...., especially in the upper reaches of the systems........above the nets........in low water.

I disagree hybridcx. If its pumping blood it is less likely to spawn than if it is not pumping blood.... If it gets the wood shampoo, there is no way it is going to spawn. These fish are way tougher than we give them credit for. Especially the big ones. You don't see many dead steelhead in the river as a result of CnR, far less than there are bleeders that are released.

Skunked on the Hoh this morning BTW.

I understand there were guys down at Barlows chasing fish around in the river.... Keeping them in the hole so they could feesh for them.... Please give us some rain. It's starting to remind me of salmon season.

+1 Neal, I have seen these fish stop pumping blood after a minute or two of recesitation. I have been told that the coagulant in thier blood reacts much, much quicker than ours and seen it first hand. I say even if in doubt let them go. Supposed to rain the next few days. I am headed out soon.Good Luck -TBJ

The rumor has been flying for a bit now ... I heard it was first steelhead ever and deader than dead. Sad news, especially when we're managing the Hoh for less than MSY this year and it's really taking a beating with the other rivers so low. There should have been little question that some emergency regs have been put into place down there with the many dozen-fold increase in pressure.

Shame on the guy who whacked it ...

Double shame on the state and the tribe for not stepping up for the fish!

A couple of more thoughts ...

First off, 90% of the "fly-fishing" here now is basically bobber and jig fishing, so call it flyfishing if you want, but in my book, it ain't.

In Alaska, I backbounce silvers on bugrods with an ounce of lead and a glob of eggs ... I don't call it "fly-fishing" though. Simply more fun to have direct drive to fish that routinely rip off 50+ yards of line and then change direction and do it again.

Might as well do it with the kind of rod it was meant to be done on and have fun with it

Corey and I just got back from a drive and were talking about the dead 30 ...

She said she could cheat on me and I'd say "That's Okay Honey" but I'd divorce her if she had killed that fish.

I said "Yep", because at least on the first one you had good reason

Bob......."She said she could cheat on me and I'd say "That's Okay Honey" but I'd divorce her if she had killed that fish.

I said "Yep", because at least on the first one you had good reason."



Classic!!

+1

Killing these natives has to stop, just because the Tribes do it doesn’t make it right. To take the genetics of a 30lb class fish in this day and age is ridiculous. If the guide knew the client intended to exercise his right and retain a fish. Upon seeing the tremendous specimen of a fish. He should have knocked it off with the net.

That’s right intentionally caused his client to loose the fish of a life time. The fish more than likely had survived the gauntlet of nets. Only to be clubbed in the head by a naive kook.

At some point you have to take a stand, for me I don’t kill NATIVE Steelhead. If you want to keep a native go fish with someone else. If we know each other, and you go fishing, and you kill a native. I don’t want to hear about it. If you tell me I will attempt to be calm and not tell you to go to hell.

Do I have friends that kill natives Yes, do I fish with them no.

That’s right should have knocked it off

I would have knocked it off, sure I'll help you land that. Whoops sorry dude that was a nice one
:flip off:


Yes I am aware it appears that I think this kook was guided. I am aware he was not.

It's high time this state just goes 100% C&R for Nates!

Sounds like a familiar story with a similar fish.

Oh wait, I let MINE GO!!!!! Mine (more than likely) survived to pass on his genes.

Sounds like someone wants attention

BTW this is inexcusable that a fish of that magnitude got bonked.

Sounds like someone is nauseated to hear of such an awesome fish getting killed.

+1




















BTW I heard you released a 30 pound fish once......




















































or twice...........

OK it's dead. How about at least some pics for all of us to remorse over.

Well, if it really was his 1st fish then that is a mitigating factor. However, we need to redouble our efforts for WSR.

my wife made an interesting point as I was telling her about this thread. wouldn't the fish already have spawned at least once or twice, and with the same logic, would it be worse to bonk a young smaller steelie not knowing how it will develop, pass on its genetics, given a chance to live long enough? I just thought it was a very interesting and valid point. I guess if it was young and never had a chance to spawn, it would be a terrible loss, so you fish experts, do fish get that big before their first spawn?

I was on the Hoh Wednesday and Thursday, wanted to stay Friday but couldn't. wished I was there to witness that catch.