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).
This fish was killed. Fucking shame.
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 .
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! :(
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?
Caught drifting bait
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
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!
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!
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…
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.
It’s well over 20…mid 20’s at best…not 30.
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.
Yea, without the girth it is hard to say. But, there’s no question it is one hellofa fish!!
What river did it come out of ?
Umpqua
Yes, one has to wonder what is under the towel.
AWESOME!!!!
Glad that they let the genes swim again. Looks more like a 32 to 35 lb to me!
Surely a gigantic steelhead !!! Maybe you could tell what some record weights are for states and world.
That fish deserves to be released to keep the gene pool going.
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.
Good idea, Josh. I’ll do it…
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 :-)
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!!!!