First Clearwater Steelhead

[goshawk]

Managed to finally hook into a couple of these buggers on a trip to the clearwater my dad and I took this spring. Took the boat for the first time which kept things interesting. Biggest fish caught to date!

 

[mdunc8]

Great looking fish. That first one sure is purty especially for a hatchery fish.

 

[fishing4sanity]

Good sized and good looking fish!

 

[kansasdad]

Jealous! mdunc8 or others who know.....teach me how to know wild vs hatchery ID markers please

 

[RUT JUNKEY]

Jealous! mdunc8 or others who know.....teach me how to know wild vs hatchery ID markers please

I'm not 100% sure, but, I recall in college Wildlife Biology class that I had (my major at the time), that the fins are the tell on the hatchery fish. Worn caudil fins,pectoral, and dorsal fins. . .and I believe they clip the adipose fin too. I may be way off, but, I'm sure it was something with the fins. mdunc8 may be able to give you a much better explaination. . .I'm a small mouth and crappie guy here in Indiana. . .

 

[1_pointer]

RJ- Is correct, the fins on the hatchery fish are clipped. Look at the first 4 pics, the last fin (toward the tail) is clipped. The last pic shows a wild fish.

Good haul! Fishing for them can be an exercise in futility, but once you hook up is real fun!

 

[putm2sleep]

Awesome fish man. Cool posts!

 

[putm2sleep]

biggest fish to date????? do they get bigger?

 

[HUNTMAN]

yes they get bigger.:hump:

 

[Selkirk]

^ oh dear lord...ah, nice fish!

 

[DWarcher]

Gotta love the Clearwater...great fish!

 

[mtmiller]

Nice, but I have to question the wader chaps.

 

[goshawk]

Ha ha. Honestly though, with a pair of lacrosse boots, I never get wet with those. Also keeps the slime off my wool pants. Makes a difference after day five or six

 

[Jwill]

Nice fish!

 

[L. I. Yankee]

nice fish...tight lines.....