Anyone heard of large rainbows being caught in Lake Samammish? I caught a beauty that must have been at least 4lbs. Could it have been a small steelhead heading up issaquah creek? I'm 99% sure it was not a salmon (like the sockeye that should be around about now...).

Thanks,
Chad

Yes, it is not unlikely that you caught a rainbow, as a steelhead would be quite silvery if it were fresh from the salt, but I don't think that there are any that enter the lake. At least not enough that you might catch one.

You didn't say why you doubt it to be a bow? Is its coloration wrong, or did you not know that large trout existed in the lake? If you give more details, I might be able to be more helpful.

Chad, Did you happen to check for red slashes under its jaw? Years ago when it was legal to fish Issaquah creek we would catch monster Cutthroat that would get that big. Some of them were really bright and had just very slight markings.Talking to a worker at the hatchery at that time, he told me that they are a hybread cross between a Stealhead and Cutthroat.I'm not really sure if this is true, but the fish are really bright and look like a fresh Steelie. This is possibly what you caught. Craig

I don't think that a fish coming thru the locks, across Lake Washington, up Sammamish Slough, and across lake Sammamish would be a mint bright Steelhead. Just a thought.

Thanks for the feedback.

It wasn't a cutthroat for sure. I was able to look under the jaw before he put the hooks into my hand!!

It was dark on top and silver on the sides. Looked like your basic small steelhead. And fought like hell. I have heard of steelhead that head up the creek there, but the 'fishery' is not allowed. Either way - it was sure fun.

As for the long trip to get to the lake - that's nothing compared to what the fish that get up to the snake, grand ronde, clearwater, etc have to go through. And you can find fairly bright steelhead in those rivers...

Thanks again!

In the case that it was quite silvery, it was likely to be a kokanee. They color up like a sockeye during their spawing season, in september, but the rest of the year they are silvery like a small salmon in saltwater.

Oh, and you have to release all kokanee in Lake Sammamish.

Rob

Definately wasn't a kok or sockeye ( a kok that big would probably be a sockeye - plus I was fishing shallow - between 10 and 20ft in about 50 ft of water).
I had a good look at it, and I'd know right away if it were a salmon of any kind (and its to early for chinook and didn't have a black mouth. Way to early for coho).

My money is that it is just a resident Rainbow. It just didn't have rosy cheeks or any color down it's body like a lot of rainbows (or steelhead for that matter).

In a few days, I'll send in the pics and we can go through this again (:

For the record - my fishing buddy is pretty convinced it was a steelhead (he was the one taking the pictures).

Chad....I think also that your fish was a Kokanee..In the lake that I live on people catch them up to 8 lbs. and they look just like the way you described it.My personal record is 3.45 pounds for Kokanee.

Chad,

So whens that pic coming?Betcha its a Kok!

Got the pics this weekend. Now I just have to scan them. There is one shot that should be just bad enough to keep us all arguing for a while

I'll send it to Mike to post in a few days.

Just gave MikeC the Pic. He should have it available shortly...

Here is an article about the steelhead that are in Issaquah Creek, Lake Samammish, and Lake Washington. It is from 1998 (although it talks about wild winter run fish...) http://www.wa.gov/wdfw/do/may98/may1298a.htm