What is the largest steelhead any of the readers has either seen or touched or landed?


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32# It can now be seen at Swain's in PA. Saw it before it got mounted....Jaw dropping huge!!!

Estimsted weight 27 pounds. This fish was 43" long!!! Nehalem River, Oregon

Seen (for sure): Estimated 34.3 pounds ... 45 1/8 length, 24.5 girth. Coastal River.

Seen (Best Guess): Had one at my feet a a couple of years ago flyfishing on my Zipperlip that was this size class (above). Easter Sunday, '92 ... lost one on a coastal river that was likley 35 ... never forget that fish!

Touched (my own): 30.1 pounds.

My first 10 minutes of fishing on the Thompson River BC in 1994 produced a hefty 42" slab. Got a great photo in shallow water and away it went. Estimated 27 lbs.

In 1995 I saw a guy with a 23 lb hatchery Summer Run on the NF Lewis, beauty of a chromer.
I lucked out on the NF Lewis river in 1996 and dogged up a 40" 20 lb hatchery Summer Run. 6 lb leader and 10lb mainline, it was a great battle, last fish of a great weekend. It is hard to beat those June, July Summer runs on the Lewis when it is on. Not a huge fish but a great memory.

I wish every steelheader a chance to battle a hot 20lb+ steelhead, memories for a lifetime.

Spring of 99, 42" buck on penninsula river. I didn't get a girth measurment because I was more worried about the beast swimming away healthy.

Landed and released 44" no other measurement,46" between my cataraft tubes it all most touched MONSTER!!!,

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Tight Lines
FISH ON ------<*)>><
Men are like fish we get into trouble when we open our mouths to much!!

Late october 94. I caught a buck that was 40 inches long in the Bulkley river. It was not the longest fish I have ever caught but the girth was amazing. Did not get that measurement but am pretty sure the fish was in the 25 pound class. This was on a fly rod and the picture I have of it is the center piece of my fishing/fly tying room. Lower 48 biggest was 42 inch B-RUN out of the Clearwater in Idaho. This was on a plug, and weighed 20.5 lb

Back in 92 while trolling for kings had a guest bring a steelhead about 22-24 lbs. to the boat, told him what he had and the importance of releasing it and he did, this was in S.E. Ak about 10 miles from where the current world record was caught.

I've mounted three over 30lbs and many, many in the mid to upper twenties. Biggest was 31 1/2lbs. Longest was 43 1/2". Largest girth was 23 7/8". The biggest one I've personally caught was 22 1/4 lbs.

A few years back I boated a 43 1/2 incher that was 24 1/2 in girth. Weight was 31+. The client had it mounted. It was a perfect fish and didn't have a mark on it. Sorry c&r but we killed them then. I try to release them all now. fp

24.5 lbs in 96'on a grays harbor county river. Was using summer gear cause the water was LOW and clear-what a battle!!
It was like trying to move an anchor. All by myself. No one around. Wouldn't have it any other way!

42 pound, 2 ounce steelhead, story in STS, is the world record caught off Bell Island in Alaska by David White in 1970 at age 8.

Live was about 15 pounds, caught by my partner, and I caught a 14 pounder last summer in whitewater riffle. Both hatchery fish. I saw a big native 20+ at the Pike Place Market a couple of weeks ago. I should've raised hell with the fish market.

Eat hatchery steelhead = live longer!

Feel like the runt in this group. Caught one on the WA. clearwater from the bank that measured 39 inches. Didn't weigh it, as it got quickly released. Beautiful hen, and definitely the largest I have ever caught.

Seen: 32 lb 12 oz, Lucia Falls, EF Lewis, April 1980, by Gene Maygra.
Touched: Same as above.
Landed: 23lbs (4 over 20 so far)
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biggest native I've landed was a 40 1/2" by 23 1/2" (approx. 26 lbs.)buck I landed in my zipperlip last January 13th. Largest hatchery fish was 20 1/2 lb. cowlitz river summer run June 6, 1997. I used to say once I catch a 20+ I'll have accomplished it all...not even close. Once you get that in your blood you are on a constant quest to try and duplicate or beat that fish. I wish everyone could hold one of these monsters at least once in their lives. Please, remember to let them go!

In the 15 years of fishing northern B.C. rivers,several in the 25-30lbs. class. Took a picture and watched em swim away.

IN 1987 GOT A 41 IN 25.08 ON THE GREEN AND IN THE NISQ. I LANDED A 42.5 IN 27.5LBS THIS RIVER IS ONLY A MEMORY!!!!!!!!