I don't see any middle ground on the Wild Fish Issue, You either pratice catch and release or you don't.

He stated that he intended to release the fish, perhaps I am reading to much into this email that is attributed to him. However, there is no sorrow expersed about the death of the magnicifent fish.

Just, it was bleeding, and lucky me I will be in a record book. Fuckthat,

And to the mods sorry about the profanity, I am just [censored] pissed

the truly sad thing about this isn't that a guy killed a fish of a lifetime. but the fact that so many people out there still see it as ok to do it.

I have never knowingly killed a native steelhead and I never will no matter what size the fish is. I wonder if everyone that is flameing this guy can honestly say that ? I took a guided trip a few years ago on a river in Oregon that allows harvest of native fish and the guide was shocked that I wouldn't kill a small 12 pound nate . I know for a fact this guide would have ZERO problem killing the biggest of nates. And when no one is looking can you look yourself's in the face and say a world record fish is going back???? I would bet most ( of course not all ) of the guys out there on the river .and even on here and other boards who like to jump on a band wagon and give there often under educated 2 cents. can't look in the glare of a 30 pound chromer nate and let it go knowing it is perfectly legal to kill it...

this is a world record fish that is out of the gene pool it's to late for that fish but what about tomorows 30 lb fish can we educate enough guys to get the next one back in the gene pool ? Our time would be better spent trying to find out how we can educate other guys on the river's that allow native harvest to let there's go instead of bickering about this dead fish.

Maybe a T-shirt program like the no snagging ones here in Oregon??

that fish wouldnt have been a "bleeder" unless it was picked up by the gills like shown in the photo. Ive had hundreds of fly/caught swung salmon, char, and steelhead and have had a big whoppin 0...count that ZERO bleeders!

have to agree on the 45 min right as absurd...it may have been on the line that long but ive landed 25lb chum on a 7wt in fast water in less than 10 min. ...after a while you gotta use some force and land the fish. especially with 8kg tippet or whatever

I call horshite - that fish is way to clean for "...bleeding quite heavily from the gills"
where's the blood?
In any picture where the gills have been cut you'll see some, usually copious amounts of blood on the fish.
This just sucks, and that explanation doesn't cut it, because none would.
World - F'n Record - schmuck.

"I now know what you look like and if I ever see you on the river, it will not be pleasant. " from twb..

Brave words over the internet! this guy at least posted a pic of the fish and is saying basically this was the fish of a lifetime and a world record and hey I knwo its not the right thing to do but I killed it. he's at least coming out and owning it .. you on the other hand have a fake who knows who you are moniker on an internet site and now want to make random threats. you threaten me and then try to meet me on a river you'll have your hands full ! lets hope peter is nicer then me. for your sake . If its me I am asking every fly fisherman I see if they know you just to take you up on the offer!

Nothing gets my blood boiling like an idiot who wants to be a hero and make threats over the internet. I dont know whats worse killing a nate or beeing an A*s the nate killing was a one time deal you beeing an A*S wont go away until someone call's you on it....

salmon jeff. thanks for making it clear that you are an ass too.

Maybe it's just me and the dude's I fish with but world record or not I've never seen a wild fish bonked....take that back i bonked my first steelhead in 94 at the encouragement of a buddy. I didn't know better back then. I think we all know better now.
We all know a dude here on the board who caught the state record Coho this fall and let it go because he had already punched his fish that day. Not exactly the same thing but close.
If you visit this board specifically you know to release wild steelhead and to play fish as quickly as possible to the bank for a revival and release.
There's plenty of guides who have no problem bonking wild fish. I'm glad there are also plenty who make it clear that wild fish swim away in their boats.

Its not just you myself and all of my fishing buddies share the same ethic, "release all wild fish" I am really suprised by the amount of people who are willing to kill a native fish, especially over on cryfish.

Salmon Jeff don't kid urself, if your fighting skills are as good as your spelling then god help us... (Pun intended)
Jason y.... I'm referring to you calling the guy out as "Getting good".
I already stated my opinion on what i think of this nimrod, <----
Bleeding or not, killing a fish ensures it wont spawn..

thats a darn nice fish.. to bad it was killed for what??? a mount !! you could have taken a picture and had a fake one made.. That big boy could have shot his wad on alot of eggs... What a waste..

If it was a bleeder, it had nothing to do with where it was hooked...

But how the fish was handled .

The smile on your face says it all....so congrats.

Mf

I'm trying to wrap my head around a swung fly on tight line causing a heavy bleeder. I guess it's possible but it seems really unlikely. I'm guessing "landing trauma",

fb

I would have absolutely no problem letting a fish like that go.
If your beliefs are true regarding not killing wild fish, you would let that thing swim and hope for the best, not drag it a mile to your car. I can't imagine how that would feel.

If you look close, you can see the fly. Not a bleeder. Lame.

You said douch bag twice. But a lovely collection of adjectives. Some verbs too.

look at the fishes snout you can see a pink fly...bleeder? no way

why is it legal to retain wild fish on that river? Not to many places that it can be done anymore and with good reason. This whole debacle could have been avoided if the WDFW would step up and not allow wild steelhead to be tagged.

It does look like it is hooked in the nose, being that I float fish most of the time, I catch most of my fish in that same area and I have never seen a bleeder.

But I have never seen a 30+lb steelhead either!