Had to share this phenomenal native fish posted by Travis Moncrief from the I-fish board. 43 x 26 .... truly a fish of king-sized proportions!

nice fish
I want one!!!

Wow!!

Whoa nelly what a hog!

Man, they're catching some big fish down in Oregon this season. That is one chrome toad.

An OP fish Dan ... FnP's length is the smallest I've heard on it. Heard claims as big as 47 inches??

Nice fishey Glad it was caught in CnR water!

C&R a 43 1/2" X 24 1/2" buck in '01. Looked very simular in size. I don't think this pig would stretch to 47".

Bob

Not so sure about that being an OP fish. Maybe you are referring to another monster fish taken out your way.

The guide who posted the pic is from Oregon and this is what he had to say:

I am pretty sure this is the biggest steelhead I have ever seen. The pic doesn't really do it justice. But just notice how small my fingers look behind the pec fins. It had measurements of slightly under 43 inches of length and slighlty over 26 inches of girth.

Ah, different fish then My bad

Ah, different fish then My bad

I saw a dead 28 pounder yesterday on the picnic table outside of thriftway, came out of the Bogie.

thats a pig!

Bob, don't leave us hangin, tell us about this "other fish".

Not sure what to tell, since all I keep hearing are different sizes. Measurements claimed would make the fish over 40 ...

Came out of C&R water somewhere with a guide that used to always publicly bash me on the web for fishing such stretches ... should be hint enough

Ouch.. that's a nice fish but let's get off the pipe.... Not saying that the (steelhead formula) is dead accurate but that fish is not 37.5lbs... It certainly doesn't have the tail girth to be close. It looks to be about 21-22" around...

Again, I'm not bashing this fish or the size, it's certainly beautiful and I envy the guy who caught it. But it makes me laugh when people come up with such goofy dimentions...

You may get 26" girth if you measure "over" the top of the dorsal....

I caught a big buck that was guessed at 25-26 without a tape... It's head was bigger than the fish posted and mine had more tail girth. Certainly wasn't a long torpedo (43") like this fish. I'll give that fish 26lbs tops...

Perhaps the gentlemen in the pic is 6'9" 300lbs... Then I'd beleive it...

Keith

I agree Keith, unless the guy holding isnt atleast a 6'6" 300 pound giant we arent looking at a 37# steelie

Im 5'8 165 pounds and the fish in my moniker is 35 by 18.25 which is around 15 pounds acording to the formula. Not saying by any means the one im holding is as big or nice of a fish but it is relative to the fish he is holding compared to my size. Now he must be a real big dude if that fish is as big as he says.

I eyeballed it at about 26-27. My eyes have been known to vary by a pound or two, but that fish is a couple shy of 30 I'd say. Still a chrome toad, though.

Now, about this fish Bob was talking about.......

Dan,

You can see that one on Olympicpeninsula fishing.net.

it gives the dimentions they say it is. guy holding the fish is a big guy but not big enough to be holding a 40# pounder.

Those measurements (43 x 26) are more typical of a king, specifically a king right around 40 to 43 lbs. which is alot more "football" shaped then that fish.
Nice fish, but like stlheader1 says, that girth # doesn't look/sound right.

Now here is a 29# that I have no problem believing from the upload center.

see what I mean.

Holy crap RichG.. I haven't seen that pic on some time... Now that's a real native... Certainly in the high 20's..

As for the original fish posted... Looking again, that fish is lucky to go 25... IMHO... But, we've only boated one fish this year that was over 20 and it was 24.5lbs.. A nice fish. But I didn't call it 30.

Keith

Hey Rich-
Thanks for resurfacing that photo. IMHO, that is the finest steelhead I have ever laid eyes on!

I absolutely love that photo!!

Looking again at that last pic, I wouldn't argue at 30lbs... Sure wish they would have taken dimentions of that fish. The guy himself looks 6'2" and he's not holding it out that far... Hell of a fish..

Keith

Yeah, we can only creem in our jeans over that one .

Thats a fish in a thousand lifetimes.

Boy that little turd im holdin in my moniker really looks small compared to that monster.

Here's one of the larger steelhead I've taken.. Probably 25-26lbs. It was never taped nor weighed....

Keith

Nice one Keith!

Only one over 20 for me, and a crappy photo to boot.

not worthy of showing the pic

Lots of skeptics on the weight of the original fish posted. It looks every bit of 43" long to me. A girth of 26" yields 3 X 5 proportions which are very believable, even for a steelhead. Remember those really big ones get a lot less snakey and start to look more like a rotund salmon.

The other hawg photo posted (an exceptional fish as well) gives the illusion of being much bigger due to the composition of the shot. Tighter zoom, more depth of field, and the angler's left arm is nearly fully extended toward the camera straight out from the shoulder (look at it again, Keith) makes the fish's head look like a football. Look how far out that fish is from the guy's knee... his four fingers look broader than his knee clad in thick neoprenes.

The composition in the first shot depicts a fish in the smallest possible manner to the mind's eye. It is very wide angle, nearly flat in depth, and the guys left arm is clearly extended 90 degrees to the camera. The fish is being held in a plane very close to his body (between his legs). A very true-to-life shot, and unlike most of the pictures that make magazine covers these days, there is no optical illusion to inflate the size of the fish.

I see no reason to believe that the first hawg is any smaller than the second... I suspect it's probably the other way around. But what do I know, I'm just an eye doctor.

TRBO

Is this the one you are talking about? 46 x 26

Image Removed , Bob


Tell me this beast didn't get bonked.

Got to agree with most of you guys, that first fish is not close to 30 lbs... I would think around 22- 24 lbs- and I have caught more than a handfull of fish over 20... One things for sure, thats what its all about. Thats one pretty fish

That's the one FnP ... shouldn't have been bonked since the waters were closed to retention.

I've removed the pic as I in some instances don't want pic copied or pulled off of my server, and I'm sure the feeling would be mutual in this case

Don't forget Photoshop retouching when criticizing claims made by fishermen. Having caught a huge Chinook last fall I know how fast people are to criticize the size. It doesn't apply here but some fish being bragged about have been blown up using computer technology. I won't name names but whenever you post a shot of a hog be ready for a blast from the wannabees..

Wow. That's a super nice fish.

It is really long, regardless of the girth.

All I know is that this fish is a million times larger and nicer than what I have not caught this year!

This has been my worse steelhead season in years. Just not getting out all that much, and when I do, it has sucked.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but here it seems to be worth a thousand flames.

I took a picture of a 32lb chinook last fall that because of the angle of the picture looks maybe 20lbs. I have another picture of a 22lb chinook that looks to be 35lbs because my daughter is in the pic. The measurements don't lie, so I choose to believe the guy. What a fish!

Makes me wonder though....if the guy hadn't posted a picture, but just the measurements, would anyone believe he caught a 35lb steelhead then? Damned if you do, damned if you don't. I guess the only thing to do is to bring those trophy native fish to the scale.......

Nah,

The only thing to do is revel in the fact that everybody is green with envy because no matter what it REALLY weighed, it was a damn sight nicer than anything they landed over the weekend.........or ever.

It's bigger than my best, that's for sure.

These kinds of pictures will be a thing of the past. The do-gooder law says don't take the fish out of the water.

Ya know, I read this thread over and over...and still have to pick my lower jaw up off the keyboard each time and wipe the slobber off my face....

Those (all of those hogs!) are just simply incredible fish. The stuff dreams are made of...at least my dreams!

Just the thought of hooking one of those beasts...let alone getting it to the beach/boat...is what continues to bring so many of us back to the rivers week after week...day after day...hoping...dreaming...praying.

......someday...one of those will be there when my offering floats by...I can just see him taking it, turning...heading back to the depths of that hole......FISH ON!

...and then I wake up...

Someday.....it'll happen.

Mike

These kinds of pictures will be a thing of the past. The do-gooder law says don't take the fish out of the water.

FishNPhysician,
I agree with angles and what not. The fish we caught this year that was 24.5lbs pictures didn't do the fish justice.

But after years of steelheading and over 2000 steelhead landed you begin to get a keen eye for the size of a fish. I've landed many in that went 20+ and lost a couple handfuls that met that mark too...

I'm not arguing by any means, and not flaming the pic... I'm as jealous as any to see such a fish of size and chromeness. Certainly close to a once in a lifetime fish.

Again, just looking at the dimentions of the fish, hand size, head size of the fish, tail girth etc... It's too bad that the picture doesn't do the fish justice.

As for a 43x26" fish, I am a see it to beleive it kind of guy... I don't think we've seen it..
Keith

Hey Physician,
Take a honest guess at the size of my fish (the dark one) that I posted.

No hard feelings here, but I'm wondering what you think it weighs...
Keith

Gorgeous fish, nice pic too............
my only point of reference would be to look at the tail wrist - it looks too small to be a 30# fish, but still way bigger than my best.

That fish was caught by a client on Travis Moncreifs boat (local tillamook guide) I am pretty sure he knows how to measure a fish. Also he isn't exactly a small guy.

Working at for the tribe for 4 years I have seen hundreds of 20 pound dead steelhead, a handful over 25 and one just over 30.


That fish is not even 25 let alone 30. If it is monkeys will fly out of my but.

Well looks are deceiving biggest taped fish this week was 41 by 21 but my guess was that fish was only 20 # and I usual can tell with in a # of actual weight without measuring correctly! While another fish was39 by 19.5 that was deep all the way through that I know was heavier maybe 23 or 24# I know we have formulas for weight standards but fish in different stages of their cycle have a weight difference a big dark buck compared to a chromer may vary as much as 3 or 4 pounds but all and all that is a nice fish no arguement here!!!

I don't know how big the guy in the photo is, but from personal experience, it sucks being big posing with fish. I'm 6'6" and 320 pounds myself. Anytime I send someone a pic with me a fish, if they haven't seen me, they never believe it's as big as I tell them.

Ive seen pics of a few 30 # fish from the Thompson river and some rivers of the Skeena system and this fish in the pics goes 25# tops .
Unless as others have said the guy holding it is a 6ft8 300lb monster.Absolutely beautiful fish though ,fish like this are what keeps me so heavily addicted to steelheading.
Its great to see some quality steelhead returning to your rivers south of our border.As for fishing up here in the fraser valley, its one of the poorest seasons i can recall.Only the hatchery rivers have had good returns.
When would be the best time to come fish some of these oregon rivers that produce these monsters,id be hiring a guide for sure ,as im a guide myself and understand the amount of time and effort agood guide can save even the most accomplished of fisherman.
BENT RODS

....since when did they start using JELLO for bait? Hehehe

Rich,

Your scale is tuned into the same one I use!

Cowlitzfisherman

I think we all get a bit too concerned with weight. The damn sure fact is its an awesome fish.

Years ago on the Quinalut I saw a guy who had killed a big steelhead. He was sure it was 20 plus. I didn't say anything but thouight to my self it was about 18. Well, he went and had it weighred and it was "only" 19 pounds. It ruined his day when he should have been estatic about his huge fish.

GREAT FISH!!!

Truthfully, I'd take any of these fish any day of the week...

Better get out and find them as we've only got a month or so left of the big fish action, depending on the river systems you're on. Plus with all the closures as of today it limits those that have the March 15th-April15th closures.

I know where I'll be headed this wednesday and thursday and it's not the OP...

Keith

For the record, another guy on the I-fish board posted that Travis Moncrief is 6'3". That should put things into better perspective.

I myself do not believe he's a 30# but a beatiful fish none the less, I do not own a fish scale and have not personally weighed a steelhead in over 10-12yrs, I am certainly envious of that dudes buck to hand and maybe someday a fish like that and I will get another chance to play again and i WIN! I'll keep trying because that's my (our) addiction!
That is a very good example of an angler and fish positioning in that picture, and believe does great justice of true trophy steelhead! Unlike this poor example of this 40.5" taped hen caught yesterday w/Tandy on the Lwr. Q (bent not sraight & fish leaned too far back) I am not grimicing because of weight but a gnat or something got in my eye that very second of pic. so here's my

Good Luck Boys & Girls

I thought you were winking because you like us.

Nass feesh too, there Mav.

Hey Mav...
That one looks dead??? The fish's blank fixed stare kind of gives it away.

Nice fish, Mav.

It's really anyone's guess as to what you are catching on the Quinault. I'm not too sure how many true "wild" fish are in that system these days.

Either way, I don't have a problem of anyone harvesting fish on the Quinault, wild or not.

Sporties are not endangering that run of fish, when the tribe is pulling out 6,000 or so every year from the nets.

Also, JTD, if the fish was dead, why wouldn't they just take another.. better photo? Oh, the digital camera must have ran out of batteries......

My Client Bob Naber caught one on Saturday that Taped out at 40 X 23 which is 27 pounds or so, the largest fish that has ever been landed by one of my people. But it did not look as nice as those other fish that is for sure.
And it is still alive !!!!!!!!

As far as that New Law ( Sparkey's Law) I could give a **** less, it is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard of, Just try and enforce it. It will be a short time before that is over turned.
Peace
Superfly

great fish pics from all of you... the only weight that i am concerned with is the one attached to my leader.....

Well I'm headed out now in high hopes of another monster steelhead. I know that this time on is when a majority of our big fish show themselves. I just hope the nets didn't get them all. Oh well, time will tell and the camera is ready.

Nice part is if the big nates aren't around at least there's some springers...
Keith

Do the Quinault's mark their fish?

Some. Don't know the exact percentage off hand.

Most of the known hatchery fish I've pulled out of the Quinault are not marked.

It's getting better, but far below from what it should be.

Most tribal hatcheries dont do muck clipping no matter what the species.

I do believe the Quileute tribe does clip the few thousand steelhead they raise every year at the lonesome creek hatchery but im not sure about that.

Hey JTD,
What does the rest of my take look like?
Let me know please, their looking right at ya!

to ease your mind i let quite a few more go to fight another day..... hopefully next week

I'm w/ Parker & have no problem w/harvesting fish on the lwr river!

I tend to agree with the on the harvest issue on the lower Quinault.

One thing, is i feel the way they do clipping is the way they like it that way you cant tell the difference and many fish get counted up above that arent really wild so it looks like the impact is less.

Those fish that go to the upper river are gonna be counted as wild no matter if they are are not.

I read in a status review from NMFS once wish I could remember where I found it. Was from 1990 I believe. It stated that the Quinault had the most degraded wild stocks of the entire lower 48 coast. It actually even referenced the stocks as being a heinze 57. They blamed it on hatchery practices and introductions of outside stocks over and over. It said it was probable there wernt any true native fish left in the system.

Here's one that taped at 41 X 24.5.
Sorry, Scanned photo so the quality isn't great.

Wow, that' last fish there is a big fish. How big of a guy are you GreenSauk??
Keith

6' tall and 180lbs

That fish looks to definitely go high, high 20's if not touching 30 from what I can see... Did you ever get a weight on the fish or a guestimate??
Keith

Ya, it taped at 41X 24.5...right at 30lbs. He was built like a king

Built like a king is right.... classic 3 x 5 proportions. Fantastic catch!

Much smaller than the one above this one was built like a King. Not alot of length but plenty of girth.

A 14 year kid that lives next door to me caught a huge steelie out of the lyendecker hole last year that was 41 in x 25 in. and that fish went 28 lbs. 14 oz and was the biggest steelie I've ever laid eyes on and this kid is 6ft. 5in. and 320 lbs. and that fish is still huge. It was an absolute miracle that he landed that fish in that water, just unbelievably fast water. What a fish is all I got to say! I'm jealous and so was his father, cause his father used to guide out in forks and his biggest is only 24.5.

http://www.piscatorialpursuits.com/uploads/UP4940.jpg

Here is a fish we got this year. Guys first trip he limited on brats and got two nats. Good fish Green. Thats a great hole wonder if it still exists after the big floods .

Tight lines