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You are here: Home / Photos and Video / Trophy Room / Is this a 30 pound steelhead?

Is this a 30 pound steelhead?

January 18, 2013 By JD 23 Comments

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Southern Oregon’s Umpqua River pumped out this ridiculous steelhead Monday, Jan. 14 for some buddies of Chuck Gross, El Presidente of Pavati Marine.

Chucky said that the beast measured a massive 42.5 inches but the guys didn’t get a girth, so estimating the weight is a crapshoot (it was released). However, it’s safe to say that it’s no-doubter mid 20’s…and if you told me it was close to 30 pounds, I wouldn’t disagree.

Apparently, the guy who hooked it handed Moby off to his less experienced buddy before realizing how big the fish was!

What an amazing creature! I just wish they got a better photo (sans towel).

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Filed Under: Trophy Room Tagged With: 30 pounds, oregon, pavati, side drifting, Steelhead

Comments

  1. Compy says

    December 10, 2017 at 5:45 pm

    This fish was killed. Fucking shame.

    Reply
  2. Tommy G says

    January 22, 2013 at 1:59 pm

    Jd,
    did these guys take any other pics of fish. Man i cannot get over the size of this fish, showed my neighbor who has caught 20lb + steelhead back in the latter 70’s in the puyallup system here in Wash. and he thinks the girth has to be 24″-26″ at that size and you calculate it definitley 30-32lbs . You just got your hawg of the month contest winner right there Awesome .

    Reply
    • JD says

      January 22, 2013 at 2:04 pm

      Not sure…this pic definitely sucks! A wild Steelie should never be netted & held up in a boat. Pull over…if possible…and land it on the beach. The towel thing is also hugely damaging as it takes all the slime off this fish where it touched it.

      No doubt that it is one massive creature! Too bad it came in a tad early for the contest! :(

      Reply
  3. Tommy G says

    January 22, 2013 at 10:37 am

    JD,
    I have family in Riddle Oregon , Cow creek area and Damn, i sit and dream about Fish that size , the Umpqua has some good gene,s coming back in the system ,Oregon has done a good job on that , I caught a 31.2 springer on the coumbia and looking at that pic, that fish is right there . Nice…… was it caught on a plug?

    Reply
    • JD says

      January 22, 2013 at 12:25 pm

      Caught drifting bait

      Reply
  4. Jim Del Bono says

    January 21, 2013 at 10:25 am

    J.D. I’m looking at the 2-3-09 issue of Salmon Trout Steelheader and on page 38 you wrote an article and have a picture of a huge Steelhead. It was measured at 41.5 by 25.5. I have a weight calculator on my computer and according to that, that fish would weigh 39 pounds. This fish doesn’t look quite as wide, but it has to be over 30 lbs

    Reply
    • JD says

      January 21, 2013 at 2:00 pm

      Yea, no doubt a monster by anyone’s standards and a fish of a lifetime regardless of what it actually weighed. My largest was 20 and this guy dwarfs it!

      Reply
  5. jay k. says

    January 20, 2013 at 11:57 am

    JD,, He had a tape in his hand and didn’t get the girth?, Adrenalin will do that? .. I call a 50% drop in pavatti sales.. The Willy or Koffler dudes wouldn’t screwed this one up…Well some more fuel for your fire, who really cares how much it weighs, look at that color!. Good job on landing it!

    Reply
    • JD says

      January 20, 2013 at 1:54 pm

      Yea, bottom line is it’s an amazing specimen. Not sure about what kind of boat it was taken in…it’s some sort of sled obviously but since I have the only Pavati sled in the Lower 48, it’s not a Pavati…

      Reply
  6. jerry k says

    January 19, 2013 at 7:09 pm

    looking at the picture it’s always tuff, my guess is #30 . I caught a king salmon #44 & 43 1/2 inches long.., looked close. His kids will return in 3-5 years.

    Reply
  7. Jeremiah says

    January 19, 2013 at 3:58 pm

    It’s well over 20…mid 20’s at best…not 30.

    Reply
  8. Dan says

    January 19, 2013 at 3:58 pm

    Well, JD ,we figure a 26 inch weighs about 6 pounds and you say this fish was a 42.5 inches long? A rule of thumb is,a pound an inch after 26 inches,maybe,maybe not. A magnifacent fish to be sure though. Glad it is still swimming.

    Reply
    • JD says

      January 19, 2013 at 4:47 pm

      Yea, without the girth it is hard to say. But, there’s no question it is one hellofa fish!!

      Reply
  9. CJ says

    January 19, 2013 at 11:01 am

    What river did it come out of ?

    Reply
    • JD says

      January 19, 2013 at 3:13 pm

      Umpqua

      Reply
  10. Rick Gustafson says

    January 19, 2013 at 10:19 am

    Yes, one has to wonder what is under the towel.

    Reply
  11. perchman says

    January 19, 2013 at 9:38 am

    AWESOME!!!!
    Glad that they let the genes swim again. Looks more like a 32 to 35 lb to me!

    Reply
  12. Nomad says

    January 19, 2013 at 9:06 am

    Surely a gigantic steelhead !!! Maybe you could tell what some record weights are for states and world.

    Reply
  13. DustyRPH says

    January 19, 2013 at 8:23 am

    That fish deserves to be released to keep the gene pool going.

    Reply
  14. Josh 100lbs club Jordan says

    January 19, 2013 at 8:16 am

    That bad boy could of been some good eatin but I guess it’s best his genes are still swimming around down there.. Hay JD, maybe you should do a quick write up on how to take the best fish pic possible?? Taking light, hand/bodyplacement etc in to account before snapin the shot.

    Reply
    • JD says

      January 19, 2013 at 8:26 am

      Good idea, Josh. I’ll do it…

      Reply
  15. Josh 100lbs club Jordan says

    January 19, 2013 at 8:15 am

    That bad boy could of been some good eatin but I guess it’s best his genes are still swimming around down there.. Hay JD, maybe you should do a quick write up on how to take the best fish pic possible?? Taking light, hand/bodyplacement etc in to account before snapin the shot. So people can do it the rite way and we will be less disappointed :-)

    Reply
  16. fishbird says

    January 19, 2013 at 7:56 am

    Steelheadasorous Rex a member of the Megladon Speices caught in a secret spot in Jurasic Park ,Oregon . A catch of a LIFETIME, likely caught from a Pavati Driftboat!!!!

    Reply

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