You’d have to go to the Kenai or Skeena rivers to find bigger hen Chinook salmon than these two caught by David Pitts of www.salmonandsteelhead.com on the Chetco River last week.
The upper fish is a massive, 45-pound hatchery hen (note the missing adipose fin) Pitts caught in the Willow Run on a chartreuse/green Sledge Hammer by Mack’s Lures, tipped with a red label plug-cut herring.
The big native girl on the bottom weighed a “mere” 40.7 pounds and was taken on a chrome body/chartreuse head No. 15 Pro Troll StingFish in an area known as Tamba. The really cool thing about it is, Dave released ’em both. Way to go!
Chetco Indian says
I will also back Brian’s comments about fish being released.Dave has done more to help the Chetco in the last year ,in the past ODF&W would release salmon smolt mid day in Sept now it’s at night.Dave( NWSteelheader )is also working on habitat ,and geomorphic issues .Thanks to people like dave we may have fish and clean river’s in the future.Thanks Native American
Brian Sutton says
Before I go, do you people know that Dave is the President of the Brookings Northwest steelheaders and is the soul reason they are getting evening releases an the Hatch box program back in Southern Oregon.
He is a conservationist and is working with Wayne Krieger and Roy Eliker at this time to finaly reinstitute a River policy for the Chetco since they have not had one since 1993.
If you knew him you would not doubt a single thing.
The Chetco is a beautiful river , just watch what comes in the next year. I believe it will benefit the future for everyone , your children and your grandchildren.
Brian
Brian Sutton says
I was with Dave that day, the reason the boat is buttoned up is we were finished for the day, and pulled out of a friends private property on the South bank, while waiting for my truck to be shuttled.
Dave waded out and fished below the Tamba riffle at the bottom end when he hooked her, he was actually trying for the jacks that were very active in that area.
The fight took the fish below the boat, I buttoned up the boat whie Dave fought her, He landed her quick photo and off she went. The blue glove is due to the first fish twisted and buried a Sting Fish treble hook in his hand, we had to cut it out, the gazes and the blue glove to keep it clean, it was nasty.
I took pictures of that and have them if you want those.
Both of them went back in, Dave only keeps Bucks, Jacks and Hatchery fish unless they are bleeding bad. His hand is not in the gills but is gripped around the jaw, we get more control of big fish that way.
I can honestly say I having fished with Dave for more than 20 years we agree we would rather be known for consistency of catching fish regarless of size rather than catching big fish on occation.
Thanks for your opinions
Brian Sutton
fred contaoi says
Such a tough call. Dead or alive. I say both are on their way to the smoker. It is rare to see a king with the eye looking back at you. I will say they are very clean and have just been landed. Perhaps Dave can shed some light on happened to them. What ever the truth is I wish I was along on the boat that day. The rivers in that country kick out some beautiful fish. Congratulations on a great day of fishing!
rivermaster says
Hmmm rudy is right about ssomething bein fishey here! If both fish were realesed the native died anyhow im sure, left hand in the gills of the fish would of killed it more than likely. As for the the first fish like Rudy said why is every thing buttoned down so quickley? You meen to tell me that while he was fighting this fish his guied was raping up the day? this all seems a bit strange!!!
Rivermaster
Texas Pete says
Those two massive hens are some of the best spawnning matierial I have seen for the Chetco in the ten years I have fished that river!I hope that so called ”45 lbs hen” was not killed for boasting purposes.
It looks like to me that that fish was on its way to the fish box!!I hope for the future of salmon populations in all the west coast states, peoples pride and pounding of the chest at the end of the day on the river bar dosn’t blind them from the truth of the global issue of fish depletion.
rudy says
I’m not the one to point any fingers, but I can’t stop staring at this picture and keep myself from thinking that this pic is photo-shopped.
The second pic of the wild hen looks very legitimate and large. I hope Dave Pitts did indeed release that fish as it is very valuable to the river.
Like I said before, if he released them then he has my respect.
Rudy
Ryan Sabalow says
Hmmm.
Rudy’s on to something.
If you’ll notice in the upper right-hand corner of each photo, there’s a small, blurry spot that appears to be a flying disc of some sort — obviously a UFO.
Seems eerily similar to the so-called Apollo moon landing, the 9-11 attacks or the aliens at Roswell.
Doctored photos?
Is Dave a special agent working with a black ops unit?
A government cover-up?
I tend to say yes.
rudy says
Something is a little ‘fishy’ about this hatchery hen.
If she was indeed released then why is everything buttoned down in the boat, including the oars? On top of that Dave here must be one strong guy to hold out and keep such a big beautiful king upright with both of his hands under the fish.
Also, the blue glove wearing left hand does not seem to leave the slightest indentation on such a soft spot on the fish.
Even though both fish are quite flat eyed, if they were indeed released, Dave here is the man. He should get a lot of respect for releasing such impressive creatures.
Rudy
Josh T. says
Wouldn’t mind hookin’ up with those fatties!