - twice. Also a 20# steelie on the Sol Duc, with a guide. I think river or ocean make a difference, and guided or un-guided too. I like the wide open sea with just me and my favorite partner. My most memorable fish though is a 42# chinook, foul-hooked in the tail. Fought it for 2.5 hours in a 10' sea. It was my biggest at the time. I can still see the shimmering side of that beautiful fish. Hey, I wouldn't mind a +30, or 40 King in my home water, Puget Sound either.

drifter,
May I ask why you are partial to a skin mount?

The reason I ask is that I have a friend that I used to fish with that feels the same way you do. He fishes around oil city on the hoh for that reason. If he gets that trophy he wants to get a skin mount. When I asked him why he said 'so nobody can question whether it was that big'.

I personally cannot think of a good reason to get a skin mount. Even if I kept say a king or a silver and was going to have it mounted I would get a replica. Skin mounts if done right take about a year and a half, you could have a replica done in a few months. Skin mounts require alot of upkeep, replicas do not. Skin mounts often crack and peel replicas do not. Replicas should be cheaper given the extra work and time that goes into a skin mount. Oh and the best reason of all, that trophy steelhead gets to go make more trophy steelhead.

Current Drifter,

Very educational and cool avatar.

The biggest reason is I want a mount of my fish, not someone elses. If you pay to have them done right they also look a lot better. I agree they are a little more expensive and require a little bit more care, but to me it is worth it.

I dont bonk nates, as Rooster said I cant even catch one. But if I did get my trophy I wouldn't lie and say that I released it.