no way in hell that's a steelhead, when's the last time you saw either a) a steelhead lose that many scales, i mean they are all over the kid even for christ sakes...or b) a hen (which it clearly is) steelhead, from nose to gillplate, have a head that long?

I came across a bio that was looking at one of these on the Columbia, same discussion, what the hell is it. Kinda of a cross of everything, even Alantic Salmon was mentioned, he took a bunch of pictures of it and left, never did hear what he decided..

I gotta go with coho on that one. Not an easy call though.

Scale loss screams Salmon.
Gums scream coho.

Her upper mandible sure is weird though...but in the end...

yep, she's a late Hen Coho. Looks very similar to a late hen Irish caught a month ago.

If not for the scale loss I would say steelhead all the way. The kid is squeezing the tail and there is an angle to the fish in the pic. Look at the fins. Big hen steelie.
But I have never caught a steelie that lost scales like that. A more coho trait there.
I still say steelie hen.

Dang! I might have to change my mind. It's definitely not a chinook due to missing the black gums. I want to say steelhead but the head and fins throw me off. I do think an ultra bright steel could shed scales although a rare site. We sometimes catch coho in the Sky in Feb. but they don't EVER display that kind of ocean scales.

That's definately NOT a steelhead. Tail appears to be forked in both pics (kid really isn't squeezing the tail that hard if you look close) and the anal fin isn't 90 degrees off the body like a steelhead. Scale loss and head shape, no steelie. White gum line, definately not a chinook either.

My guess is late coho but is it possible this is a dime bright chum?

Ever use a nylon net? We used to back in the day, it was what dad had before the beckmans and such came out with the soft cloth type netting...

That nylon netting will damn near descale a fish if it thrashes around in the net for a while in the bottom of a boat..... I'd bet dollars to donuts the dude owns a nylon net.....

Keith

I'm starting to lean more towards coho, though the big head and spots that I think I see on the lower lobe of the tail is still telling me Chinook...no way in hell that thing's a steelhead.

Fish on...

Todd

Look at the length between the dorsal and the head. Seems too elongated to be a coho but could be wrong.

Although I've never handled a chrome bright coho in January that I remember I'd say if it was that it's vent would be hanging out 1/2" and it would be much more plump and ready to burst with eggs..... I don't see any vent hanging out in either picture, makes it a steelhead......

Keith

The upper kype and shape of the gill plate is really playing tricks with my head....looks like a coho as far as those features.

yeah she looks like a cleft-lip gimp fish that ran into the wall a few too many times at the hatchery...

posted on the other thread!

"Other than the Columbia I have never fished Oregon waters so what do I know. That said it can be problematic IDing fish from photos however I think all those loose scale tell us all we need to know. Considering that we are talking about an in-river fish in January there are not many salmonid adults that would be shedding scales like that.

Neither coho or steelhead would be one of those shedding scales like that. Remember any coho this time of year would be near spawning and have scales that are "set" and I have never seen a steelhead shed scales like that except as smolts.

I would be very interested to hear what the folks found when that fish was cleaned. My expectations was that a lot of fat was found and poorly developed gonads; very small egg skeins or even a male. Almost like it was many months from spawning. Finally when it final reached the "table" I expect it may have been the best eating coho/steelhead ever."

Tight lines
Curt

Can't believe I would agree with Keith, but I call steelhead

AND THATS THE WAY IT IS

Just a late & slutty hen ho, my guess. Looking to spawn out of her gene pool.....






c/22

I zoomed in on the picture. Look at the head. Coho all the way.

I say chrome bright chum....just to be a rebel.

hen steelhead all the way.

I also called it a king on the other side of the net, and will say it again, nice king.