trout, steelhead rainbow Oncorhynchus mykiss gariderii 27 lbs 4 oz Smith River Del Norte 12/22/1976 Halley, Robert (Crescent City) Freshwater Angling Lure
CA state record Steelhead
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trout, steelhead rainbow Oncorhynchus mykiss gariderii 27 lbs 4 oz Smith River Del Norte 12/22/1976 Halley, Robert (Crescent City) Freshwater Angling Lure
CA state record Steelhead
i fish the Smith every year...what a hog!!!!
I remember that week in 76. The record was broken twice, not 1 by a fly guy though. We had them surrounded a the cable hole. Many 20+ steelhead caught by the fly guys in prams that week. I believe that not too many years ago a store in arcata sponsored a dead fish contest for the Mad River. Someone brought in one in the 26lb. range and he had gutted it before bringing it for weighing.
The guide is Mike Coopman, a Smith River regular who is based in Crescent City, I believe. I run into Mike nearly every time I drift the Smith and he is always pleasant. I did not hear what the estimated weight of the fish was, but at 42 inches, it was likely in the mid-20's, maybe a bit more. What a dandy!
The fish was released.
Beautiful fish but as a guide he should know it is illegal to remove a wild fish from the water. Period. Plenty of ways to take the "Hero" shot and keep it wet. Putting the fish's weight on that hand will cause internal damage in a fish that heavy.
I believe that rule doesn't apply in CA. I know its a law in OR and WA.
From the supplement to the regs:Quote:
I believe that rule doesn't apply in CA. I know its a law in OR and WA.
**Hatchery trout or steelhead are those showing a healed adipose fin clip (adipose fin is absent). Unless
otherwise provided, all other trout and steelhead must be immediately released. Wild trout or steelhead
are those not showing a healed adipose fin clip (adipose fin is present).
This covers the Central Valley and Klamath Basin and does not include the Smith River.
Besides, it is still not a very definitive regulation.
I never take a steelhead out of the river (wild or hatchery) unless I intend to kill and eat it... but I use light tackle and more often than not, a really hot fish would die if I didn't spend some time reviving it prior to release so do I get cited for not immediately releasing it?
I say, go ahead and get your hero shot... just don't place the quality of the photo as a higher priority than the quality of job you do releasing the fish...
One can clearly see that there is a nearly steady stream of water coming off the guy's left hand in the photo. Based on that evidence, the fish had probably been out of the water for a total of less than a second when the photo was taken. I don't know why this ethical "debate" needs to happen every time someone posts a nice SH photo here and the preponderance of evidence is in their favor that the fish has been well treated. My 2c...